Head of Finance – Reporting, Control & Operations, UK Remote in London

Animal Friends Insurance is seeking an ambitious, technically accomplished finance leader to help shape the future direction of our finance function within a regulated insurance environment. This newly created senior role is designed for someone with deep technical accounting expertise and strong insurance knowledge, alongside the judgement and executive presence to influence at the highest level.

You will take full ownership of core finance disciplines, bringing fresh thinking to the delivery of financial reporting, financial control and finance operations across a complex, regulated insurance business. Reporting directly to the CFO, you will act as a trusted deputy and strategic partner – constructively challenging, strengthening end‐to‐end accountability, and driving measurable improvements across finance processes, systems and data, while ensuring robust regulatory compliance.

You will lead continuous improvement across the function, enhancing financial controls, improving operational efficiency, and elevating the quality, insight and reliability of financial information to support strong underwriting, regulatory and commercial outcomes. We're committed to flexible and inclusive working, enabling our team to work remotely from anywhere in the UK.

What we’re looking for:

• ACCA or FCCA qualified, with 5+ years post‐qualification experience
• Senior‐level insurance industry experience
• Proven leadership experience in financial accounting and reporting
• Strong understanding of Accounts Payable and finance operations
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills

What you’ll be doing:

• Full oversight of management accounts, statutory, regulatory and tax reporting, ensuring compliance with FRS102 and readiness for future IFRS and regulatory change
• Ownership of external audit delivery, ensuring smooth, high‐quality audit outcomes
• Lead the finance relationship with underwriters (including RSE migration to Pinnacle), ensuring robust bordereau reporting and fully supported premium, commission, claims and cash flows
• Oversight of regulatory capital and cash position, regularly advising the CFO on outlook, risks and dividend capacity
• Act as Deputy CFO and a visible leader within the Head of Function community
• Champion strong data governance, working closely with data teams to ensure finance reporting is accurate, controlled and reliable
• Own and evolve the finance controls and risk management framework, ensuring alignment with Group standards
• Work closely with the FP&A team to achieve commercial insight and achieve business targets
• Lead a high‐performing Financial Control, Management Reporting and Data & Change team (with 3 Direct Reports)
• Ensure banking arrangements are optimised and fit for purpose
• Partner with Group Tax and external advisors to deliver accurate, timely tax compliance
• Oversight of Accounts Payable, strengthening controls to mitigate fraud risk and align with Group procurement
• Lead, develop and inspire the Financial Reporting, Control & Operations team, setting objectives and conducting performance reviews
• Play a key role in the Group's finance transformation programme (common platforms, shared services)

Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging at Animal Friends

At Animal Friends, we take inclusion seriously. This means nurturing a culture that respects everyone as an individual and values the unique perspectives we all bring through our background, characteristics, and lived experiences. We know that harnessing our differences makes us stronger and helps us to deliver better outcomes for our customers and each other. That’s why we are committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly and without discrimination, and we are passionate about creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong.

Our recruitment process

As an FCA regulated business, we require successful applicants to clear our pre‐employment screening process which includes a credit check and references checks. Under the latest UK Right to Work regulations, we will require successful applicants to evidence their right to work in the UK, either in person, online, or digitally via a third party subject to circumstances. Please be aware this advert will remain open until the vacancy has been filled rather than the advertised closing date. Interviews will take place throughout this period; therefore, we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.