Your new company Hays are currently working in exclusive partnership with a leading insurance business to recruit a senior finance professional to lead the company's expense base management. This company is an international, specialist insurance provider and broker who have been well-established for many years, with a great reputation. They look for people who can lead, engage and adapt, and who seek innovation, collaboration and inclusivity. They aim to build lasting partnerships with customers that share their values. Your new role You will be responsible for managing the organisation's cost base, including all activities relating to expense accounting, expense reporting, procurement cost, and investment analysis. You will be supported by a small team but will have significant interaction with the wider team and drive collaboration between the senior leaders of different divisions. You will have a wide scope of responsibility that will include accountability for expense reporting, budgeting, investment analysis and project outcome tracking. You will work with centralised finance teams and business unit leaders, as well as leading on local aspects of procurement and ensuring compliance with company policy and procedure. Specific responsibilities include: Expense Accounting Ensures organisational needs are met by centralised Accounts Payable services. Tracks the accuracy and efficiency of the Accounts Payable process and provides appropriate reports on performance, including those for regulatory purposes. Ensures the expense team help to manage an effective interaction between business operations and the Accounts Payable team. Manages monthly expense accounting processes to ensure the accurate and complete recording of accrual/prepayment and capital/depreciation transactions. Ensures appropriate expense reconciliation controls are in place. Manages and records expense allocation rules and their application and ensures they are updated regularly to reflect business changes. Expense reporting/planning Develops and provides monthly expense management reports to senior management. Develops and provides cost centre reports to track spend and compare to budgets and collaborates with cost centre owners on spend performance and drives actions that arise from those interactions. Reports on, and analyses, Travel & Entertainment spend and ensures relevant variances and issues are identified and addressed. Develops and provides reports analysing the expense ratio of business lines and platforms and provides insight as to the underlying business model. Manages the budget process and collaborates closely with relevant business functions (notably Operations and IT) on granular levels of spend. Throughout the planning cycle works closely with the Strategic Planning & Analysis team on overall expense outcomes. Expense investment analysis Reviews the framework for cost benefit analyses and benefit delivery tracking and provides relevant feedback throughout project lifecycles. Participates in project steering committees and forums as the expense management lead. Engages in cross-functional projects and initiatives and provides expertise on expense management discipline. Maintains a view of long-term expense strategy that feeds into multi-year plans and demonstrates growth versus investment trade-offs.Finance and business collaboration Operates as a key manager within the Finance function, working closely with colleagues in the Finance teams. Manages effective relationships, across all expense matters, with other business functions and business leaders. Closely collaborates with colleagues and providers delivering centralised services from other locations.This is a full-time role, working 40 hours per week between Monday and Friday, but the exact working pattern can be flexible to suit the right candidate. What you'll need to succeed Significant experience of procurement and expense management. Qualified Accountant (CIMA. ACCA, ACA) (desirable). Experience of multi-functional collaboration in a relatively large organisation. A proven problem-solver with strong analytical experience. A confident individual with the ability to manage the expectations of senior management. Self-starter, proactive work ethic with a willingness to provide support where required. Advanced Excel user skills and strong application usage experience (required). Strong organisation and time management skills. Ability to communicate effectively and explain technical issues. Ability to build relationships with other functional areas of the business. What you'll get in return You will receive a highly competitive salary, 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays), discretionary annual bonus, a 10% minimum employer pension contribution, season ticket loans, private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection, free health assessment, health cash plan, access to a leading 24-hour EAP, wellbeing fund and free eye test and glasses contribution. Hays EA is a trading division of Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited and acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)