Associate Director Finance - Ancillary Analytical Lead

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 - Ancillary Lead will lead finance and analytic efforts focused on ancillary services within Optum Health Finance. This role will help the organization better understand category performance by assessing utilization patterns, cost movement, and operational drivers across a broad set of ancillary service areas.

As a recognized subject matter resource, this individual will work closely with senior stakeholders to evaluate complex business issues, shape analytic priorities, and develop practical solutions that improve insight and decision support. The role requires strong technical capability, sound business judgment, and the ability to guide both people and work through complexity.

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead ancillary-focused finance and analytics work aligned to business priorities and performance objectives
• Manage and develop team members while building strong technical and problem-solving capability
• Serve as a functional expert on ancillary trend evaluation, category performance, and related financial insights
• Design and refine analytical methods that improve understanding of utilization, cost behavior, and operational variation
• Support leadership teams with actionable insight, structured analysis, and recommendations tied to ancillary strategy and performance improvement
• Lead high-impact initiatives requiring collaboration across finance, actuarial, healthcare economics, and operations
• Solve unique and complex business problems that span multiple stakeholders and areas of the business
• Present complex concepts clearly and effectively to technical, operational, and executive audiences
• Influence leaders to adopt new analytical approaches, frameworks, and perspectives that strengthen business outcomes

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.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of hands-on programming experience in analytics, data, or financial modeling environments
• 1+ years of people leadership or formal team leadership experience
• Solid background in healthcare, financial, and analytical data
• Demonstrated success solving complex business problems and leading analytical work with meaningful impact
• Demonstrated solid business and financial acumen
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills with the ability to simplify highly complex topics for diverse audiences
• Proven ability to work across functions and influence outcomes in a matrixed organization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Finance, Economics, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field
• Experience in healthcare, payer, or managed care environments
• Experience supporting leaders with data-driven recommendations tied to performance improvement and business strategy
• Background in ancillary services, utilization analytics, or healthcare cost analysis

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $112,700 to $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.