Financial Controller

2136GB00 Howden UK Brokers Limited; Baildon; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Reasonable accommodations

Job summary

Howden UK Brokers Limited seeks a fully qualified senior accountant to lead the management accounting and financial control function. You will ensure timely, accurate financial reporting and line-manage a team of four management accountants.

This role oversees balance sheet reconciliations, controls, cash forecasting, audits, and cooperation with Group Tax for tax submissions and FCA returns. You will drive process improvements and maintain strong policy compliance across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified ACA/ACCA accountant.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (FRS 102 and IFRS).
• Proven leadership of finance teams and audits.
• Ability to challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy and integrity.
• Experience in driving process improvements and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end and quarter-end processes with timely reporting.
• Oversee balance sheet integrity including reconciliations.
• Coordinate with FP&A and Finance Director for monthly/board reporting.
• Manage internal controls, tax submissions with Group Tax, and FCA returns.
• Oversee audits and interactions with external auditors.
• Develop and lead the Management Accounts team.
• Identify process improvements to strengthen financial control.

Skills

Finance leadership

Technical accounting

Stakeholder communication

Audit management

Process improvement

Collaboration

Education

ACA/ACCA qualified

Job description

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. 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 24,000 employees spanning over 56 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.

Role Purpose

This role leads the management accounting and financial control function and is responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting. The position also has line management responsibility for four Management Accountants and plays a key role in maintaining and developing a strong financial control environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead month-end and quarter-end process ensuring accurate reporting to agreed timelines.
• Oversee judgemental areas including provisions, non-recurring costs and judgemental accruals, ensuring consistency with accounting policies and standards.
• Review pre-close outputs in collaboration with FP&A and the Finance Director and feed into monthly management reporting and quarterly board reporting.
• Overall ownership and sign-off of balance sheet integrity including review and approval of Balance Sheet reconciliations.
• Support a robust financial control environment, including documentation and evidencing for key controls.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, providing challenge to cash assumptions and working capital movements.
• Oversight and coordination of the end to end audit process, including review of financial statements, impairment and accounting papers on significant estimates and Going Concern.
• Coordinating with Group Tax for timely and accurate tax submissions.
• Review and approval of regulatory returns to the FCA.
• Support quarterly attestation processes, ensuring completeness and accuracy of submission.
• Lead and manage the Management Accounts team, providing supervision and development.
• Ensure compliance with Group accounting policies and statutory standards.
• Identify and implement improvements to processes to improve financial control and increase efficiency.

Skills & Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA)
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (FRS 102 and IFRS)
• A confident leader with proven experience of managing finance teams
• Strong communicator with the ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders
• Detail-oriented with a dedication to financial accuracy and integrity.
• Experienced in managing audits and working with external auditors.
• Proactive in identifying process improvements and driving efficiencies.
• Collaborative and able to build positive relationships across finance functions.

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*.

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

Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)

Howden began in 1994, as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we're a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients. Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business to last, one that will never be sold. The owner's mindset is something that's embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.