Group Financial Reporting Accountant - External Reporting

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no‑limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

What we’re looking for: We’re looking for a new member of our External Reporting team, who will be responsible for assisting on Group consolidation and aspects of the Group’s internal and external reporting requirements. This will include monthly management accounts, Group Quarterly & Annual accounts, lender reporting and other ad‑hoc reporting requirements.

What you’ll be doing:

• Assist with production of IFRS consolidated results for monthly management accounts and quarterly interim financial statements for external partners.
• Assist with the production of annual statutory accounts along with detailed note work, including assisting in developing disclosures around sustainability and scenario modelling of various climate‑related risks and opportunities.
• Support the group cash flow production.
• Support local entities with IFRS15 reporting, assessing revenue recognition under IFRS 15 lens and transitioning new acquisitions.
• Assist with significant M&A accounting related activity and assist with onboarding new acquisitions to the group.
• Maintain process notes for monthly, quarterly and annual processes.
• Review capex budget submissions and produce group capex budget pack.
• Accommodate ad‑hoc reporting requests both internally and with other teams – Treasury, Tax, M&A, Divisional Finance.

Key accountabilities:

• Timely and accurate production of various reporting packs, as well as production of quality detailed monthly consolidation reconciliations, and suggestions for process and system improvements.
• Efficiently coordinate with business partners throughout the month‑end cycle.
• Deliver high quality outputs presented in a concise and easy‑to‑follow manner.

What qualifications we’re looking for:

• Knowledge of IFRS, UK GAAP and relevant UK Law.
• Prior experience of large multi‑currency group consolidation – a bonus.
• Experience in using OneStream or HFM and Unit4, or the ability to learn reporting tools quickly.
• Ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining quality of deliverables.
• Proactive planning with a proven ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Professional scepticism and a personal drive for producing high quality work.
• Problem‑solving capability.
• Effective interpersonal skills and a team player.
• Advanced MS Excel (index‑match and VLOOKUP formulae), data manipulation and analysis.
• Adaptability and a willingness to learn quickly in a constantly evolving business environment and Group structure.
• Graduate level education (or equivalent).
• Qualified accountant: 2‑3 years PQE, ACA/ CA(SA) or equivalent.

What we offer in return: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges. We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments: We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.