Interim Financial Reporting Manager in Haywards Heath

Collinson is the global, privately-owned company dedicated to helping the world to travel with ease and confidence. The group offers a unique blend of industry and sector specialists who together provide market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million consumers. Collinson is the operator of Priority Pass, the world’s original and leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of 1,500+ lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 650 airports in 148 countries, helping to elevate the journey into something special.

We work with the world’s leading payment networks, over 1,400 banks, 90 airlines and 20 hotel groups worldwide. We have been bringing innovation to the market since inception – from launching the first independent global VIP lounge access Programme, Priority Pass to being the first to sell direct travel insurance in the UK through Columbus Direct and creating the first loyalty agency of its kind in the travel sector with ICLP. Today we still invest heavily in innovation to ensure that we continue to deliver superior customer experiences.

Key clients include Mastercard, American Express, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, LATAM, Flying Blue, Accor, EasyJet, HSBC, Chase, HDFC. Our mission is focused on doing good beyond profit, which for us means we seek out opportunities for our people to share in our success and that we give back to the communities and people within which we work. Never short of ambition, the success of our business is delivered through the diverse and talented team of over 2,200 global colleagues.

Purpose of the job

We are looking for a Financial Reporting Manager for a 10 month maternity cover, ideally to start in August. The Financial Reporting Manager will work within the Insurance division of the Collinson Group. They will work as an integral part of the finance team with the Financial Controller - Insurance helping to oversee the monthly management accounts and supporting the production of the statutory accounts and being key points of contact during the audit process.

The Financial Reporting Manager will help oversee the production of the monthly management accounts and for reviewing the accuracy of the results, regulatory reporting (i.e. including but not limited to IPT, Corporation Tax), ownership for the balance sheet reconciliation, cashflow forecasts and other tasks relating to their entity. They will also support any process/system changes within the team, ensure the onboarding process for new clients is set up and accounted for correctly as well as ensure a strong and effective control environment exists with a specific emphasis on improving month end close and accounting.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering all Group reporting, including monthly management packs and annual Group Audit Packs ensuring they are completed in line with Group deadlines for the specified entities.
• Ensure compliance to general financial reporting standards as well as standards for Insurance Reporting (FRS103).
• Provision of accurate financial reporting to the insurance lines of business and take ownership from a Financial Reporting team perspective at meetings with Underwriting & Actuarial teams.
• Deliver clarity of understanding for financial reporting at scheme/client level is provided to Line of Business owners within weekly business meetings and provide support on the all key calculations (e.g. Profit share in currency, etc).
• Review of monthly P&L trend analysis and analytical reviews for their entity/entities to ensure Group and the business have a good insight into key movements and the financial performance of each entity, highlighting any exceptions to management.
• To ensure all insurance transactions are processed accurately.
• Day to day team management including objective setting and regular one to one reviews. Help develop and motivate staff by providing them with clear direction to achieve their goals.
• Manage quarterly BSR (Balance Sheet Review) meetings with the team, providing oversight to the Financial Controller – Insurance, ensuring the process and sign off aligns to Group policy and the Finance team can support the ‘as at date’ balances.
• Ownership of the inter-company position, ensuring this is reconciled monthly to agree with the other group entities and settled as per Group policy.
• To work with the Commercial Finance team to ensure all accruals, prepayments and ad hoc journals are processed with a high level of accuracy and understanding.
• Collaborate effectively with all stakeholders including Commercial Finance, Underwriting and Actuarial to ensure the integrity in the numbers being recorded in the management accounts and provide support on the variance to budget analysis.
• Work with Finance Operations to ensure all transactions processed are accurate and complete and recorded in a timely manner.
• Support the Financial Controller – Insurance on all audits (including but not limited to, internal, 3rd party or year-end), reviewing the year end Group Statutory packs with supporting evidence for balances as required as well as assist with managing audit requests ensuring the evidence for audit samples is sufficient to support the sample requests and performing the walkthroughs with explanations for postings and processes.
• Provide regulatory reporting for VAT, Corporation Tax and any 3rd party reporting as required.
• Ensure reconciliations for systems feeds into SAP form part of the management accounts/financial statements.
• Assist with continuous embedding and delivery of the Finance Transformation project.
• Ensure robust controls are in place and look to enhance where possible.
• Keeping abreast of technical accounting developments to ensure that the impact of changes are understood and applied on a timely basis, specifically FRS103 and IFRS4 and 17.
• Ensuring all process documents are regularly reviewed and updated.

Knowledge, skills and experience required

• Qualified Accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or Equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• Proven Insurance related experience at a similar level Regulated entity (e.g. PRA/MFSA).
• Proven Solvency II knowledge in Pillar III is preferable.
• Good knowledge of SAP accounting system preferable.
• High personal levels of motivation and delivery orientated focus.
• Able to work well under pressure.
• A proactive, forward looking and challenging mindset.
• Detail focused with strong organisation and planning skills.
• Ability to interact with and develop working relationships internally and externally in order to achieve best outcomes for the business and customer.
• Ability to encourage, train and develop the Financial Accountants and Assistant Financial Accountants.
• Knowledge and experience of best practice within industry to consistently improve delivery within department.

Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success.