This role is home based.

Purpose of the Role:

This role will report to the Deputy Financial Controller and will be responsible for undertaking assigned project work to include acquisitions, disposals and embedding change into the team and wider Group. More specifically, the role will be responsible for working alongside the Segments, Technical Accounting team and new acquisitions to support and deliver smooth integration, accurate acquisition accounting and consistent post-acquisition reporting, converting the technical recommendations and external advice into real time general ledger entries. Whilst the role will have a financial focus, there will be the requirement to understand all reporting systems and the interlinkage between them and, where appropriate, provide training to new users and act as a central point of knowledge for new acquisitions and the wider Group.

In addition, the role will look to review current Group practices and deliver improvements in the reporting environment, in conjunction with the Systems team and external consultants as required. This will include the roll out of D365 and standardisation of Group reporting. Further to the core responsibilities, the role will require adaptability and the completion of ad hoc assignments to support the Group Reporting Function.

Duties will include:

• Work as part of a multi-functional team to ensure the effective onboarding of newly acquired companies to include; ledger set-up, mapping of the trial balance to the Group Chart of Accounts, support with monthly reporting requirements, agreement of completion accounts and acquisition balance sheet position, tracking deferred consideration and wider statutory reporting responsibilities.
• Support external auditors with the interim and year-end review of acquisitions in the financial year
• Provide training to teams and individuals to support their financial integration
• Implementation of key controls in line with the Ardonagh Accountability Framework for new business
• Work with the Systems team, M&A and Technical Accounting team to ensure new acquisitions are set up and transactions booked accurately and in a timely manner to ensure effective ongoing Group reporting.
• Monthly review of Group reporting output to understand and deliver standardisation and general improvements to the reporting practices.
• Assist in regulated companies solvency position monitoring and reporting for new acquisitions
• Assist in preparation of Audit Committee / Board papers as required
• Assist with Controls work documentation and monitoring /remediation as required

Other ad hoc tasks:

• Assistance with system implementation for new acquisitions to ensure they have all the required functionality to report accurately post acquisition and going forward
• Assistance with project and other work as required
• Reporting and documenting team controls as appropriate
• Treasury Signatory in support of control framework/delegated authority matrix.
• Ad-hoc tasks as required

Key Role Accountabilities:

Functional Knowledge/ technical knowledge:

• Good working knowledge of the Financial Control team responsibilities
• Consolidation and IFRS knowledge
• Experience of acquisition accounting and integration management

Business Expertise:

• Effective written and oral communication skills to communicate complex accounting language simply
• Ability to build strong relationships required for liaising with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to challenge, enquire, analyse and establish rapid and effective relationships with stakeholders
• Ability to apply existing skills to other tasks as required

Driving continuous improvement and innovation:

• Analytical and problem-solving skills required to recognise and solve problems / issues when they arise.
• Able to present information in a concise, efficient and professional manner to senior management

Building self-insight & relationships:

Strong relationships with all internal and external stakeholders

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Effective communication skills, written and oral
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Initiative, proactivity, enquiring approach, resourcefulness
• Adaptability, ability to embrace and respond positively to change
• Analytical and investigative skills, logical reasoning and problem-solving skills - individually and collaboratively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Integrity and assertiveness when dealing with complex / business critical issues
• Flexibility of working practices, priorities and hours to meet business demands

Desirable:

• Microsoft Excel skills to advanced level, including lookups, pivots, macros and modelling.
• Experience of Dynamics 365, Tagetik and multiple finance operations functions

Qualifications and Experience:

• Education - Degree level educated (or equivalent).
• Specialised Knowledge -IFRS, UK GAAP
• Microsoft Office skills to intermediate level
• Professional Certification - ACA/ACCA/CIMA with industry experience
• Experience - Previous experience of working in a control environment (ideally FCA/PRA), acquisitions and integration and financial reporting.