Financial Controller - Group Legal Entities
From day one, our mission has been to create an independent business with a unique culture - one that is controlled by the people who work for it. Finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people has always been key to our success.
People come to Howden for lots of different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. That's what sets us apart, and why we nurture and retain the best talent in the market. Whatever your priorities - work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
Role Profile
Legal entities Financial Controller
Reporting line: Chief Accounting Officer (reporting to Group FD and Group CFO)
Overview:
The successful candidate will be responsible for the oversight of the Howden head office legal entities. There are c.15 head office legal entities including the ultimate parent company, intermediate and financing companies. These are important and intricate entities as the engine room for a variety of Group processes including share buy backs (EBT), funding, FX and interest rate hedging.
You will be responsible for the accurate and timely monthly submissions including completion of balance sheet reconciliations and control attestations. As well as timely monthly submissions, the role will be key in the delivering of statutory accounts prepared across FRS 101 and FRS 102, which will then be input into the FP&A cycle for these said entities.
You will be part of a team of c. 20 direct and indirect reports reporting to the Chief Accounting Officer. There is a wider Finance function split across FP&A, tax, treasury, financial risk management, Group central services and corporate finance
Key responsibilities
Management and development of a team of 6 (currently two permanent headcount and four offshore outsourced provider headcount) Project based work would will include (but is not limited to):
* Managing Funds flow when treasury entities borrow external funding for M&A
* Providing advice to the wider group relating to intragroup restructurings
* Ongoing integration of subsidiary holding companies
* Support and collegiate responsibility for the wider teams across Finance in particular with tax, corporate finance and treasury teams
Key accountabilities (what you are measured on)
* Effective and timely delivery of above deliverables including monthly items, year end and budgeting and forecasting
* Timely and accurate input into projects
* The Management and continuous development of your team and direct reports
Key competencies (knowledge, experience and abilities)
Essential
* Extensive knowledge of UK GAAP and IFRS and relevant UK law.
* Previous experience with reporting systems such as OneStream and Unit4 GL or equivalent
* Strong organisational and problem solving skills
* Ability to own individual / team outputs and deliverables
* Advanced MS Excel knowledge for data manipulation and analysis (V-look ups and Pivot tables)
* Ability to learn quickly and adapt to a constantly evolving business environment and Group structure
* Ability to work under pressure with a solutions orientated approach
* Strong interpersonal skills and ability to mentor and coach team members
* Candidates must have strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills
* Ability to form and maintain relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
* Ideal candidates must have previous Audit experience or knowledge of preparing financial statements
Desirable
* Knowledge of IFRS 9 and UK Company Law over distributable reserves desirable but not essential
Professional qualifications
* Ideal candidates will have a minimum of at least 10 years of relevant PQE
* Preferable candidates will be Qualified on the ACA or equivalent
* Previous Big 4 experience would be ideal (but is not essential)
Our Culture: People First
We've travelled far since opening our first office in 1994. Back then we were local experts - based in London, with direct access to the world's biggest insurance market. We're still locals, and we still deliver the right advice and the right insurance to our clients. But now, we're local all over the world. With 15,000 global colleagues and a partner network spanning more than 100 territories, we are the largest independent insurance broker in the world. But our values haven't changed since day one, when we set out to create a company grounded in:
• An employee-ownership model
• Aligned external investors
• The trust and integrity born of friendship
• Expertise
• Independence
Our focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of Howden. Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture; one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. Our employee ownership model sets us apart in the market. It's created a culture of collaboration and innovation, where we're driven to think bigger and empowered to challenge convention.
Our flat structure and entrepreneurial spirit help us attract the best people and empower them to be the best version of themselves. And when we bring in and nurture great talent, more follows. That makes us better - and that's better for everyone.
Diversity & Inclusion
At Howden we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness and respect, regardless of their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or family circumstances.
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