Financial Accountant

Role Overview

This role is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of financial data across all insurance-related activities. It covers key technical areas including FRS103 reporting, premiums, brokerage, Deferred Acquisition Costs (DAC), Unearned Premium Reserve (UPR), claims, and technical account reconciliations.

The Financial Accountant plays a significant role in the financial reporting cycle, supporting quarterly close activities, performing analytical reviews, and producing high-quality financial outputs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Accounting & Reporting

• Prepare and review financial results in line with FRS103 and relevant accounting standards.
• Monitor and analyse key insurance technical accounts (Premiums, Claims, DAC, UPR, Technical Provisions).
• Perform high-quality reconciliations, ensuring strong controls and auditability.
• Conduct analytical reviews, including trend and movement analysis.
• Perform actual vs expected analysis with clear variance explanations.
• Support and track timely completion of month-end close activities.
• Prepare year-end financial statements, ensuring completeness and accurate ledger tie-outs.
• Produce detailed analytical review notes to support disclosures.
• Support internal and external regulatory and group reporting submissions.

2. Management Information & Board Reporting

• Prepare and coordinate Management Information (MI) packs.
• Contribute to Board packs with clear and concise financial summaries.
• Deliver high-quality variance analysis and commentary.
• Provide visual and data-driven insights tailored to senior leadership.

3. Analytical Review & Controls

• Conduct deep-dive analysis into technical balances, ratios, and trends.
• Investigate and resolve reconciliation differences with proper documentation.
• Support improvements to finance processes, controls, and documentation standards.

4. Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Work closely to ensure financial alignment and accuracy.
• Partner with actuarial, claims, underwriting, and FP&A teams.
• Communicate financial insights clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Support internal and external audits with accurate and timely documentation.

General Responsibilities

• Comply with all policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements (including PRA and FCA Conduct Rules).
• Uphold high standards of business ethics and customer fairness.
• Maintain awareness of relevant regulatory, compliance, and internal standards.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as required, including participation in committees or projects.

Candidate Specification

Essential Criteria

• Professional accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA preferred) or qualified by experience, ideally 3 – 4 years post qualified experience.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (UK GAAP and IFRS).
• Solid commercial and financial awareness.
• Knowledge of insurance and Lloyd’s market.
• Proven post-qualification experience in financial reporting (preferably in insurance).
• Experience in process design and control management.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail.
• Advanced Excel skills (including Power Query and PowerPivot).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Effective time management and prioritisation.