Head of Financial Reporting

Unum Ireland; Dorking; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous bonus scheme

Private Medical Insurance

Pension scheme (Defined Contribution)

Life insurance and income protection

Flexible benefits and well-being

Job summary

Unum UK is seeking a Head of Financial Reporting to manage the day-to-day internal and external financial reporting and strengthen the financial control environment. The role reports to the Financial Controller and interfaces with the UK CFO and senior leadership at Unum Group (USA).

You will deliver high-quality reporting across UK GAAP, Solvency UK, and US GAAP, while driving automation and process improvements to enhance efficiency and data accuracy.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience.
• Experience in Insurance or Financial Services regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK GAAP and statutory reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation and delivery of statutory and regulatory reporting under UK GAAP and Solvency UK for UK entities.
• Lead monthly US GAAP reporting to Unum Group and enable insight into UK performance.
• Maintain strong financial controls and support Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
• Drive process improvements and automation in reporting workflows.
• Coordinate external audits and manage audit relations.
• Develop and lead a high-performing reporting team.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

UK GAAP

IFRS

US GAAP knowledge

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Automation mindset

Education

Accounting qualification

Job description

Who are we?

We're a specialist employee benefits provider, striving to create healthy, happy workplaces. As part of the international Unum Group, we’re on a collective mission to help the working world thrive.

The role

What will you be doing? As Head of Financial Reporting, you'll play a key role leading the day-to-day delivery of Unum UK’s internal and external financial reporting and supporting the communication of our financial results while helping ensure the business maintains a robust and effective financial control environment. Reporting to the Financial Controller, this is a highly visible position with regular exposure to senior stakeholders, including the UK CFO and senior finance leadership at Unum Group (USA). You'll be responsible for delivering high-quality financial reporting across multiple regulatory frameworks while driving continuous improvement, efficiency and automation across reporting processes.

Key responsibilities

• Leading the preparation and timely delivery of statutory and regulatory financial reporting under UK GAAP and Solvency UK for Unum UK and its subsidiaries, ensuring compliance with all applicable UK reporting requirements.
• Leading the preparation and timely delivery of monthly US GAAP financial reporting to Unum Group (USA), working closely with key stakeholders to deliver high-quality reporting and insight into Unum UK’s financial performance.
• Maintaining and promoting a strong financial control environment, ensuring compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.
• Driving continuous improvement across reporting processes, identifying opportunities for automation to enhance efficiency.
• Acting as the day-to-day relationship lead for our external audit firms, coordinating audit activity and ensuring any issues are addressed effectively and efficiently.
• Leading and developing a high-performing team, creating an environment that encourages curiosity, accountability, collaboration and professional growth.

What will you bring?

We're looking for an accomplished finance professional who enjoys financial reporting and combines strong insurance reporting expertise with excellent communication, stakeholder management and people leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience.
• Strong financial reporting experience gained within Insurance, Financial Services, or a similarly regulated environment.
• A detailed understanding of UK GAAP (or IFRS), statutory reporting and financial control frameworks.
• Knowledge of Solvency UK and US GAAP reporting requirements is beneficial.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven experience leading reporting teams and developing high-performing individuals.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and organisational skills, with high attention to detail and a focus on delivering quality outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at senior leadership level.
• Experience managing relationships with external auditors.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with a track record of enhancing reporting processes, controls and operational efficiency and an interest in leveraging technology.
• Strong financial systems knowledge beneficial.

Location

Hybrid working. You'll spend 3 days a week in the office and 2 days working from home. Of the office-based days, 2 are in Dorking and 1 can be in Dorking, London or Basingstoke.

Benefits

• Generous bonus scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Defined Contribution pension scheme
• Life assurance, medical and income protection insurance
• Access to remote GP services, nutrition coaching, personal training, unlimited mental health support, and medical second opinions
• 27 days holiday, with the option to buy or sell up to 5 additional days (plus Bank Holidays)
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme with on-site charging facilities
• Dorking office: Restaurant, Gym, Tennis Courts, Free Shuttle Bus from Train Station

Why join us?

At Unum, we’ve created a workplace where people feel supported to progress and grow, and can see their ambitions coming to life. As a part of our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace, we actively encourage applications from those with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions. If you meet the essential criteria for the role and choose to opt in to the scheme during your application, you will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.

Company

Unum UK

About Unum Group

At Unum Group, we’re a Fortune 500 company and leading international provider of workplace benefits and services, helping workers and their families thrive for more than 175 years. Through our Unum and Colonial Life brands, our company offers disability, life, accident, critical illness, dental and vision insurance; leave and absence management support; and behavioral health services. Our 10,000+ employees work across operations in the US, UK and Poland, as well as our dedicated Technology Centre in Ireland. Unum Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for any applicant with a disability.