Senior Financial Accountant - 12 Month Contract

Internationalinsuranceprofessionals; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Internationalinsuranceprofessionals in Sydney seeks a Senior Financial Accountant for its External Reporting team. You will own head office reporting, statutory and regulatory outputs, and drive process improvements through automation.

You will collaborate with Risk, Treasury, Data and Technology, applying strong accounting knowledge to complex data and regulatory compliance. Strong Excel, SQL and Power BI skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Accounting/finance degree or equivalent with professional certification in progress or completed.
• CA, CPA or actuarial qualification is desirable.
• Experience in financial reporting, statutory or regulatory reporting.
• Strong understanding of accounting standards and internal controls.
• Experience with data analysis and automation in reporting.

Responsibilities

• Deliver head office and regulatory reporting with accuracy and timeliness.
• Support annual financial statements, Board reporting and disclosures.
• Investigate complex accounting matters and assist with new standards.
• Liaise with auditors and maintain robust audit trails.
• Identify opportunities to automate reporting and improve data quality.

Skills

Advanced Excel

SQL

Power BI

Python

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Education

CA/CPA qualification

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance/Data Analytics

Tools

Power Query

Power BI

Python

Job description

The Opportunity

An established financial services organisation is seeking a Senior Financial Accountant to join its External Reporting team in Sydney.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of key financial reporting deliverables across head office, statutory and local regulatory reporting, while contributing to the ongoing improvement of reporting processes, data quality and controls.

Working closely with senior Finance stakeholders and teams across Risk, Treasury, Data and Technology, you will combine strong accounting knowledge with analytical capabilities to investigate complex reporting matters, support regulatory compliance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency through automation.

The role would suit an analytically minded accountant who enjoys working with complex financial data, solving problems and improving how reporting is delivered.

Key Responsibilities

Financial & Head Office Reporting

• Manage the delivery of head office reporting requirements, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance with accounting standards and internal policies.
• Support the preparation of annual financial statements, Board reporting and supporting disclosures.
• Investigate complex accounting matters and contribute to technical accounting position papers and the implementation of new accounting standards.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors, maintaining robust supporting documentation and audit trails.

Regulatory Reporting

• Support the preparation and submission of prudential regulatory reports in accordance with applicable banking requirements.
• Apply sound accounting and regulatory judgement to reporting matters, documenting interpretations and key management decisions.
• Work with stakeholders across Finance and the wider business to improve data consistency, collection and reporting quality.
• Support responses to regulatory and audit queries, ensuring reporting requirements are clearly understood and appropriately addressed.

Reporting Transformation & Data Analytics

• Identify and implement opportunities to automate reporting processes and reduce reliance on manual spreadsheets.
• Use SQL, Power Query, Power BI and Python to analyse financial data and develop more efficient reporting solutions.
• Analyse source-to-report data flows, strengthen data quality controls and improve data lineage.
• Contribute to process documentation, control enhancements and continuous improvement initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build effective working relationships across Finance, Risk, Treasury, Data and Technology.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders and head office counterparts on accounting policies, reporting requirements and complex queries.
• Provide technical guidance and support to colleagues where required.

About You

You are a detail-oriented and commercially curious finance professional who combines strong accounting fundamentals with an interest in data, systems and process improvement.

You will ideally bring:

• A degree in Accounting, Finance, Actuarial Studies, Mathematics, Data Analytics or a related discipline.
• CA, CPA, or an actuarial qualification, completed or in progress.
• Approximately 3-5 years of relevant experience within banking, financial services or a Big Four accounting firm, with more extensive experience also considered.
• Experience in financial reporting, statutory reporting or regulatory reporting.
• A sound understanding of accounting standards, financial reporting principles and internal controls.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong SQL capabilities, including querying databases and analysing large datasets.
• Experience with Power Query and Power BI, with Python or other reporting automation tools advantageous.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate complex issues and communicate findings clearly.
• Excellent stakeholder management and written and verbal communication skills.
• A proactive mindset, strong attention to detail and a genuine interest in improving reporting processes.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role offers the opportunity to develop your expertise across financial reporting, banking regulation and data-driven transformation within an established financial services environment.

You will work across a broad range of reporting activities, collaborate with stakeholders across multiple business functions and contribute to initiatives that improve the accuracy, efficiency and effectiveness of Finance.

If you are an accountant who enjoys combining technical reporting expertise with data analytics and continuous improvement, this could be an excellent next step in your career.