Financial Controller

Client Overview

Our client operates in the insurance industry and is recruiting for a permanent position within the Finance department.

The Financial Controller leads the Group’s day-to-day finance operation, making sure the numbers are right, reporting lands on time and the right controls are in place. Reporting to the Financial Director, you will lead a team of four – a Finance Manager and three Accounts Assistants – who carry out the core finance processes day to day. Your job is to set the standard, review their work, resolve the harder questions and keep improving how the team operates.

The role covers month-end and management accounts, cash flow, balance sheet control, statutory accounts and audit, regulatory reporting and the Group’s insurer balances and IMC. The Finance Manager will lead the transactional and month-end work with the Accounts Assistants, giving you the space to focus on review, control, the more complex areas and working with the Financial Director and wider business.

Role and Responsibilities

• Financial control and month-end reporting
• Cash flow and working capital
• Insurer balances and the IMC
• External reporting, audit and regulatory return
• Controls and continuous improvement
• Leading the team and working with the business

Key Skills

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA), with a strong grounding in financial accounting, reporting and control.

• Experience in an FCA-regulated business, insurance intermediary, broker or MGA, including RMAR and client/insurer money requirements.
• Experience controlling insurer balances, commission settlements, cancellations and clawbacks.
• Experience in a Financial Controller, Finance Manager or similar role with responsibility for month-end, management accounts and balance sheet control.
• Experience leading and developing a small finance team.
• Experience of cash flow reporting, bank reconciliations and working capital management.
• Experience coordinating external audits and preparing statutory accounts.
• Good attention to detail, with the ability to review others’ work, challenge unexplained balances and resolve issues.
• Strong Excel skills and experience with accounting systems and reporting tools.
• Clear communicator, organised and comfortable managing priorities and deadlines.