Director, Finance Data Governance

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

Role Summary

As part of our journey to modernize and drive efficiencies across the Finance function, the Finance Data and Analytics team within Enterprise Finance plays an important role being responsible for finance data governance, digital management reporting including the effective use of BI tools, the supporting underlying data storage and integrity, and business data models.

As a member of the Finance Data and Analytics team, reporting to the AVP Finance Data and Analytics, the Director, Data Governance will be key in bringing Enterprise Finance’s Data Strategy to life and further enabling a data driven culture. This role will be crucial in driving data consistency, quality and reducing redundancies across Finance, while leveraging technology to automate data governance, data quality and other data-related activities.

The Director, Data Governance, will be responsible for leading a team of data analysts and for maintaining and enhancing finance data governance, with focus on financial reporting data integrated with actuarial and investment data. They will seek potential opportunities to gain value from the data and underlying data architecture post the IFRS 17 SunRise project to advance and improve our use of data towards broader finance insights and analytics.

What will you do?

The Director Data Governance will support the AVP to:

• Create alignment with other areas of the global Finance organization on a set of consistent practices, capabilities, and standards in how we govern, manage, and use data within Finance.

• Partner with Technology (DBTS) in supporting and setting the direction for data architecture, data governance and data management practices and platforms, that plays as a catalyst to effective data analytics and data science solutions.

• Establish collaborative relationships with various internal and external partners to implement best practices.

Data Governance:

• Progress to a comprehensive data governance practice, including a robust set of practices, tools and standards on how best to manage and optimize the use of a growing data asset within Corporate Finance.

• Advance and maintain a data governance framework, that includes a finance data taxonomy, metadata, data lineage, data usage, quality, and integrity standards, to achieve the required degree of consistency, standard and protection to meet overall business needs leveraging modern metadata management technologies and best-practice processes.

• Enable the Finance teams to evolve data quality standards and associated activities that preserve high quality finance data

• Define processes to achieve a high degree of readiness and preparation to respond to data audits and other regulatory data protection requirements, as well as support the strategic requirements of the function.

Data Literacy:

• Lead data knowledge management and training across Enterprise Finance. Develop training solutions for the Finance community to drive data literacy

• Ensure Institutional data loss is minimised by documenting all process and metadata in a centralized data governance tool.

• Maintain an understanding of external developments, disseminate to the Finance organization, and identify opportunities for emerging technologies and trends in the data space.

Data Lifecycle Management and Privacy Assessments

• Liase with Corporate Records officer and the Corporate Privacy officer and Corporate Finance data leads to ensure Record Impact Assessments and Privacy Impact Assessments are current for all corporate finance areas

Team Leadership:

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team, specializing in data governance and data quality practices and implementation.

• Provide professional development and mentorship to data specialists, ensure engagement, and attract talent.

What will you need to succeed?

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline.

• 7+ years relevant business experience in data governance, data engineering, data strategy, advanced analytics, or ideally as a practitioner within data and/or analytics

• Strong understanding of Data Governance principles and of best practices approach to establishing, validating and rolling out a data taxonomy, data lineage maps, data quality remediation

• Knowledge of data tools (Collibra, Informatica), and methods and best practices to establish data governance processes and workflows to establish and maintain a multijurisdictional business glossary, hierarchy and definitions

• Technical expertise with relational databases (MS SQL), Python or other coding languages, MS Office

• Ability to translate business requirements to technology requirements and vice versa

• Knowledge of data privacy and security practices relevant to the Financial Services industry

• Strong results-oriented project management skills - well-organized, with strong attention to detail and quality

• Excellent oral and written communication, and presentation skills, catering to various levels of management and audience with varying degrees of subject matter comprehension

• Excellent negotiation and collaboration skills

• Proven ability to influence the performance of others to deliver results

• Proactive and self-motivated with strong problem solving, organizational skills and sound decision-making ability

• Technology collaborator, building close partnership with technology teams to deliver solutions

Unique Requirements

• The candidate selected for this role is required to attain Canadian Reliability Security Clearance (administered by submitting fingerprints to the RCMP, who then conduct min. 5 year history checks)

• To see if you are eligible for this clearance, please review the section 201 on the Federal Government site (https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/esc-src/personnel/pdcf-rsrp-eng.html)

What will be nice to have?

• Experience in the financial services or similar type of industry, preferably in the Finance and/or Actuarial field

• Understanding of and experience in an Agile Operating Model

• Knowledge of multi-platform data environments and data architecture.

Reasons why should you join us under the sun?

• We’re honoured to be recognized as a 2023 Best Workplaces in Ontario by Great Place to Work® Canada

• We’re proud to be recognized as a company with a 2023 Most Trusted Executive team by Great Place to Work® Canada

• Sun Life ranked one of the 2023 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World on the Corporate Knights’ 2023

• A caring, supportive, and inclusive culture

• Time off giving you the flexibility to focus on the moments that matter. 20 days vacation per year

• Unique sabbatical program and care Days available for self care and care of others

• Flexible Benefits from the day you join to meet the needs of you and your family.

• Wellness programs that support the three pillars of your health - mental, physical, and financial

The Base Pay range is for the primary location for which the job is posted. It may vary depending on the work location of the successful candidate or other factors. In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results.

Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process or those needing job postings in an alternative format may e-mail a request to thebrightside@sunlife.com.

At Sun Life we strive to create a flexible work environment where our employees are empowered to do their best work. Several flexible work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.

We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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