Financial Controller

Harrison Holgate; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Harrison Holgate seeks a Financial Controller to drive strategic financial excellence in a dynamic insurance environment. You will lead month-end through year-end closes, own the general ledger, and deliver management reports under FRS 102 and IFRS 17, while guiding regulatory submissions and audit readiness.

You will supervise a finance team, foster process improvements, and partner with stakeholders to support ongoing finance transformation initiatives across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant designation required (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent).
• Extensive experience in UK insurance or reinsurance sectors.
• Strong knowledge of FRS 102 and IFRS 17 accounting standards.
• Proven track record in financial reporting, regulatory submissions and governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closes with accuracy.
• Maintain ownership of general ledger and compliant financial records.
• Provide variance analysis against plans and benchmarks.

Skills

Qualified Accountant

UK insurance experience

IFRS 17 expertise

FRS 102 expertise

Regulatory reporting

Leadership

Advanced Excel

Education

Professional accounting qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Tools

Excel advanced

Finance systems

Job description

Financial Controller

Drive Strategic Financial Excellence in a Dynamic Insurance Environment

Are you a seasoned financial professional with a passion for leading teams and shaping financial strategies? Join our forward-thinking client as a Financial Controller and play a pivotal role in overseeing complex financial processes, ensuring compliance, and delivering insightful reports that influence key business decisions. This is your opportunity to be at the heart of a collaborative, inclusive culture where your expertise will directly contribute to continued success and growth.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes with precision, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• Maintain ownership of the general ledger, ensuring complete, supported, and compliant financial records.
• Analyse financial results, providing variance analysis against plans, prior periods, and benchmarks.
• Deliver comprehensive management reports, including close packages, under both FRS 102 and IFRS 17 standards.
• Support regulatory reporting obligations, ensuring alignment with accounting records and entity review.
• Oversee statutory financial statement production and liaise with auditors to ensure audit readiness and smooth completion.
• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external audits, resolving queries efficiently.
• Lead, develop, and motivate your team, fostering a high-performance environment built on technical expertise and quality outputs.
• Enhance the financial control environment through governance, control remediation, and process improvements.
• Collaborate across departments to implement process efficiencies and support ongoing finance transformation initiatives.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)
• Significant experience within the UK insurance or reinsurance sector
• Strong expertise in FRS 102 and IFRS 17 accounting standards
• Proven ability in managing financial reporting, regulatory submissions, and governance processes
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and communicate insights clearly
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities and experience collaborating across functions
• Demonstrated leadership in coaching and developing finance teams
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with finance systems

• Willingness to engage in continuous process improvement and cross-functional collaboration

Ready to take your career to the next level and make a tangible impact in a thriving organization? We’re excited to hear from talented professionals eager to bring their expertise to this vital role.