External Reporting Manager

Markerstudy Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Markerstudy Insurance Group is seeking a Senior Manager External Reporting to lead the Group Annual Report and Accounts, oversee complex consolidation activity, and coordinate with external auditors. Reporting to the Head of Financial Control, you will drive technical accounting papers and guidance across the Finance function.

The role requires ACA qualification with significant external reporting experience, Big Four background, and strong IFRS/UK GAAP expertise.

Qualifications

• ACA qualification with solid post-qualified experience.
• Big Four audit background and ideally industry experience.
• Significant experience in senior external reporting roles, including complex Group consolidations.
• Experience managing the full external audit lifecycle across multiple entities.
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and UK GAAP.
• Experience in regulated financial services environment or large complex business, ideally FCA exposure.
• Advanced Excel and consolidation/reporting ERP proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end preparation and delivery of the Group Annual Report and Accounts and subsidiary financial statements under IFRS.
• Lead the Group consolidation process across a complex, multi-entity structure, including intra-group eliminations and consolidated disclosures.
• Act as a key point of contact for our external auditors, coordinating Group-wide audit activity and driving timely resolution of technical queries.
• Prepare and review complex technical accounting papers covering key accounting judgements, estimates and transactions.
• Provide expert accounting advice on acquisitions, corporate reorganisations and other complex transactions.
• Lead improvements to the financial reporting control environment, identifying weaknesses and implementing effective remediation.
• Support the implementation of new accounting standards and other significant reporting developments.
• Provide technical leadership and peer review to divisional Finance teams.
• Build strong relationships across Finance and the wider business, engaging with senior leadership and Board-level stakeholders.
• Coach and develop finance professionals, helping to strengthen technical capability across the team.

Skills

ACA qualification

Big Four experience

Senior external reporting

IFRS knowledge

UK GAAP knowledge

External audit lifecycle management

Advanced Excel

Consolidation/ERP competence

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Shape the external reporting of a complex, growing insurance group.

Markerstudy Insurance Group is looking for an experienced Senior Manager External Reporting to join our Group Finance team.

This is a key leadership role within Financial Control, with responsibility for the delivery of our Group Annual Report and Accounts, subsidiary financial statements and complex Group consolidation activity.

Reporting to the Head of Financial Control, you’ll take ownership of some of our most technically challenging reporting matters, work closely with our external auditors and provide trusted accounting guidance across the wider Finance function.

You’ll also play a leading role in significant financial reporting projects, from implementing new accounting standards through to assessing the accounting implications of acquisitions, reorganisations and other corporate transactions.

This would suit an accomplished, technically strong qualified accountant who enjoys operating in a complex environment, can confidently challenge and influence senior stakeholders, and remains calm and precise through demanding reporting cycles.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead the end-to-end preparation and delivery of the Group Annual Report and Accounts and subsidiary financial statements under IFRS.
• Lead the Group consolidation process across a complex, multi-entity structure, including intra-group eliminations and consolidated disclosures.
• Act as a key point of contact for our external auditors, coordinating Group-wide audit activity and driving timely resolution of technical queries.
• Prepare and review complex technical accounting papers covering key accounting judgements, estimates and transactions.
• Provide expert accounting advice on areas including acquisitions, corporate reorganisations, financing arrangements and other complex transactions.
• Lead improvements to the financial reporting control environment, identifying weaknesses and implementing effective remediation.
• Support the implementation of new accounting standards and other significant reporting developments.
• Provide technical leadership, challenge and peer review to divisional Finance teams.
• Build strong relationships across Finance and the wider business, confidently engaging with senior leadership and Board-level stakeholders.
• Coach and develop finance professionals, helping to strengthen technical capability across the team.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be a technically accomplished finance professional with significant experience of complex external reporting environments.

We’re particularly interested in candidates who have:

• ACA qualification with solid post-qualified experience.
• Big Four audit background and ideally industry experience
• Significant experience in senior external reporting roles, including complex Group consolidations.
• Experience managing the full external audit lifecycle across multiple entities.
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and UK GAAP.
• A proven track record of preparing complex technical accounting papers and applying accounting standards commercially.
• Experience improving financial reporting controls and leading remediation activity.
• The ability to manage multiple competing priorities while maintaining accuracy through demanding reporting deadlines.
• Strong senior stakeholder management skills, including confidence engaging with senior leadership and Board-level audiences.
• Experience within a regulated financial services environment or large complex business, ideally with exposure to FCA regulatory reporting.
• Experience coaching or developing other finance professionals.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong experience using consolidation, reporting or ERP systems.

Why Markerstudy?

Markerstudy Insurance Group is a large and diverse insurance business, providing the scale and complexity that makes this role genuinely interesting.

You’ll have the opportunity to work at Group level, influence how we approach external reporting and financial controls, and become a trusted technical adviser across a broad Finance community.

For someone who enjoys combining technical accounting expertise, senior stakeholder engagement and complex problem-solving, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact within a fast-paced and evolving organisation.