Strategic Planning Manager

Ameritas•Cincinnati, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Play a critical role in supporting the strategy development and execution success of our insurance business. This position involves analyzing complex financial data, developing financial models, and providing actionable insights to support strategic decision-making. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, strategic thinker with deep expertise in financial analysis in a strategy setting with a strong understanding of the insurance industry. Utilize knowledge of insurance industry financial metrics (e.g., loss ratios, combined ratios, premium growth) and regulatory requirements. Analyze complex data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable recommendations. Present complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders. This is a technical individual contributor role, and does not involve direct people management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field) or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
4-7 years of financial analysis experience, with at least 3 years in the insurance industry (e.g., P&C, life, health, or reinsurance) required.
Advanced proficiency in financial modeling and Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, macros) required.
Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) required.

Nice To Haves

MBA, CPA, CFA, or actuarial credentials (e.g., ASA, FSA) are desired.
Experience with reinsurance analysis or sensitivity modeling desired.
Knowledge of statutory accounting principles (SAP) specific to insurance desired.
Prior experience supporting corporate strategy, M&A, or capital market transactions in the insurance sector desired.
Proficiency in SQL, Python, or R for data analysis is highly desirable.
Familiarity with insurance-specific software (e.g., Policy Administration, Claims Management) is desired.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain sophisticated financial models to support strategy development, opportunity assessments, competitive positioning, portfolio performance, and profitability analysis. Analyze external and internal trends (e.g. loss ratios, premium trends, and claims data) to identify opportunities for optimization.
Prepare business cases and presentations to support strategic initiatives, including cost-benefit analyses and risk assessments. Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
Lead the integration of annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and long-term financial projections for various insurance lines into the broader strategic plan. Collaborate with Finance and Business teams to align financial plans with business objectives.
Prepare and present detailed reports, including variance analysis, KPIs (e.g., combined ratio, expense ratio), and trend analysis, to senior management and stakeholders to support the broader strategy agenda and prioritized strategic initiatives.
Provide data-driven insights to support strategic initiatives, such as market expansion, product development, or potential M&A opportunities. Conduct scenario analysis to evaluate potential outcomes.
Leverage advanced analytics tools (e.g., SQL, Python, or R) to extract and analyze large datasets from various internal and external sources in support of key strategy initiatives.
Work closely and cross functionally with enterprise shared services and business teams to provide analytical insights and business intelligence that drive improved efficiency, profitability, and strategic alignment.