Senior Group Reporting Accountant - IFRS (18 Month FTC)

We’re First Central Insurance & Technology Group (First Central for short), an innovative, market-leading insurance company. We protect the things customers love so they can get on with what matters to them in life. 

Data drives us. It fuels our outstanding distribution, finance, technology and legal services. Our underwriting skills are built on data expertise; it creates the insights we need to give the right cover to the right customers at the right price. But, it’s the people inside and outside our business that power us. They make us stand out, help us succeed. We’re ambitious. We’re growing. We’ve won awards.   

Are you an experienced Senior Group Accountant with a passion for IFRS and consolidation?

We’re looking for someone for a 18 month Fixed Term Contract (we've also got 2 permanent roles in this area - please refer to our other job posting!) who's highly motivated to join our Finance team and play a key role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our external financial reporting.

Working closely with senior stakeholders, you'll lead IFRS reporting across First Central, bringing your expertise in IFRS accounting, consolidation, and group reporting to the table. You'll make sure we stay compliant with the latest updates and interpretations. This is a fantastic opportunity to have a real impact on the business and help shape our financial reporting processes.

As Senior Group Accountant IFRS, you'll be responsible for overseeing the preparation and review of consolidated financial statements in full compliance with IFRS, ensuring accurate reporting across monthly, quarterly, and annual cycles. This includes staying updated on IFRS changes, assessing their impact, and implementing necessary adjustments.

You'll prepare technical accounting papers, develop IFRS policies, and collaborate with internal teams such as actuarial to meet IFRS17 requirements. Contributing to the month-end close process, you'll perform account reconciliations, provide mentorship to junior team members and liaise with various stakeholders, ensuring strong controls, and continuously improving financial reporting processes and systems.

Must-have skills for success in this role:

• IFRS and Insurance Accounting Expertise: Extensive experience and expertise with IFRS and insurance accounting principles, ensuring compliance and accuracy in financial reporting.

• Leadership and Team Management: Proven ability to lead and mentor accounting teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.

• Project Management: Strong skills in managing projects, driving change, and optimising processes to improve efficiency.

• Analytical and Communication Skills: Excellent analytical abilities to evaluate data and provide actionable insights, combined with effective communication to present complex financial information to senior stakeholders.

What's involved:

• External Reporting (IFRS): Prepare and review consolidated financial statements, notes, and disclosures in full compliance with IFRS for all required reporting periods. Stay abreast of the latest IFRS updates and interpretations, assessing their impact on the Group and implementing necessary changes to ensure compliance. Prepare technical accounting papers and memos to support accounting treatment under IFRS for complex transactions. Develop and maintain IFRS accounting policies and procedures for the Group.
• Consolidation and Group Reporting: Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual consolidated financial reports for internal management and external stakeholders. Review and analyse financial information, ensuring accuracy and consistency across the Group on an IFRS basis. Work closely with the actuarial team to capture all IFRS17 reporting requirements. Assist in the development and implementation of group IFRS accounting policies and procedures.
• Month-End Close: Contribute to the efficient and accurate completion of the month-end close process. Perform complex account reconciliations and analysis. Prepare and post journal entries as required.
• Other Responsibilities: Liaise with various stakeholders, including subsidiary finance teams, tax, treasury, and legal. Contribute to the continuous improvement of financial reporting processes and systems. Mentor and provide guidance to junior members of the finance team.
• Controls: Design and maintain efficient and effective second line controls within the function through reconciliation and maintaining audit trails to ensure proportionate safeguarding the risk of fraud, error or omission.

 Experience, skills & qualifications:

• Experience: Extensive experience in insurance accounting, with a strong focus on IFRS. Direct and indirect tax experience.
• Qualifications: ACA/ACCA qualified accountant with significant post-qualified experience.
• Leadership: Proven leadership skills with the ability to coach and inspire teams at all levels.
• Project Management: Demonstrated experience in managing projects and driving process improvements.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders.
• Analytical: Strong analytical skills, capable of driving data-driven decision-making and process optimisation.
• Commercial Awareness: A solid understanding of industry trends and regulatory factors, with a keen commercial mindset.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient in Microsoft applications, with advanced skills in Excel and data analysis tools.

Behaviours:

• Results-driven with a keen attention to detail, while understanding the audience
• Empathetic leader able to inspire and motivate a wide range of stakeholders
• Skilled at delivering controlled change, overcoming obstacles, and influencing across teams
• Agile in project management, adapting quickly to changes in business priorities and seizing emerging opportunities
• Self-motivated, organised, proactive, and flexible, with the ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Always striving to drive business improvements and contribute to overall success

If you're ready to take on an exciting challenge and contribute to the continued success of First Central, we’d love to hear from you. It's a fantastic opportunity to develop your career, where your skills and experience will make a real impact. To apply, please submit your application and join us in shaping the future of our finance team. We look forward to hearing from you! Let’s unlock the power of finance together!

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here. 

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.