Description
Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and government benefits, helping approximately 50 million Americans access the care and coverage they need. Through employers, industry partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability, absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss insurance, and healthcare navigation. We have more than 6,400 employees and associates in our partner dental practices and operate nationwide.
Job Description:
The AVP, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Dental is the senior finance leader responsible for end‑to‑end financial planning, performance management, and decision support for Sun Life's Dental business. This role partners closely with the Dental executive leadership team, Dental Finance & Actuarial, and U.S. Central FP&A to drive financial discipline, transparency, and value creation across a complex and regulated business.
The role leads the Dental FP&A function, overseeing strategic planning, annual operating plans, forecasts, management reporting, and financial modeling to support business performance, growth initiatives, pricing strategy, and investment decisions. The AVP acts as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, translating financial results and analytics into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Results Management & Reporting
- Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting for the Dental business, including results analysis, variance explanations, and executive‑level summaries.
- Lead the development and delivery of management reporting packages to communicate performance and drivers of results.
- Partner with Dental Actuarial, Pricing, and Expense Management to analyze:
- Revenue and membership trends
- Product and client profitability
- Cost drivers, unit economics, and margin performance
- Serve as a liaison with U.S. Central FP&A and Controllers on Dental financial deliverables, accounting considerations, and reporting timelines.
- Respond to senior leadership and board‑level inquiries through structured analysis and clear recommendations.
Strategic Plan, Annual Business Plan & Forecasting
- Lead the Dental financial planning process, including:
- Strategic Plan
- Annual Business Plan
- Forecast cycles and outlook updates
- Own and continuously enhance financial models, assumptions, and key drivers supporting these deliverables.
- Coordinate inputs and outputs across Dental leadership, Actuarial, Pricing, Expense Management, and Central FP&A.
- Prepare and present plan and forecast materials for executive leadership reviews.
- Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, forecasting accuracy, and communication of results.
Strategic, Operational & Growth Analytics
- Provide financial leadership for strategic and operational initiatives, including:
- Growth strategies and client expansion
- Pricing and product development initiatives
- Client and channel economics
- Partnerships, acquisitions, and integration efforts
- Develop and challenge business cases, investment analyses, and ROI frameworks.
- Proactively identify risks and opportunities and partner with business leaders to course‑correct performance.
- Drive special projects and deep‑dive analyses aligned with Dental and U.S. strategic priorities.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Build, lead, and develop a high‑performing FP&A team supporting the Dental business.
- Set clear objectives, provide coaching and feedback, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Develop bench strength and future finance leaders within the organization.
Key Capabilities & Skills
- Advanced financial analysis and modeling skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into executive‑ready insights.
- Strong understanding of insurance economics, with dental, health, or regulated financial services experience preferred.
- Proven ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
- Exceptional communication and executive presence, including comfort influencing senior leaders.
- Strong collaboration skills across finance, actuarial, operations, and business leadership.
- Advanced proficiency in financial systems, reporting tools, and presentation development (Excel, PowerPoint, analytics platforms).
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree or higher, specializing in mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, accounting, economics or corporate finance.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, financial reporting, modeling, or strategic finance, preferably within insurance, benefits, or highly regulated financial services.
- Prior people leadership experience with demonstrated success developing teams.
- Professional designation (CPA, CFA, FSA/ASA) preferred.
Why This Role Matters
This role is central to ensuring the Dental business delivers on its financial commitments while enabling growth, investment discipline, and operational excellence. The AVP, FP&A is both a steward of financial performance and a catalyst for informed, data‑driven decision‑making across Sun Life Dental.
Salary Range: $164,200 - $262,700
At our company, we are committed to pay transparency and equity. The salary range for this role is competitive nationwide, and we strive to ensure that compensation is fair and equitable. Your actual base salary will be determined based on your unique skills, qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location. In addition to your base salary, this position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive award based on your individual performance as well as the overall performance of the business. We are dedicated to creating a work environment where everyone is rewarded for their contributions.
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We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees feel they belong, are supported and empowered to thrive. We are dedicated to building teams with varied experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and ideas that benefit our colleagues, clients, and the communities where we operate. We encourage applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.
Life is brighter when you work at Sun Life
At Sun Life, we prioritize your well-being with comprehensive benefits, including generous vacation and sick time, market-leading paid family, parental and adoption leave, medical coverage, company paid life and AD&D insurance, disability programs and a partially paid sabbatical program. Plan for your future with our 401(k) employer match, stock purchase options and an employer-funded retirement account. Enjoy a flexible, inclusive and collaborative work environment that supports career growth. We're proud to be recognized in our communities as a top employer. Proudly Great Place to Work® Certified in Canada and the U.S., we've also been recognized as a "Top 10" employer by the Boston Globe's "Top Places to Work" for two years in a row. Visit our website to learn more about our benefits and recognition within our communities.
We will make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities or special disabled veterans, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. Please email thebrightside@sunlife.com to request an accommodation.
For applicants residing in California, please read our employee California Privacy Policy and Notice.
We do not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.
Sun Life will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including applicable fair chance ordinances.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
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