Senior Financial Accountant

Select Aust Sydney; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ground-floor ownership of accounting

Direct interaction with APAC leaders

Hybrid Sydney CBD office

Private health cover

Job summary

Randstad is assisting a global insurer in Sydney CBD to recruit a Senior Financial Accountant. This hands-on role covers GL management, month-end close, APRA returns, and AASB 17/US GAAP reporting, with close collaboration to underwriting leaders.

On day one, no direct reports. Hybrid working options with a path to leadership as the business scales in Australia.

Qualifications

• CA or CPA qualified (or equivalent overseas accounting qualification).
• Experience in Australian general insurance or related areas is preferred.
• Willingness to perform journal entries and balance sheet reviews personally.

Responsibilities

• General Ledger, close processes, journal postings and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare APRA returns and reporting under AASB 17 and US GAAP.
• Partner with underwriting leaders on portfolio performance and risk profiles.
• Lead external audit processes and respond to technical queries as needed.
• liaise with tax advisors on corporate tax, GST and duties.

Skills

Hands-on work ethic

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Education

CA or CPA qualified or international equivalent

Job description

Senior Financial Accountant | General Insurance

Global Specialty Insurer | Sydney CBD | Permanent

Our client is a global property, casualty, and specialty insurer. Over the past decade, their Australian portfolio has expanded tenfold. To support this growth, the business is establishing an on-the-ground finance function in Sydney and appointing a hands‑on Senior Financial Accountant.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Regional AVP for BAU Reporting and working closely with the Head of APAC Finance, you will run the daily financial operations for the Australian entity.

This is a direct execution role. On day one, there are no local direct reports. You will manage the general ledger, run the close process, post journals, complete balance sheet reconciliations, prepare APRA returns, and deliver AASB 17 and US GAAP reporting. Alongside the core accounting work, you will partner directly with underwriting leaders to review commercial performance, loss ratios, and risk profiles.

As operations scale, the business will actively develop and mentor you into a future team leadership position.

Key Responsibilities

• General Ledger & Close: Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual balance sheet reconciliations, transactional entries, and journal postings solo.
• Commercial Underwriting Partnering: Work directly with underwriting heads to review portfolio performance, loss ratios, pricing trends, and risk profiles.
• Statutory & US GAAP Reporting: Prepare annual financial statements under AASB 17 and group management packs under US GAAP.
• APRA Regulatory Filings: Prepare, reconcile, and submit all quarterly and annual APRA prudential returns.
• Audit Management: Lead the external audit process, prepare working papers, and resolve technical audit queries through to completion.
• Tax & Compliance: Liaise with external tax advisors on corporate income tax, GST, stamp duty, ESL, and ARPC requirements.

Requirements

• Working Rights: Unrestricted Australian working rights (Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident only; no visa sponsorship provided).
• Insurance Industry Experience: Direct experience within Australian general insurance, reinsurance, or specialty underwriting operations. Strong understanding of insurance accounting principles (loss reserves, unearned premium reserves, reinsurance assets).
• Regulatory & Technical Knowledge: Practical experience preparing APRA regulatory returns, combined with working knowledge of AASB 17 and US GAAP.
• Hands‑on Work Ethic: Willingness to complete journal entries, bank reconciliations, and trial balance reviews directly without delegating to a team.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to communicate clearly with underwriters and actuaries regarding commercial performance.
• Qualifications: CA or CPA qualified (or equivalent overseas accounting qualification).

What's on Offer

• Ground‑floor opportunity to own the financial accounting function for an expanding insurer.
• Direct interaction with local underwriting heads and APAC executive leadership.
• Competitive salary package plus corporate benefits and private health cover.
• Sydney CBD office location with hybrid working options.

At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.

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