VP, Affordability Finance & Actuarial Forecasting - Optum Health

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 Vice President, Affordability Finance & Actuarial Forecasting is a senior leadership role within the Optum Health Actuarial organization, responsible for the financial integrity, forecasting, and enterprise consolidation of Affordability initiatives. This role is accountable for translating hundreds of affordability efforts across Optum Health into disciplined, credible, and decision ready financial forecasts that integrate directly with actuarial planning, reserving, and IOI commitments.

This leader serves as the central point of accountability for affordability financial governance—balancing innovation and optimism with evidence, experience, and disciplined judgment.

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:

Enterprise Affordability Forecasting

• Own the consolidated affordability forecast for Optum Health, tracking performance to targets and producing forward looking estimates consistent with actuarial and financial planning processes
• Ensure affordability forecasts are methodologically sound and appropriately reflected in enterprise plans and reserves

Independent Program Vetting & Confidence Assessment

• Lead the review and challenge of affordability estimates submitted by program owners, HCE, and operating teams
• Apply structured confidence levels reflecting program design, execution risk, evidence quality, and historical experience
• Translate optimistic program assumptions into conservative, defensible forecasts that protect enterprise credibility

Evidence Based Valuation

• Review and interpret clinical and operational effectiveness studies to ensure appropriate application in forecasting
• Guide the responsible use of measured outcomes to forecast both existing programs and new, comparable initiatives

Leading Indicators & Forecast Refinement

• Partner across actuarial, finance, analytics, and clinical teams to identify true leading indicators of affordability performance
• Incorporate early results and actual to expected insights to continually refine forecasts as programs deploy and mature

Enterprise Consolidation & Reporting

• Oversee the consolidation of hundreds of affordability initiatives into coherent financial views for leadership
• Ensure consistent definitions, assumptions, and reporting across pillars, regions, and program types

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and develop a high performing actuarial and finance team responsible for affordability modeling, consolidation, and reporting
• Establish standardized prototype models and guidance to support consistent estimate development across the organization

Stakeholder Partnership & Governance

• Work proactively with affordability leaders and program sponsors to ensure initiatives are clearly defined, measurable, and forecastable
• Provide firm, constructive pushback where assumptions or definitions compromise forecast integrity—recognizing this role includes productive friction

Leadership Impact

This role is critical to Optum Health’s ability to:

• Reliably forecast affordability and close IOI gaps
• Distinguish true incremental value from baseline activity
• Maintain financial credibility with senior leadership and enterprise partners
• Scale affordability efforts without eroding governance or confidence
• Getting these numbers right is essential to Optum Health’s performance and long term success.

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:

• Senior actuarial or finance leadership experience in complex healthcare environments
• Solid understanding of healthcare affordability levers (care management, utilization management, payment integrity, and related programs)
• Deep grounding in forecasting, financial planning, and reserving
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply program effectiveness studies to financial projections
• Proven willingness to challenge assumptions and speak up in high stakes environments
• Executive presence, sound judgment, and collaborative leadership style

Preferred Qualifications:

• Credentialed actuary (FSA or ASA)
• 12+ years of broad actuarial experience within healthcare payer organizations, with proven expertise in risk assessment and analytics
• Deep familiarity with medical cost trend forecasting and/or historical reporting processes and large scale analytical workflows with executive exposure
• Demonstrated success in leading modernization programs and implementing advanced analytics or AI solutions in actuarial applications
• Demonstrated success in driving change management activities within and across actuarial teams
• Solid partnership and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders across diverse functions
• Broad business acumen and understanding of healthcare payer operations, data sources and industry trends
• Exceptional leadership in change management, guiding teams through technology and process transformation
• Excellent communication skills: ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to non-technical senior leaders (CEO,CFO, etc.), ability to understand perspectives of multiple constituents
• Recognized industry thought leader with experience collaborating with cross functional partners and presenting analytical findings to an executive audience
• This role is tailored for a dynamic executive who thrives in a collaborative environment and is committed to advancing actuarial innovation within a leading healthcare organization

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

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 $200,400 to $343,500 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.