Finance Manager (18 month FTC)

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: Howden is seeking a Finance Manager to be part of a team leading on legal entity reporting for circa 25 holding and treasury companies, covering monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting, as well as financial planning during the budgeting cycle. It suits someone with team leadership experience and strong technical knowledge in financial instruments, intercompany transactions, reconciliations, share movements, and statutory reporting. The role also requires understanding M&A and restructuring impacts on entity and group reporting, translating complex transactions into clear accounting. A tech‑savvy mindset is key, with a focus on streamlining processes and collaborating across finance, legal, tax, and operations teams.

Please note that this is a fixed-term contract, full-time role based in our Central London office. Following a hybrid work pattern, you are expected to be onsite 2-3 days per week on average. The fixed term contract is until March 2028.

What you'll be doing:

• Reporting and Controls: Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting for legal entities. Lead month-end close and balance sheet reconciliations. Coordinate quarterly controls and lender attestations. Support interim reviews and annual audits. Prepare and review sections of consolidated accounts.
• Team Leadership: Lead and coach a team of accountants with a focus on continuous improvement. Identify process hurdles and drive simplification of monthly close. Promote knowledge sharing and manage performance reviews.
• Statutory Accounts: Oversee preparation of UK and Jersey statutory accounts. Directly prepare complex accounts (e.g. parent entity, treasury companies). Coordinate with tax, external providers, and internal teams. Liaise with external and internal auditors, managing audit queries efficiently.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Lead annual budget and reforecasting for legal entities. Resolve issues impacting group holding companies, including interaction with divisional budgets.
• Technical Accounting: Prepare accounting papers for financing, hedging, and share transactions. Coordinate with Shares team and external advisors to meet deadlines. Address ad hoc accounting issues as they arise.
• Project and Initiative Support: Contribute to treasury initiatives (e.g. cash pooling). Support reorganisations, recharges, and business transfers. Engage team in cross‑functional reporting and improvement projects. Assist with fair value assessments, impairment testing, and M&A accounting. Review and enhance accounting policies related to legal entity reporting.

What qualifications we're looking for: Hands‑on experience in key accounting areas - including financial reporting, general ledger and consolidation systems, IFRS9 (financial instruments), intercompany transactions, investments/dividends, IFRS 2 (share‑based payments), and valuations. Exposure to consolidation and acquisition accounting (IFRS3) is a plus. Solid technical foundation of IFRS and UK GAAP, with ability to apply standards in practice. Experience managing and developing a team of at least three people. Able to manage tasks, allocate responsibilities, and balance competing priorities effectively. Able to explain accounting concepts to non‑finance stakeholders and support cross‑functional collaboration. Awareness of Companies Act requirements and legal obligations related to financial reporting and statutory accounts.

What do we offer in return? A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity - there is no one Howden type. Instead, we're looking for individuals who share the same values as us: 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.