Financial Accountant

Howden Group Holdings; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic finance organization in London seeks a motivated individual for an 18-month fixed-term contract. The role involves budgeting, capital expenditure reporting, and collaboration with subsidiary finance teams. Ideal candidates will be ACA or ACCA qualified, with strong technical accounting skills and an ability to manage competing demands. This is a hybrid position requiring three days in the London office every week.

Qualifications

• Strong technical accounting skills with understanding of reporting standards.
• Audit background preferred for this finance role.
• Highly numerate with strong data manipulation skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage budget and forecast reporting for capital expenditure.
• Support monthly accounting and reporting for investment projects.
• Prepare slides for monthly management accounts.

Skills

Strong technical accounting skills

Data manipulation

Verbal communication

Written communication

Ability to manage competing demands

Numeracy

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA)

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

What is the role?

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a broad role in the DUAL Group Finance team. We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual, who is interested in working for a growing and dynamic organisation.

The successful candidate will have strong technical accounting skills, be skilled in manipulating data and have strong written and verbal communication skills. A key challenge of the role is an ability to manage and prioritise competing demands effectively.

This position within our Group Finance team will support on a variety of month-end activities and take ownership for reporting on Group capital expenditure. The role will be essential in supporting the improvement of the Group’s month-end close. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with subsidiary finance teams (both UK and overseas), the Howden Group finance team, central departments and the Howden Group Shared Service Centre.

Please note: this is an 18-month fixed-term contract, following a hybrid working pattern with three days per week in our Central London office.

Role responsibilities

• Manage the budget and forecast reporting for capital expenditure for the Group
• Support monthly accounting and reporting for central investment projects
• Monitor and analyse intercompany balances
• Monitor central cash balances
• Reconcile corporation tax and VAT balances and provide required information to the tax provider
• Prepare slides for input into the monthly management accounts and Board reports
• Provide support on other monthly and ad hoc activities
• Prepare central function budgets and report performance against budget monthly
• Prepare and/or approve balance sheet reconciliations
• Manage the internal recharges process for the DUAL Group
• Delegate work to and support offshore shared service centre team

What are we looking for?

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA), would be suitable for a first role out of practice
• Audit background preferred
• Strong technical accounting skills with an understanding of reporting standards (FRS102 and IFRS)
• Ability to manage conflicting demands and prioritise effectively
• Highly numerate and technically skilled in manipulating data. Able to quickly get to grips with new systems and processes.
• Thrives in a dynamic, entrepreneurial and changeable environment. Able to find pragmatic solutions when faced with time or information constraints
• We are flexible on place of work, however, for this role the successful candidate will be expected to travel to the London office three times a week.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We\'re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working.

If you\'re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.