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:
This role leads Finance Analytics and Data Governance, driving business intelligence excellence, and advancing data governance practices to improve insights and decision-making across the function. The role is also accountable for incubating and deploying advanced analytics capabilities and use cases for Finance.
The role of AVP, Finance Analytics and Data Governance
Reporting to the VP of Finance Data and Initiatives, the AVP of Finance Analytics and Data Governance leads a high-performing team with two broad mandates: (1) serving as the center of excellence for business intelligence and dashboarding, and (2) driving the Finance Data Governance practice for Corporate Finance. This leader inspires and develops a team passionate about data science and its power to enhance analysis, insights, and decision-making for Sun Life’s Finance function.
In this role, you will oversee the delivery of solutions leveraging modern business intelligence and advanced data analysis tools and methods, while ensuring robust and comprehensive data governance practices. You will work closely with Finance and Technology stakeholders to define and execute the Finance Data strategy — setting the ‘North Star’ for data governance, data architecture, and analytics capabilities, including AI.
Beyond execution, this role is a thought leader, shaping how Sun Life approaches analytics and data governance across the Finance function. You will champion best practices, bring external perspectives, and incubate advanced analytics capabilities such as predictive modeling, scenario analysis, and visualization of complex data sets that integrate financial and non-financial information.
Key Priorities
- Partner with Finance and Technology stakeholders to define the direction for data governance, data architecture, and advanced analytics capabilities (including AI).
- Lead the Finance analytics practice by delivering intuitive dashboards that are easy to use/interpret and provide actionable insights, enabling the business to quickly understand key trends and make informed decisions.
- Drive consistency and synergies across Global Finance by streamlining and standardizing analytics and reporting tools and processes.
- Identify and implement new use cases that leverage data sets to improve analysis, insights, and decision-making.
- Establish and maintain a robust governance framework for Enterprise Finance, including data lineage, metadata, critical data elements, data residency, system resilience, and best practices.
- Foster a culture of data governance through education, change management, and team engagement.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory data governance requirements, including adapting to new regulations and responding to regulatory reviews.
- Provide coaching, empowerment, and recognition to build a high-performing, innovative team focused on collaboration and talent development.
- Build strong partnerships with analytics and data governance practitioners across Sun Life to share best practices and generate new ideas.
- Work closely with product owners and technical leads to align priorities and capacity, ensuring efficient delivery and proactive risk management.
- Collaborate regularly with executives and key stakeholders to define, review, and align priorities for maximum global impact.
- Report on progress, value delivered, and key updates to enable informed decision-making.
Candidate Profile
- Deep expertise in data analytics, data governance, and data management, ideally within a Finance context.
- Recognized thought leader with strong knowledge of best practices, emerging trends, and tools in the data space.
- Strategic mindset with the ability to identify high-value use cases and deliver solutions that drive impact across Global Finance.
- Entrepreneurial and growth-oriented, capable of building, scaling, and inspiring a high-performing agile team through strong leadership.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, able to connect with senior Finance leaders, understand strategic priorities, and translate them into actionable solutions.
- Advanced problem-solving and decision-making abilities, collaborating effectively to diagnose challenges and develop innovative approaches.
- Strong critical thinking, balancing data science/analytics expertise with sound risk management when designing solutions.
- Comfortable with ambiguity and change, able to reprioritize and adapt quickly in a dynamic environment.
- Proven track record of leading high-performing teams in technical, fast-paced settings.
- Ability to influence and build consensus across diverse stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Familiarity with Agile principles and practices is preferred.
Education and Experience
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in data analytics, data governance, and data management, preferably within Finance.
- University degree in a data-driven field (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Actuarial Science); advanced degree (Master’s or MBA) preferred.
- Professional accounting designation (or similar accreditation) is an asset.
- Proven experience shaping data strategy and delivering analytics solutions at an enterprise or global scale.
- Strong track record of leading high-performing teams and collaborating with senior business and technology stakeholders.
What’s in it for you?
- Great Place to Work® Certified for Most Trusted Executive Team in Canada – 2025, 2024 and 2023
- Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Canada - 2025
- Canada Order of Excellence for Mental Health at Work® certification from Excellence Canada. Sun Life is one of only four companies in Canada to ever receive this certification – 2024
- Top Work Places® for Remote Work – Monster Canada - 2024
- Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces in Canada – 2024 and 2022
- Great Place to Work® Certified for Best Workplaces for Women in Canada - 2024
- Flexible hybrid work model. #LI-Hybrid
- Pension, stock and savings programs to help build and enhance your future financial security
- Work and professional development that is united by our Purpose: to help Clients and Employees achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives
- A friendly, collaborative and inclusive culture
- Be part of our continuous improvement journey in developing the next greatest digital enterprise experience.
- Competitive salary and bonus structure influenced by market range data
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.
We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you! Several work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.
We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling.
We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Salary Range:
140,000/140 000 - 225,000/225 000
Job Category:
Advanced Analytics
Posting End Date:
29/01/2026