AVP Internal Controls

United Fire Group is seeking an Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Internal Controls to play a critical role responsible for building and leading the companys internal controls function. This AVP will design implement and oversee a robust internal control framework with an initial and primary focus on Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and NAIC Model Audit Rule (MAR) compliance. The ideal candidate is a strategic hands-on leader with a strong background in risk identification control design and process optimization within the P&C insurance industry. This individual will be instrumental in fostering a culture of strong governance risk management and continuous improvement across the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establish the vision strategy and roadmap for the Internal Controls department including defining its mandate structure and operational procedures.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on internal controls providing guidance and education to business partners and senior management.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive risk-based SOX compliance program that meets regulatory requirements and provides assurance over the companys internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR).
• Lead walkthroughs of key business processes and collaborate with process owners across the company to design effective preventative and efficient controls.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify evaluate and prioritize financial reporting and operational risks inherent to the P&C insurance business.
• Evaluate and mature the companys control environment by providing strategic risk guidance and designing mitigating controls.
• Establish and monitor key risk and performance indicators to provide early identification of risk trends and potential control deficiencies.
• Embed themselves in key company initiatives to provide risk and control advisory support for system upgrades and implementations.
• Lead the evaluation of control deficiencies to understand root cause and impact and work with process owners to develop effective remediation plans.
• Champion a continuous improvement mindset challenging existing processes and collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify and implement efficiencies.
• Evaluate controls and processes for opportunities to leverage automation and new technologies reducing manual effort and improving control effectiveness.
• Partner with management to provide value-added recommendations that address identified control weaknesses in a sustainable and effective manner.
• Liaise directly with the companys internal and external auditors serving as the main point of contact for all SOX and internal control matters.
• Report regularly to senior leadership and the Audit Committee on the status of the internal control environment highlighting key risks and progress on remediation.
• Collaborate with other governance and risk functions (e.g. Enterprise Risk Management Compliance Internal Audit) to ensure an integrated and holistic approach to risk management.

Job Specifications:

Education:

• Bachelors degree in accounting Finance or a related field preferred.

Certifications/Designations:

• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is strongly preferred.

Experience:

• 12 years of experience in internal audit internal controls or public accounting preferably within the insurance or financial services industry preferred.
• Proven experience designing and implementing a SOX compliance program including leading risk assessments control design and documentation.
• Demonstrated experience in a public company environment with a strong understanding of SEC and PCAOB regulations related to ICFR.
• Experience building and managing a team including attracting hiring and developing talent.

Knowledge skills & abilities:

• Deep knowledge of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act COSO framework and US GAAP.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to identify analyze and interpret complex business processes and risks.
• Proven ability to drive process improvements and implement automated control solutions.
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral with the ability to effectively present complex information to all levels of the organization.
• Strong leadership interpersonal and collaborative skills to influence change without direct authority.

Pay Transparency Statement:

UFG Insurance is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary range for this position is $180000 - $220000 annually which represents the typical range for new hires in this role. Individual pay within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors including relevant experience education certifications skills internal equity geography and market data.

In addition to base salary UFG Insurance offers a comprehensive total rewards package that includes:

• Annual incentive compensation
• Medical dental vision & life insurance
• Accident critical Illness & short-term disability insurance
• Retirement plans with employer contributions
• Generous time-off program
• Programs designed to support the employee well-being and financial security.

This pay range disclosure is provided in accordance with applicable state and local pay transparency laws.