Insurance Accounting Lead

About the role

Serves as the function Lead providing expert technical and operational leadership, training, and knowledge sharing for team members across Enterprise Accounting & Payable Services. Responsible for ensuring consistent, timely, and well-controlled processing across multiple systems while strategically managing workload allocation, priorities, and operational risk within a shared services environment. There are no formal people management responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee period-end close, general ledger, accounts payable, and account reconciliation activities, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely reporting; establish and enforce standards for process and control design, system integrations, and service level expectations, while guiding resolution of complex issues to deliver scalable, well-controlled, and compliant operations aligned with business and regulatory requirements.
• Own the delivery and alignment of accounting projects and initiatives, establishing standards for process design, system implementations and integrations, and audit compliance and remediation to ensure scalable, well-controlled outcomes aligned with business and regulatory expectations.
• Own the design, standardization, and ongoing maintenance of comprehensive process documentation, control narratives, and business continuity plans, ensuring consistency, operational excellence, and audit readiness across the function.
• Oversee volumes, deadlines, and risk across transactional processes, proactively reallocating resources to address capacity constraints, system issues, and shifting business demands. Identify and communicate bottlenecks or process inhibitors to leadership, ensuring timely resolution and continuity of transaction flow.
• Lead complex, cross-process accounting and control issues to determine appropriate resolution within existing policy frameworks. Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and audit requirements.
• Coordinate system upgrades, enhancements, and maintenance initiatives by working with IT and business partners, shaping requirements, and establishing testing expectations. Monitor progress and communicate updates to leadership on timelines, scope changes, and potential operational risks. Review outcomes to ensure data integrity, reporting quality, and alignment with business needs, and drive continuous improvement in system functionality and processes.
• Coordinate shared inbox and communication practices across the function, ensuring alignment with service expectations and operational priorities. Leverage insights from inquiry trends to improve processes, enhance stakeholder communication, and support a consistent and scalable service model.
• Coordinate and optimize the rotation of responsibilities across the team in partnership with leadership to ensure adequate coverage and continuity of operations. Establish expectations for cross-training, monitor team capability and coverage risks, and drive initiatives to build a flexible, scalable, and resilient accounting function.
• Drive continuous process improvements by identifying and prioritizing opportunities to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Partner with cross-functional leadership to optimize workflows and leverage technology, improving scalability, strengthening control, and reducing operational risk, while ensuring sustainable adoption through standardization and process integration.
• Oversee the integrity, completeness, and timely reporting of monthly KPIs and risk indicators; validate accuracy and ensure appropriate controls are in place, with accountability for the review of supporting evidence, analysis, and remediation activities to sustain an effective control environment.
• Model Thrivent’s leadership competencies – Model the Way, Rally the Team, and Deliver Outcomes. Support and/or develop an environment in which Thrivent employees and colleagues are focused on continuous improvement, exceptional employee engagement, and an unwavering commitment to clients. Shape and/or support a culture that represents the Thrivent purpose, promise, and values, ensuring that Thrivent’s trust and reputation remain strong with its clients.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Business Administration or other related course of study or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 7+ years' experience in Finance, Accounting or Operations.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail due to the complexity of the function.
• Strong interpersonal skills and oral and written communication skills to deal effectively with internal and external business partners whether remotely or in person.
• Experience working with auditors and regulators.
• Deep understanding of transaction processing, general ledger account reconciliations and controls, AP operations, and ERP environments.
• Experience leading projects or initiatives requiring cross-functional coordination and influence.
• Proven ability to manage processes end-to-end with minimal supervision.
• Experience working across multiple systems, with high volumes and varied processes.
• Strong operational judgment and execution discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate workflows and lead without direct authority.
• Resourcefulness, ability to think logically, work independently to resolve issues, and confidently present findings and recommendations.
• Experience in shared services or high-volume environments.
• Experience with different accounting platforms (e.g. PeopleSoft, Concur, ERPs, etc.).
• Advanced technical skills in Excel.

Qualifications

• Preferred candidate will have accounting, finance or business experience in a complex financial services organization or large corporate environment.
• Demonstrated success leading operational stabilization and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Organized with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively and multi-task to meet competing deadlines.
• CPA, CMA, MBA or progress toward certification.
• Well-developed analytical skills and tools; including Power BI and Power Query.

Schedule

In office presence 2-3 days a week is highly preferred but required when there are significant process changes or new system implementations. Expected travel to either Appleton, WI or Minneapolis, MN to facilitate team collaboration sessions.

Pay

The applicable salary or hourly wage range for this full-time role is $89,895.00 - $121,621.00 per year, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will be determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skills, and knowledge, business needs, market demand, and other factors Thrivent deems important.

Benefits

• Various bonuses (including, for example, annual or long-term incentives).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health savings account.
• Flexible spending account.
• 401k.
• Pension.
• Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• Supplemental protection insurance.
• 20 days of Paid Time Off each year.
• Sick and Safe Time.
• 10 paid company holidays.
• Volunteer Time Off.
• Paid parental leave.
• EAP.
• Well-being benefits, and other employee benefits.

Eligibility for receipt of these benefits is subject to the applicable plan/policy documents. Thrivent’s plans/policies are subject to change at any time at Thrivent’s discretion.