Controller

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.

Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.

We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values: Do good. Be good. Make good.

Role Summary

The Controller is a senior finance leader responsible for enterprise-wide accounting integrity, consolidated financial reporting and oversight of all finance operations, and the modernization of the accounting function. This role serves as the operational finance leader of the organization, ensuring financial accuracy, internal control strength, and disciplined financial execution across the entire organization including compliance with regulatory standards as well as being a key architect of a next generation, data driven accounting organization.

The Controller will oversee the day to day for financial reporting, corporate accounting, investment accounting, and tax department. They will drive transparency and efficiency in all areas of the financial function, ensuring the company is compliant with Accounting Standards on both a GAAP and Statutory basis. The incumbent will often represent the organization in interactions with state insurance regulators, outside counsel, auditors, the NLG board, peer companies and industry groups.

In addition to ensuring accounting integrity, the Controller will lead the modernization of the accounting function through intelligent automation, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled financial processes. This role will champion the transformation of finance into a data-driven, technology-forward organization.

This role is expected to serve as a catalyst for building a next-generation finance organization, leveraging advanced technology to create a scalable, intelligent, and resilient accounting function.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee preparation and timely delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements under U.S. GAAP and Statutory accounting (NAIC).
• Lead the preparation and filing of Annual and Quarterly Statements, including all required supplements.
• Oversee accounting for insurance reserves, DAC, reinsurance transactions, investments, derivatives, and embedded features within Life and Annuity products.
• Manage general ledger integrity, chart of accounts, and accounting policy governance.

• Oversee month-end and year-end close processes to ensure accurate financial data.
• Lead enterprise accounting governance, including regulatory compliance, Model Audit Rule adherence, internal controls, and coordination of external audits and state examinations.
• Coordinate and manage audits with external auditors, state regulators, and internal audit teams to ensure smooth financial examination processes.

• Develop and enhance financial policies, procedures, and workflow automation to drive efficiency and effectiveness in financial reporting, aligning with CFO strategic goals.

• Build and develop a high-performing accounting organization, establishing succession pipelines and elevating technical and leadership capabilities across the function
• Lead the integration of AI, machine learning, and automation into accounting and reporting processes to improve speed, accuracy, and insight.
• Partner with Technology and Data teams to modernize financial systems architecture and data governance.
• Identify opportunities to deploy predictive analytics in areas such as reserving analysis, investment reporting, close acceleration, and regulatory compliance monitoring.
• Champion intelligent workflow automation across month-end close, reconciliations, journal entry review, and audit support.
• Develop a roadmap for AI-enabled financial reporting and internal control monitoring.
• Collaborate with leaders across the company to build a world class financial organization.
• Support M&A activities, due diligence, and integration efforts as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required (CPA or other relevant certifications preferred).

• Minimum of 15 years financial services industry accounting experience. Life insurance industry experience strongly preferred.
• Big 4 Public Accounting experience considered a plus.
• Very strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, SAP, and regulatory reporting requirements for insurance companies (LDTI, RBC, Reinsurance, Investment portfolio complexity)
• Experience working with insurance-specific financial systems and software (e.g., Workday, Oracle, SAP, or other ERP systems).

• Inspirational leadership, coaching and a strong track record of developing talent.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence key stakeholders.
• Experience leading digital transformation or finance automation initiatives a strong plus.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled finance tools (e.g., intelligent close automation, anomaly detection, NLP-based reporting, predictive analytics platforms).
• Strong understanding of data architecture, data governance, and integration across ERP and actuarial systems.
• Comfort working with data science teams and translating financial requirements into analytical models.
• Experience leveraging automation tools (RPA, workflow orchestration, AI copilots) within accounting processes.
• Demonstrated ability to deploy generative AI tools to enhance reporting, audit support, and regulatory documentation processes is also considered a strong plus.

Cultural Fit

• Results-driven mindset, while always keeping in mind, how does this impact the policy holder
• Thrives in an environment where the best ideas that drive the best results are rewarded
• Love of learning – comfortable in an organization that seeks to continually learn from its failures and successes to drive better investment decisions
• Comfortable with ambiguity and the mentality required to address and ultimately own those ambiguous situations – finds answers and solutions
• Demonstrates transparent, direct, and open communication across the organization
• Promotes collaboration
• Curiosity about emerging technologies and their application in regulated environments
• Bias toward innovation and experimentation within strong governance frameworks
• Ability to balance regulatory discipline with technological advancement
• Data-driven decision-making mindset
• Commitment to our vision, mission, and values

AI Proficiency Expectations

At National Life Group, we view AI as an enabler of human potential. We use AI to help us work smarter, serve more clients, and keep our promises, while remaining a relationship-driven business where our people are our greatest strength.

All applicants are expected to:

• Leverage approved AI tools, where appropriate, to improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of their work.
• Stay curious and open to new AI-enabled ways of working.
• Exercise sound judgment by reviewing and validating AI-generated content.
• Maintain accountability for the accuracy, quality, fairness, and integrity of work products by adhering to National Life’s AI guiding principles.
• Use AI responsibly and in accordance with company policies related to confidentiality, data privacy, security, compliance, retention and intellectual property.

Benefits

• Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!

Base Pay Range . The base pay range for this position is the range National Life reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors, including: prior experience and job-related knowledge; education, training and certificates; current business needs; and market factors. The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances.

Additional Compensation and Benefits . The total compensation package for this position may also include a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in National Life’s discretionary annual incentive programs, subject to the rules governing such programs. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and National Life reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.

Salary Pay Range

$196,875—$288,750 USD

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

Fortune 1000 status is based on the consolidated financial results of all National Life Group companies.

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National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604