Case Study: Strengthening FP&A Processes and Benchmarking for a Leading Life Insurer

Client Need

A U.S.-based life insurer engaged Acumen to enhance its Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) capabilities and provide support across key finance processes. The client sought additional expertise to improve the efficiency of quarterly closes, budgeting and forecasting, and expense management for shared services, including technology and project portfolio functions. The organization also wanted to establish a more data-driven approach to performance benchmarking and operational analytics across its core business lines.

Our Approach

Acumen deployed an experienced FP&A consultant to integrate within the client’s finance organization and provide hands-on leadership in day-to-day operations while advancing broader transformation goals. Key activities included:

• Managing and streamlining quarter-end processes and budget planning across business units.
• Enhancing transparency of technology and shared service expenses through improved cost modeling and reporting.
• Supporting the rollout of a new performance benchmarking framework spanning multiple product lines, coordinating financial, operational, and expense data to enable peer analysis and leadership insight.
• Partnering across finance, actuarial, and operational teams to document methodologies, validate assumptions, and establish repeatable processes for ongoing benchmarking updates.

This work required extensive collaboration across internal and external stakeholders, disciplined project management, and clear communication to ensure consistency and accuracy across data sources.

Results & Impact

• Delivered a comprehensive benchmarking capability providing leaders with actionable insights into expense drivers, operational KPIs, and competitive positioning.
• Improved efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting and forecasting processes.
• Strengthened alignment between finance, actuarial, and business operations teams through better documentation and shared understanding of key financial metrics.
• Enhanced data quality and standardization, creating a foundation for future analytics and strategic planning initiatives.

Client Feedback

Client leadership commended the consultant’s professionalism, perseverance, and collaborative approach—highlighting his ability to navigate complex data challenges, adapt to evolving project needs, and consistently deliver high-quality results that added measurable value to the organization.