Senior Financial Accountant

Randstad - Finance & Accounting; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Corporate benefits

Private health cover

Job summary

Randstad - Finance & Accounting is seeking a Senior Financial Accountant to establish and run the Australian finance function for a growing general insurance operation in Sydney. The role covers general ledger, close processes, APRA returns, and US GAAP/AASB 17 reporting, with partnership to underwriting leadership.

You will work hands-on with no direct reports initially, and have potential to grow into a team leadership position as the business scales.

Qualifications

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

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.

Skills

Working rights

Insurance industry experience

APRA regulatory knowledge

AASB 17 knowledge

US GAAP knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Journal entries and reconciliations

Education

CA or CPA qualification

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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted due to the high volume of applications

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.