Lead Financial Analyst FTC in London

Division: Financial Planning Team within Financial Performance

Reports To: As per Beazley’s organisation chart

Key Relationships: Executive Management, Finance Leadership Team, Finance Global Business Management, Finance Group & Statutory Reporting, Capital Planning, Group Actuarial, Ceded Reinsurance, Underwriting Teams, and other Business Users.

Job Summary: Specialist insurance company Beazley is seeking a Lead Financial Analyst within its Finance function to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders across the business. Reporting to the Head of Financial Planning, this role will involve managing the accurate and timely delivery of group GAAP (IFRS 4) planning and forecasting deliverables with a short‑term focus (annual plans) and scenarios, alongside ultimate oversight of all related GAAP planning submissions. The role includes reviewing and enhancing the current financial planning capability and offering, alongside championing the continued development of an EPM tool (Workday Adaptive) into core processes and analytics. This role will be responsible for managing a team (2 direct reports), deploying expertise to create extra value and enable the team to deliver on the benefits of Finance modernisation and help achieve the company’s overall strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team focused on group short‑term (annual) planning on a GAAP basis with a focus on customer service to provide best‑in‑class service. The role is chiefly accountable for on‑time delivery of the 1‑year GAAP plans to the Executive, PLC board and all relevant downstream reporting teams: SII, US RBC, Capital and Divisional/Platform Reporting.
• Manage accurate and timely delivery of group planning and forecasting deliverables, analytics and scenarios (technical and non‑technical), and present to the Group CFO at committee level as requested.
• Hold ultimate ownership of all global 1‑year GAAP P&L planning submissions produced on a regional statutory and regulatory basis, involving close cooperation with the Head of European / Wholesale / North American Finance.
• Challenge stakeholders on their outputs (timeliness and quality) in business partnering and actuarial teams, producing real board‑room value through each of the Financial Planning Team’s deliverables. Alternative views and professional judgements should be brought forward and escalated where necessary.
• Ensure close collaboration with the IFRS 17 planning and strategic planning team to understand the differences between the two standards and identify synergies. The job holder must be competent in analysing IFRS 17 financials.
• Review and enhance the current global planning capability and offering; work with Finance modernisation towards future state, championing the use of the Workday Adaptive Tool in core processes. Be proactive, creative and problem‑solving to embed future efficiencies within Adaptive as Business Lead to the development team.
• Participate in projects and present ideas and meaningful challenges to the norm, ensuring a beneficial outcome for all invested parties, given Beazley’s wide‑scope understanding this role will offer.
• Ensure that all employees have the knowledge and skills necessary to perform effectively in their roles and receive sufficient training and guidance to help further career progression.
• Work with the Head of Financial Planning and their management team to foster a culture that values employee experience, empowerment and wellbeing, while amplifying the team’s overall capabilities.
• Own GAAP consolidation accounting across all budgets and forecasts, and occasionally act as a subject‑matter expert on such technical matters in assistance to the actuals reporting teams.
• Embed oneself within wider company activities and support various finance and charitable initiatives.

General

It is important that within all your interactions, both internally and externally, you adhere to Beazley’s core values – Being Bold, Striving for Better, and Doing the Right Thing. We also expect Beazley employees to:

• Comply with Beazley procedures, policies and regulations including the code of conduct.
• Undertake training on Beazley policies and procedures as delivered by your line manager, the Culture & People or assurance teams (compliance, risk, internal audit) either directly, via e‑learning or the learning‑management system.
• Display business ethics that uphold the interests of all our customers.
• Ensure all interactions with customers are focused on delivering a fair outcome, including having the right products for their needs.
• Comply with any specific responsibilities necessary for your role as outlined by your line manager, the Culture & People or assurance teams (compliance, risk, internal audit) and keep up to date with developments in these areas. This may include, among others, Beazley’s underwriting control standards, Beazley’s claims control standards, other Beazley standards and customer relationship management.
• Carry out additional responsibilities as individually notified, either through your objectives or through the learning‑management system. These may include membership of any Beazley committees or working groups.

Personal Specification

We are a flexible and innovative employer offering a friendly, collaborative, diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively encourage and expect applications from all backgrounds. We empower people to choose where to work given the work they need to do. Collaboration in office spaces is important but we do not mandate a set number of days in the office or from home – you decide what works best for you and the role you are in. Beazley will offer a competitive salary, discretionary bonus and a strong benefits package including commuting reimbursement, free in‑office lunch, excellent parental leave and financial, physical and mental wellbeing contributions among others.

Essential Criteria

• Experienced qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Experience of the insurance market, preferably Lloyd’s
• Experience of planning roles within complex insurance organisations and knowledge of accounting policies adopted.

Education and Qualifications

• Experience using and developing the capabilities of EPM planning tools (such as Workday Adaptive) is preferred but not essential.

Capabilities

• Coaching & leadership skills
• Stakeholder management and relationship building
• Customer focus
• Understanding of controls frameworks including documentation
• Experience of a deadline‑driven environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Analytical and conceptual thinking
• Problem solving / Decision making
• Creativity / Innovation
• Adaptability