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 hardworking culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private insurance, and subsidised gym membership.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to community involvement and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in financial planning while embracing your potential.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in FP&A or financial analysis; strong analytical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We believe in giving you ongoing opportunities to advance your career. 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. 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. We have a relaxed but hard-working culture and providing employees with a healthy work-life balance is important to us.
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.
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.
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.
Financial Planning, Analysis & Insight:
- 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.
- 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.
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. Strong experience working with planning systems and analysis tools, including hands-on data extraction and management. Experience on finance transformation projects is preferred. Accounting knowledge combined with advanced financial analysis and modelling skills.
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. 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 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
- 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
- Savings & Retirement
- Subsidized gym membership
- Access to Employee Assistance Program
- Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
- Time off for volunteering
We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. 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.
Senior Client Accountant - Financial Services 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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Client Accountant - Financial Services in London
✨Tip Number 1: Tap Into Professional Networks
The finance world loves a good connection, so jump into industry-specific groups on platforms like LinkedIn where you can find discussions on financial controlling. Engaging in these communities can expose you to hidden job leads that aren't openly advertised!
✨Tip Number 2: Attend Finance Events and Conferences
Make it a mission to attend finance-related events and conferences, even virtual ones! This is a golden opportunity to network face-to-face with people from companies like Pacific Life. You never know who might be your next boss or a crucial contact!
✨Tip Number 3: Showcase Your Expertise
Consider writing articles or sharing insights related to financial controlling or industry trends. Publish these on platforms like LinkedIn to establish yourself as a knowledgeable player in the field. This not only increases your visibility but also catches the attention of recruiters from Pacific Life.
✨Tip Number 4: Apply Directly on Company Websites
Since you're going for a full-time gig, don't forget to keep an eye on the careers page of companies you're interested in, like Pacific Life. Many companies prefer candidates who apply through their website as it shows genuine interest and makes your application stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Client Accountant - Financial Services in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers Game:In financial controlling, detail is everything! Make sure your CV showcases your proficiency with numbers—highlight any relevant experience in budgeting, forecasting, or working with financial software. Quantifying your past achievements will make you stand out, so don’t be shy about flaunting those impressive percentages or cost savings you've implemented.
Tailored Cover Letter is Key:Your cover letter is a chance to shine, especially for a full-time role. Use it to express your genuine interest in Pacific Life and the specific impact you hope to make in financial controlling. Mention any relevant qualifications or experiences that align with the company’s goals, and don’t forget to show that you're ready for a long-term commitment!
Certifications Matter:List relevant certifications such as ACCA or CIMA on your CV. These qualifications not only showcase your dedication to the field but also your technical competence in financial principles. If you have any ongoing training or courses, make sure to mention those as well to demonstrate your commitment to continual learning in financial controlling.
Don’t Overlook Soft Skills:While numbers are crucial, so are those soft skills! Financial controllers need strong communication and analytical reasoning abilities. We recommend embedding examples of these skills in your CV and cover letter, like how you’ve successfully delivered financial reports to stakeholders or collaborated with teams to improve processes. Let’s show Pacific Life how you can be a team player!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pacific Life
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Make sure you're comfortable with key financial concepts, especially around forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis. Sometimes, interviewers may throw in technical questions or case studies, so practicing these types of scenarios will help you shine!
✨Showcase Your Financial Acumen
If you've had experience with specific financial software like SAP or Oracle, make it known! Be ready to discuss how you used these tools to improve processes or reporting, as this hands-on knowledge can really set you apart in a full-time role with Pacific Life.
✨Know Your Numbers
In full-time interviews, especially in financial controlling, be prepared for numerical reasoning tests or questions. Brush up on your mental maths and understand how to interpret and analyse financial statements on the spot, as this may come up during the assessment.
✨Connect with Company Goals
Familiarise yourself with Pacific Life's financial objectives and any recent developments. During the interview, try to weave your understanding of their business model and challenges into your answers—this shows your genuine interest and alignment with their goals!
