FP&A Senior Financial Accountant in London

FP&A Senior Financial Accountant in London

London Full-Time 60750 - 74250 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Pacific Life

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Deliver high-quality financial planning and analysis to support decision-making.
  • Company: Join a rapidly growing global life reinsurer with a relaxed yet hard-working culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days of leave, comprehensive healthcare, and wellness initiatives.
  • Other info: Embrace diversity and inclusion in a supportive workplace.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while advancing your career.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in FP&A or financial analysis; strong analytical skills required.

The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.

We believe in giving you ongoing opportunities to advance your career. Whether you want to take on broader responsibilities or grow in new directions, you are in the right place. Here at Pacific Life Re and UnderwriteMe, we want to help you embrace your potential so you can achieve your personal best doing purposeful work, every day.

About Us

We are a rapidly growing global life reinsurer, working with our clients around the world to manage their mortality, longevity, and morbidity risk. We provide Life, Critical Illness, Income Protection, Hospital Cash and Longevity reinsurance products and services to our clients. Today, we are one of the largest and most experienced in the longevity market and are continuing our rapid growth internationally with offices across Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

We have a relaxed but hard-working culture and providing employees with a healthy work-life balance is important to us. We have a wide range of benefits and regular company activities, including quarterly socials and wellness initiatives.

We are currently midway through a back-office office transformation program (Project Unify) and the company has recently re-organized into a Line of Business structure. The combination of these two events means an exciting time for Financial Planning and Analysis as we modernize our processes and set ourselves up to partner with the business effectively.

Job Description

We are seeking a high-performing, driven FP&A professional reporting to the Manager, FP&A to join our global reinsurance business. This role will focus on delivering high-quality financial planning, analysis, and insight to support decision-making within the Division.

This is a hands‐on role that requires strong analytical skills, sound accounting judgment, and the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders across Finance and the wider business. Understanding complex reinsurance products and the ability to communicate this understanding with colleagues of differing expertise will be an asset in this role. Proficiency in Power BI development and experience working with financial systems would be beneficial. The role does not carry formal people-management responsibility but plays a key role in influencing outcomes through insight, analysis and business partnering.

Team outputs/ objectives

Financial Planning & Analysis is a global function within Finance operating in UK, Asia, Australia and North America. The FP&A team is responsible for all financial analysis, MI design and production, strategic planning and forecasting. The FP&A team also support the company's strategic objectives in relation to organic growth, new products and markets, pricing, modelling and Tax strategy. The team is also responsible for financial analysis, MI, and stakeholder management with the Enterprise FP&A team based in California.

Key Responsibilities

  • Support the development and ongoing maintenance PL Re Division planning processes, including annual budgets, forecasts, and long-range plans.
  • Prepare and deliver planning and forecasting outputs that provide transparency into performance, risks, and opportunities for senior FP&A leaders and business stakeholders.
  • Conduct in-depth financial analysis, including variance analysis, profitability analysis, and scenario modelling, to support operational and strategic decision-making.
  • Opportunity to build relationships and partner with divisional expense functions, and Line of Business teams.
  • Identify risks and opportunities within financial results and forecasts, escalating material items with well-supported analysis and recommendations.
  • Develop and maintain financial models, dashboards, and KPIs to track business performance, communicating insights effectively to stakeholders.
  • Ensuring analysis is timely, accurate, and decision-focused, enabling stakeholders to understand both financial outcomes and forward-looking implications.

Systems, Data and Process Enhancement:

  • Contribute to finance transformation initiatives aimed at standardising and improving FP&A processes, systems and reporting.
  • Support implementation of new planning, forecasting and expense management tools, including requirements definition and testing.
  • Assist in development of standardised management information and reporting.

Skills & Experience

  • Professional accounting designation (CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) is preferred. Typically, 3+ years of relevant post-qualification experience in FP&A, financial analysis, or related finance role.
  • Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (Power query) and Power BI report development beneficial.
  • Experience within insurance or reinsurance is strongly preferred.
  • Strong experience working with planning systems and analysis tools, including hands-on data extraction and management.
  • Experience on finance transformation projects is preferred.
  • Appetite to use new technology and embrace new ways of working.
  • Accounting knowledge combined with advanced financial analysis and modelling skills.
  • Strong attention to detail, analytical rigor, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Working For Pacific Life Re

Every person in our global team is valued for the unique qualities they bring to our business and we seek to build their expertise and support their individual ambitions at every step. Of course, we take our work seriously and we know our team can operate under great pressure. We work hard and thrive on achievement, but we also know how to have fun and relax too. We regularly host a range of team building days to strengthen our team's connection with each other and reflect on their successes. Providing employees with a healthy work-life balance is very important to our culture. We have a wide range of employee benefits and we host regular social activities and well being initiatives. We are also committed to supporting our employee's involvement in their communities, by actively fundraising, hosting charity events and overseeing volunteering opportunities.

Benefits (Only for Permanent and Fixed Term Employees)

  • 25 days of annual leave with option to buy/sell more days.
  • Adoption and fertility leave.
  • Generous enhanced parental leave.
  • Comprehensive private insurance coverage for employee and dependents.
  • Group Life Insurance coverage of 9x basic annual salary and Group Income Protection up to 75% of basic annual salary.
  • Optical benefits.
  • 15% combined employee/employer contributions.
  • Subsidized gym membership.
  • Access to Employee Assistance Program.
  • Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
  • Time off for volunteering.
  • Charitable matching of employee donations.

You Can Be Who You Are

We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure equal access to applicants with disabilities. Please contact us about your needs so that we can discuss these with you to make sure that suitable adjustments are made, where possible.

Pacific Life Re Values

Please click here to view our company values.

FP&A Senior Financial Accountant in London employer: Pacific Life

Pacific Life Re is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth, offering a supportive work culture enriched by diversity and inclusion. As a Talent Intelligence & Recruitment Marketing Analyst, you will benefit from comprehensive healthcare coverage, generous leave policies, and opportunities for continuous learning, all while contributing to innovative recruitment strategies in a dynamic environment. Located in a vibrant area, the company fosters collaboration and creativity, ensuring that every team member can thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Pacific Life

Contact Details:

Pacific Life Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land FP&A Senior Financial Accountant in London

Tap into Campus Networks

If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.

Get Certified

Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.

Connect on Professional Platforms

Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.

Apply Directly and Be Proactive

Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Pacific Life. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.

We think you need these skills to ace FP&A Senior Financial Accountant in London

Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Adaptability
Flexibility
Compassion
Organizational Skills
Teamwork

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.

Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Pacific Life.

Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.

Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Pacific Life's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Pacific Life

Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills

Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Pacific Life.

Prepare for Case Studies

Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.

Show Your Passion for Finance

Since this is a full-time position, employers at Pacific Life will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.

Network with Industry Professionals

Before your interview, reach out to current or former Pacific Life employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.