Kyle Ecklund
Bartlett,IL
Summary
Dynamic finance leader with extensive experience in Finance, specializing in strategic business planning and financial management. Proven track record in enhancing productivity and delivering cost reductions. Adept at reporting development and simplification, with strong leadership skills that foster team growth and drive organizational success.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Expense Consultant – Specialties and Nat'l Account
Zurich Insurance
Schaumburg, IL
11.2021 - Current
- Direct all Expense reporting for Specialties and National Accounts Business Units, partnering with SBU Finance Directors to ensure comprehensive, timely, and accurate reporting.
- Deliver strategic financial guidance for decisions related to targets, stretch goals, and new projects.
- Coordinate and administer Planning and Forecasting process for 1 yr, 3 yr, and 5 yr submissions.
- Direct General Ledger maintenance, entailing posting entries, executing accrual bookings and reversals as required, and confirming proper GL numbers in expense transactions.
- Coordinate projects matching staffing strategies with business opportunities in specific states.
- Evaluate Business Results, encompassing updates on new and expiring policies, prior year growth, and acquisition of new accounts.
AVP, Head of Planning & Performance Mgmt – IT Services
Zurich Insurance
Schaumburg, IL
09.2016 - 10.2021
- Led a team of (5) Finance Business Partners providing support to Group Leaders in Information Technology.
- Facilitated financial support for Information Security and IT Project Management leadership to enhance decision making and achieve financial goals.
- Oversaw financial initiatives for $100m+ Security Program upgrading applications and advancing overall IT platforms.
- Analyzed existing operations and suggested strategies to boost team productivity.
- Build financial models to inform senior leadership on strategy and to help achieve tight Financial targets.
- Lead reporting process for Executive Leadership.
- Direct budgeting, resource allocation, and multi-year planning process, integrating quarterly forecasting.
- Coordinate work streams with multiple stakeholders and facilitate strategy development with senior leaders.
- Leverage data-driven decisioning to deliver cost reduction and efficiency throughout the organization.
- Support Global Leadership to achieve 2021 Global targets.
- Lead Finance Activities for $100m 2 year Information Security Program.
- Provide strategic financial input to leaders to make informed decisions on future capital investments and capabilities.
- Worked with Corporate Center to align planning and forecasting schedules between Group and Regional finance teams to ensure alignment between reports.
- Built a support team (CoE) to manage Global expenses.
AVP – Finance Business Partner for Group Function and Corporate Shared Services
Zurich Insurance
Schaumburg, IL
09.2011 - 09.2016
- Managed a team of Financial Analysts.
- Implemented simplified reporting schedules and reports to help Business Partners deliver consistent financial messages on a monthly and quarterly basis.
- Owned budgeting and multi-year planning process for Group Functions, including Real Estate, Procurement, N America Print, Group Security, and HR Operations.
- Acted as Lead Financial Representative for New Headquarters Project, providing support for $380M in spend to build new campus.
- Worked with Corporate Real Estate executives on Portfolio Optimization, delivering key savings in excess of $30M to the Organization.
Senior Financial Analyst IV, Corporate Real Estate and Procurement
Zurich Insurance
Schaumburg, IL
09.2008 - 09.2011
- Supported Corporate Real Estate and Procurement business units for both ZNA and Farmers Insurance.
- Led strategic planning, financial forecasting and accounting.
- Reviewed deal economics to create CBA’s and provided recommendations to senior leadership for approval.
- Managed $250+ million annual budget.
- Was Finance contact for Project London, a global cost cutting savings exercise.
- Included the consolidation, validation, and reporting of all savings items totaling 1 year goal of $70M and 3 year goal of $300M.
- Worked with Commodity Managers to create and distribute Monthly Commodity Reporting and Metrics.
Manager of Financial Reporting
CNG Financial
Mason, OH
10.2007 - 09.2008
- Managed CNG’s reporting unit.
- Led strategic planning, financial forecasting and accounting.
- Partnered with functional leaders to execute on volume, profit margins and cash flow targets.
- Managed $200+ million annual budget.
- Provided financial leadership over long-term business growth, margins and cost management.
- Led Reporting side of implementation of Cognos financial reporting tool.
- Transitioned non-analytical tasks to outsourcing firm...increased team productivity by 20%.
- Acted as Reporting Lead for New Product Introduction, including check cashing and Pre-Paid debit cards.
- Created reports to track product costs and profitability.
Senior Financial Analyst
Zurich Insurance
Schaumburg, IL
08.2004 - 10.2007
- Acted as Head Finance contact for Claims Management, providing insight into expenses, Unit costs, P&L, as well as impacts of process changes to the bottom line.
- Responsible for budgeting and forecasting of all Claims related expenses.
Sr Financial Analyst
Allstate Insurance
01.2002 - 01.2004
Treasury Analyst
Square D Company
01.2001 - 01.2002
Education
B.A. - Economics, Business Administration
Eastern Illinois University
Skills
- Financial management
- Reporting Development & Simplification
- Project management & process simplification
- Strategic business planning
- Cost / productivity management & resource allocation
- Leadership, coaching and training
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Expense Consultant – Specialties and Nat'l Account
Zurich Insurance
11.2021 - Current
AVP, Head of Planning & Performance Mgmt – IT Services
Zurich Insurance
09.2016 - 10.2021
AVP – Finance Business Partner for Group Function and Corporate Shared Services
Zurich Insurance
09.2011 - 09.2016
Senior Financial Analyst IV, Corporate Real Estate and Procurement
Zurich Insurance
09.2008 - 09.2011
Manager of Financial Reporting
CNG Financial
10.2007 - 09.2008
Senior Financial Analyst
Zurich Insurance
08.2004 - 10.2007
Sr Financial Analyst
Allstate Insurance
01.2002 - 01.2004
Treasury Analyst
Square D Company
01.2001 - 01.2002
B.A. - Economics, Business Administration
Eastern Illinois University
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