German Ramirez Email & Phone Number

Schaumburg, Il, Us

Northbrook, Il, Us

•Responsible for providing independent and objective assurance and audit services for Allstate’s Protection Segment, a business with $25 billion in revenue •Develop and deliver the annual audit plan consisting of strategic and operational audits, and consultancy engagements to identify key risks and improve business performance •Lead and direct staff of varying levels of experience in the formulation and execution of audit objectives and scope for all assigned audits. Perform and/or participate in the execution of complex and strategic audits•Communicate effectively and foster optimal relationships with key senior leadership to develop an audit plan that aligns with the Company’s goals and objectives •Lead and coordinate the department’s audit strategy for annual planning, quarterly risk assessment and rolling audit plan•Support the department’s audit strategy for the implementation of the Thomson Reuters audit tool•Prepare and communicate the Internal Audit Report to the Allstate Canada Group Board Audit Committee•Lead, coach and mentor direct reports in career development activities and opportunities

•Responsible for leading and transforming Group Internal Audit’s largest team (12) into an upper quartile audit function•Implemented a new audit strategy and structure to optimize the provision of assurance and advisory services •Transformed the audit function into a more effective and efficient Team through the implementation of hubs, recruitment of business specialists and accomplished audit generalists, centralized common audit activities •Through coaching and development opportunities, built a Team of highly engaged, motivated and customer oriented staff•Changed and centered the audit assurance activities around a “risk centric” model with clear focus on strategic risks •Managed effective relationships with key executives and contributed to a “no surprises” culture through active communication and early identification of emerging risks and issues•Managed costs under budget by five percent against an approved budget of £1.4 million •Provided independent and objective assurance to the Group Audit Committee including plan development, reporting and audit service delivery

Audit Director, Zurich Latin America, April 2007 – February 2010•Responsible for providing independent and objective assurance to the International Markets (IM) Audit Committee (AC) •Responsible for the development of the annual and quarterly rolling audit plan which considered global and local audits •Supported the implementation and effectiveness of integrated assurance reporting to the IM AC and participated in the committee as a standing participant •Issued periodic reports to senior management on a monthly basis summarizing audit results, key business changes impacting the control environment issues and the status of corrective actions for areas of responsibility•Responsible for maintaining a professional staff (between 9 and 14) with sufficient skill, knowledge and experience necessary to achieve the objectives outlined in the Group Audit charterAudit Senior Manager, Zurich North America, December 2003 – April 2007 •Responsible for providing independent and objective assurance in the areas of Finance, Reinsurance, Corporate Governance and Risk Management •Responsible for the development and execution of the annual audit plan for area of responsibility •Responsible for maintaining a professional staff with sufficient skills (staff of 6), knowledge and experience necessary to achieve Group Audit objectives•Completed a 5-month development assignment in Switzerland and in the United Kingdom working in the Group's Corporate Center and Europe Audit function. Worked directly for the Head of Group Audit on various projects which included the development of the Group's Audit Committee Member Induction Program and providing research support to the formation of a Board Risk Committee•Completed quality assurance reviews of the Audit functions in Latin America, Corporate Center and Farmers Group, Inc. •Supported and facilitated the completion of management's documentation and control evaluation for the internal controls over financial reporting

Northbrook, Il, Us

Held various management and supervisory roles within Finance over the course of my 8 year career. Positions held were within Statutory Reporting, Operational Accounting (managing the financial close), and Reinsurance Accounting and Operations.Accounting Division Manager – Reinsurance Operations, September 2001 – November 2002•Responsible for managing 2 voluntary reinsurance ceded units with a staff of 9 employees•Accurately account for the Division’s voluntary treaty and facultative ceded reinsurance activities (bookings, billings, notices to the reinsurance markets)•Responsible for compliance with accounting policy for both GAAP and Statutory Reporting, where appropriate draft accounting policy •Supported other reinsurance functions such collections, liquidations, arbitration and commutation activities •Provided summary analysis to upper management and made recommendations to drive action •Responsible for process improvements and the elimination of non-value added work/processes Unit Manager – Reinsurance Accounting/Reinsurance Controllers, February 1998 – September 2001 •Responsible for a staff of 8 employees. Primary responsibilities included the month-end close, account reconciliations, statutory reporting and run-off of various programs related to both direct business and assumed reinsurance•Review and approve all month-end close files, accounting entries and account analysis prepared by staff members•Responsible for all reinsurance GAAP, statutory quarterly and annual reporting consisting of Schedule F, reinsurance footnotes and disclosures for various legal entities •Responsible for research and implementation of statutory codification. Prepared proposal presented to Senior Financial Management for Statement of Position 97-3, Guaranty Funds and Insurance Related Assessments•Reviewed management reports for the department and covered results with management and the Group Controller