Head of Group Accounting

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual group financial reporting
• Oversee the production of group management accounts, consolidated financial statements and associated reporting packs
• Manage the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency and adherence to reporting deadlines
• Oversee group consolidations, intercompany reconciliations and the resolution of complex accounting issues
• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, including IFRS, and applicable insurance and reinsurance reporting requirements
• Review technical accounting matters and assess the financial implications of complex reinsurance transactions
• Maintain robust financial controls, accounting policies and procedures across the group
• Coordinate statutory audits and work closely with external auditors to ensure timely completion of reporting requirements
• Support regulatory reporting, capital-related reporting and wider finance governance activities as required
• Partner with finance teams and senior stakeholders across the business to provide financial insight and resolve reporting issues
• Identify opportunities to streamline reporting processes, strengthen controls and improve the efficiency of the group finance function
• Provide leadership and technical guidance to the group accounting team, ensuring effective delivery across all reporting activities

Essential Requirements

• Fully qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent)
• Significant experience in group accounting, financial reporting and consolidation within a complex financial services environment
• Strong technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS and the preparation of consolidated financial statements
• Previous experience within the insurance or reinsurance sector
• Proven experience managing month-end, quarter-end and year-end reporting processes
• Strong understanding of group consolidations, intercompany accounting and balance sheet reconciliations
• Experience overseeing statutory audits and ensuring compliance with financial reporting requirements
• Excellent technical accounting, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities, with the ability to influence senior finance and business leaders
• Ability to operate autonomously, manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with group reporting or consolidation systems

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience in an interim Head of Group Accounting, Group Financial Controller or senior group reporting role
• Background within a global reinsurance business, international insurer or complex insurance group
• Knowledge of reinsurance accounting, including premiums, claims, recoveries and reinsurance contract arrangements
• Experience with IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 implementation, reporting or ongoing compliance
• Exposure to Solvency II, group capital reporting and insurance regulatory requirements
• Experience managing multi-entity, multi-currency consolidations across international jurisdictions

The Individual

The successful candidate will be a technically strong and commercially minded finance professional with extensive group accounting experience and a background in the insurance or reinsurance sector.

You will be confident operating at a senior level, taking ownership of complex reporting requirements and providing clear direction to the group accounting team.

With a hands-on approach and the ability to quickly understand existing processes, you will be comfortable navigating a fast-paced environment, resolving technical accounting challenges and working closely with senior stakeholders to ensure accurate, timely and robust financial reporting throughout the interim assignment.