At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage financial accounts and ensure accuracy in reporting for Hastings Insurance Group.
- Company: Join Hastings Direct, a leading digital insurance provider with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, bonuses, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving growth and making a real impact in the finance sector.
- Qualifications: ACCA, ACA or CIMA qualified with strong analytical and organisational skills.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with excellent career development opportunities and a supportive culture.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Bexhill/Hybrid
Welcome to Hastings Direct. We’re a digital insurance provider with a clear strategy to become the best and biggest player in the UK market. As a company, we have made huge investments in our technology, pricing, data and analytics capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture and substantial investment in our people. As a Finance team, we are building a market leading finance technology platform, investing in our team and our approach to leadership development, with a real focus on commercially adding value to the business.
Role Overview:
The Financial Accounts Team is responsible for the Management and Financial Accounting for the retail trading entity plus all of the holding companies within the Hastings Insurance Group including full Group consolidations. The team also ensures the integrity of the Group's Balance Sheets by performing monthly reconciliations and using business insight to understand the movements and provide informative commentary.
Job details - you’ll need to have demonstrable experience in:
- Production/review of all month end consolidation adjustments for the Hastings Insurance Group with adherence to IFRS17
- Working closely with IT and Operations on our customer interest calculations to ensure accuracy
- Production/review of month end journals for Hastings and all holding entities within the Group, including accruals and provisions
- Working closely with Financial Planning & Analysis team to finalise month end results
- Production of monthly balance sheet reconciliations, providing insightful commentary into movements and ownership of specific balance sheet area and leadership of related monthly control meetings
- Provision of data to external auditors
Essential skills/experience:
- ACCA, ACA or CIMA qualified
- Good organisational and time management skills
- Ability to analyse, summarise and insightfully comment upon data
- Strong Systems skills outside of pure accounting systems
- Excellent reconciliation skills and attention to detail
- Must be able to work on own initiative
The interview process involves the below:
- Recruiter screening call
- 1st stage interview with hiring leader
- 2nd interview with hiring leaders leader
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fully inclusive. We also welcome applications through the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS).
Benefits:
- Flexible working
- Competitive bonus scheme
- Physical wellbeing - Hastings pay for you to receive private medical Insurance (PMI)
- Financial wellbeing - life assurance cover, income protection, and matched pension contributions up to 10%
- Mental wellbeing programme - Thrive mental health app, colleague assistance programme available 24/7
- 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your weeks
- Access to health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to work and tech schemes
- Discounted and free onsite facilities, social events throughout the year
Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status.
If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us. Our recruitment team is here to provide the support you need to ensure a fair and accessible experience for all.
Financial Accountant employer: Hastings Insurance Services Ltd
Contact Detail:
Hastings Insurance Services Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Financial Accountant
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Hastings Direct. Understand their values, culture, and recent developments. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to financial accounting and be ready to discuss your experience with IFRS17 and month-end processes. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online resources to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! During the interview, don’t just talk about your qualifications; give specific examples of how you've used your organisational and analytical skills in past roles. This will help the interviewers see how you can add value to their finance team.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a great way to reinforce your interest in the role and keep you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Financial Accountant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Financial Accountant role. Highlight your ACCA, ACA, or CIMA qualifications and any relevant experience with month-end consolidations and IFRS17. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're excited about joining Hastings Direct and how you can contribute to our Finance team. Be sure to mention your organisational skills and attention to detail, as these are key for us.
Showcase Your Systems Skills: We value strong systems skills beyond just accounting software. If you've worked with data analytics tools or have experience in financial planning, make sure to highlight that in your application. It shows us you're ready to add value!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. This way, you can easily keep track of your application status and access any updates. Plus, it helps us get to know you better right from the start!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hastings Insurance Services Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Financial Accountant, you’ll need to demonstrate your expertise in financial data. Brush up on key accounting principles, especially IFRS17, and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in previous roles. Prepare examples of month-end processes and reconciliations you've handled.
✨Showcase Your Systems Skills
Highlight your proficiency with accounting systems and any relevant software. Be prepared to discuss how you've used technology to improve efficiency or accuracy in your work. If you have experience collaborating with IT teams, share specific instances where this has led to successful outcomes.
✨Prepare Insightful Commentary
The role requires insightful commentary on balance sheet movements. Think about how you can articulate your thought process when analysing data. Prepare to discuss how you’ve provided valuable insights in past roles and how that added value to the business.
✨Practice Your Communication Skills
You’ll be leading control meetings and providing data to external auditors, so strong communication is key. Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. Consider mock interviews with friends or family to refine your delivery and ensure you come across as confident and clear.