VP, Affordability Finance & Actuarial Forecasting - Optum Health

Primary Responsibilities

• Enterprise Affordability Forecasting
• - Own the consolidated affordability forecast for Optum Health, tracking performance to targets and producing forward looking estimates consistent with actuarial and financial planning processes
• - Ensure affordability forecasts are methodologically sound and appropriately reflected in enterprise plans and reserves
• Independent Program Vetting & Confidence Assessment
• - Lead the review and challenge of affordability estimates submitted by program owners, HCE, and operating teams
• - Apply structured confidence levels reflecting program design, execution risk, evidence quality, and historical experience
• - Translate optimistic program assumptions into conservative, defensible forecasts that protect enterprise credibility
• Evidence Based Valuation
• - Review and interpret clinical and operational effectiveness studies to ensure appropriate application in forecasting
• - Guide the responsible use of measured outcomes to forecast both existing programs and new, comparable initiatives
• Leading Indicators & Forecast Refinement
• - Partner across actuarial, finance, analytics, and clinical teams to identify true leading indicators of affordability performance
• - Incorporate early results and actual to expected insights to continually refine forecasts as programs deploy and mature
• Enterprise Consolidation & Reporting
• - Oversee the consolidation of hundreds of affordability initiatives into coherent financial views for leadership
• - Ensure consistent definitions, assumptions, and reporting across pillars, regions, and program types
• Team Leadership & Capability Building
• - Lead and develop a high performing actuarial and finance team responsible for affordability modeling, consolidation, and reporting
• - Establish standardized prototype models and guidance to support consistent estimate development across the organization
• Stakeholder Partnership & Governance
• - Work proactively with affordability leaders and program sponsors to ensure initiatives are clearly defined, measurable, and forecastable
• - Provide firm, constructive pushback where assumptions or definitions compromise forecast integrity-recognizing this role includes productive friction

Required Qualifications

• Senior actuarial or finance leadership experience in complex healthcare environments
• Solid understanding of healthcare affordability levers (care management, utilization management, payment integrity, and related programs)
• Deep grounding in forecasting, financial planning, and reserving
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply program effectiveness studies to financial projections
• Proven willingness to challenge assumptions and speak up in high stakes environments
• Executive presence, sound judgment, and collaborative leadership style

Preferred Qualifications

• Credentialed actuary (FSA or ASA)
• 12+ years of broad actuarial experience within healthcare payer organizations, with proven expertise in risk assessment and analytics
• Deep familiarity with medical cost trend forecasting and/or historical reporting processes and large scale analytical workflows with executive exposure
• Demonstrated success in leading modernization programs and implementing advanced analytics or AI solutions in actuarial applications
• Demonstrated success in driving change management activities within and across actuarial teams
• Solid partnership and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders across diverse functions
• Broad business acumen and understanding of healthcare payer operations, data sources and industry trends
• Exceptional leadership in change management, guiding teams through technology and process transformation
• Excellent communication skills: ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to non-technical senior leaders (CEO,CFO, etc.), ability to understand perspectives of multiple constituents
• Recognized industry thought leader with experience collaborating with cross functional partners and presenting analytical findings to an executive audience