Financial Accountant
London | Permanent -
About us
HDI is a Corporate & Specialty Insurer part of the Talanx Group. With over 120 years of experience, HDI operates across five continents, around 40 countries and employs over 5,000 people worldwide.
The role
This role will be part of a dynamic, busy and adaptive commercial financial control team that puts a lot of emphasis on supporting each other and helping each other grow along with supporting the wider finance team and company. This role will be joining a new team and so will be part of helping shape how the team looks and evolves as it takes on more responsibilities.
The Financial Accountant is responsible for ensuring that branch financial reporting is completed to a high quality and in a timely manner.
The role also has an emphasis on developing and improving the underlying processes and controls, in line with the policies and standards of the company. The job holder must have a strong sense of accountability and ownership of the work assigned and should be able to deliver results under tight deadlines, whilst showing flexibility and tenacity when required.
Key accountabilities
Financial Reporting (Technical)
- Responsible for preparing and delivering accurate quarterly and annual financial reporting requirements for the UK branch and assisting in the Service company and Carrier
- Manage the preparation and review process of branch financial results
- Ability to develop a detailed understanding of the technical result of the UK Branch
- Support the establishment of the ability to analyse the UK Branch result
- Maintain a clear overview and understanding of the translation of operational data into financial results
- Analyse changes in regulations (statutory, legal, etc), and the potential impact on the UK Branch
- Responsible for maintaining and communicating a clear understanding of the key interfaces across the technical result of the UK Branch
- Delivery of the UK Branch technical result, by ensuring systems and processes are in place to transform operational data into transparent financial results
- Implementation of process improvements to improve efficiency within scope of responsibility
- Support the deliveries of interim and annual audit for the UK Branch, Service Co and Carrier.
- Design, deliver, develop and analyse group/branch reports,
- Adhere to all local and group guidelines
Technical Revisions
- Monitoring the regulatory framework, both accounting and insurance aspects
- Analyse and understand the impact of any changes in the regulatory frameworks in advance, and communication of key aspects to senior management
- Represent finance regarding any anticipated system or process changes as required
- Contribute to the continued development of the general ledger and underwriting system
- Continuously monitor and improve processes around the use of the underwriting system, and its impact on the technical result, ensuring processes are documented, communicated, and implemented
System
- Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the underwriting system and its impact on the financial results
- Key individual for analysis between general ledger and underwriting system
- Establish a detailed understanding, and provide visibility of data transfer between underwriting system and general ledger
- Ensure the appropriate systems evolve as needed to ensure compliance with all financial regulatory and accounting standards
- Key contributor to design and roll-out of new company general ledger system
Process Improvement
- Identify opportunities for processes improvements to enhance the efficiency, quality and value of processes within the scope of responsibility
- Manage system improvements and documentation of controls in respect of branch reporting processes.
- Perform detailed validation work and analytical review on the data and address or escalate any unexpected results or inconsistencies in data.
Project Management
- Support end to end project management for functional projects including delivery of changes to meet new regulatory requirements, and changes to increase automation and drive efficiency
- Contribute to company-wide projects impacting finance
Risk and Controls
- Design, implement and maintain the process manual and controls to ensure the quality of the output for your area/team.
- Ensure documentation of the processes and output is accurate, up-to-date and accessible
Skills & experience
- Finalist Accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) or equivalent
- Insurance accounting experience
- Strong technical accounting skills
- Understanding of the current insurance industry financial reporting standards and external statutory and regulatory requirements (solvency UK)
- Experience and knowledge of general ledger systems (CODA desirable)
- Demonstrate evidence of interpreting and manipulating data clearly and accurately
- Advanced excel skills
- Desire for continuous improvement
Other
As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, recognising that a diverse and inclusive workplace is a creative and prosperous one.
If you require support with your application, please contact UK&IRE_Recruitment@hdi.global
Apply by 01/09/2025
Reference: HDI00540