Associate Finance Director

This position is Remote in Lafayette, LA, Baton Rouge, LA or Eden Prairie, MN. You will have the flexibility to work remotely* as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in Minneapolis, Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office for a minimum of four (4) days per week. Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. The Associate Finance Director is a high impact individual contributor who serves as the operational and analytical right hand to the Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis. This role owns the quarterly forecasting model, leads data gathering for upstream and executive reporting, and prepares initial financial and business commentary that shapes leadership discussions. The Associate Finance Director plays a critical role in ensuring forecast accuracy, insight quality, and timely communication, acting as a trusted thought partner to senior finance leadership. This position is full-time. Employees are required to have flexibility to work any of our shift schedules during our normal business hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. We offer weeks of on-the-job training. The hours of the training will be based on schedule or will be discussed on your first day of employment.

Forecasting & Financial Modeling Own and maintain the quarterly forecast model, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and scalability Integrate inputs from business partners, systems, and historical performance into forecasts Perform variance analysis versus plan, prior forecast, and actuals to identify risks and opportunities Continuously improve forecasting methodologies, assumptions, and model structure Reporting & Data Management Gather, validate, and consolidate financial and operational data for upstream and executive reporting Ensure alignment of reported metrics across FP&A, Accounting, and operational teams Serve as the primary point of contact for ad hoc data requests related to forecasts and performance Maintain strong data hygiene, documentation, and auditability of key assumptions and outputs Executive & Leadership Support Prepare initial financial and business performance commentary for forecasts, reviews, and leadership materials Translate complex financial data into clear, concise insights and narratives for senior leadership Act as a strategic thought partner to the VP, FP&A, proactively identifying key drivers, trends, and risks Support preparation for executive reviews, board materials, and other leadership level deliverables Cross Functional Partnership Partner with business leaders to understand drivers of performance and forecast changes Provide guidance on financial implications of initiatives, investments, and tradeoffs Influence decision making through strong analysis, clear communication, and business acumen You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field 5+ years of experience in FP&A, corporate finance, or related analytical roles Experience with financial modeling and forecasting Experience using Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools (I would have the HM list some of the specific functions within Microsoft Excel such as