Head of Strategic Cost Management

AXA UK; London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA UK is seeking a Head of Strategic Cost Management to lead expense management across the organization. This role involves overseeing a team of finance professionals, driving cost optimization, and aligning expense management with strategic goals while offering a flexible work environment. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in financial services, particularly in cost management, and possess strong leadership and analytical skills. Join a leading company to make an impactful difference.

Benefits

Competitive annual salary

Annual performance-based bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

Private health cover

Car allowance

28 days annual leave

Opportunity to buy/sell extra days leave

Wellbeing services

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Strong experience in cost management and financial services.
• Exceptional analytical skills for clear reporting.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead expense planning and ensure ownership among executives.
• Proactively partner with UK senior leadership for cost-saving.
• Cultivate a high-performing finance team.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Leadership

Cost Management

Financial reporting

Education

Qualified accountant

Tools

Excel

Anaplan

Job description

Description

We’re looking for a Head of Strategic Cost Management to join our team. Reporting into the Head of Planning Budgeting and Reporting, you’ll lead a team of around 30 finance professionals and be responsible for expense management across AXA UK. You’ll ensure consistent and effective planning, reporting and challenge to drive cost optimisation, achieving sustainable financial efficiencies and appropriate investment of the Company’s resources

You’ll be an influential and collaborative leader, with the diplomatic skills to influence our executive, supporting and challenging them to achieve strategic plans and make the right business decisions.

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least 40% of your week away from home, moving to the majority of your working week from September 2025. Away from home means either attendance at one of our office locations, visiting clients or attending industry events. We’re also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the planning process for expenses, ensuring engagement and ownership among UK&I MC and BU ExCom members regarding their targets
• Proactively partner with the UK senior leadership, including the CEO, CFO and COO, to strategically influence the UK operating expense base. This includes identifying and supporting significant cost-saving opportunities
• Ensure timely and insightful expense reporting to UK&I MC and BU ExCom, including variance explanations, along with associated risks and proposed solutions
• Ensure a challenge and support partnering service to all Exec enabling them to actively manage spend and ensure actions proposed are adequate to address gaps that have arisen/emerging are in place.
• Maintain, and continuously improve robust processes, systems, and controls for budgeting, forecasting, and management information, with a current focus on enhancement of our forecasting tool (Anaplan) and report rationalisation through self-service reporting (Power BI). You'll guarantee all expense data is accurate, insightful, and supports rapid, strategically aligned decision-making for internal and external reporting requirements
• Oversee and cultivate a high-performing team. Championing their professional growth and operational excellence

Due to the number of applications we expect to receive for this role, we reserve the right to close this advert earlier than the listed closing date to ensure we’re able to effectively manage interest. Therefore, if you’re interested in joining us at AXA, please don’t hesitate to apply.

What you’ll bring:

• Qualified accountant with substantial post-qualified experience
• Strong financial and commercial mindset, with extensive cost management experience and associated cost subject matter expertise, gained within financial services (essential), preferably insurance
• Proven track record of strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, comfortable with senior audiences at MC level in a clear, concise way - essential
• Exceptional technical, data analytical skills with clear ability to disseminate complex information into digestible and easy to understand reporting for multiple audiences, including strong report writing - essential
• Proven track record of delivering process improvement and value-add insight - essential
• Ability to see the big picture and align expense management with long-term business goals
• Excellent leadership capabilities, able to motivate, drive delivery and empower teams, including offshore - essential
• Experience with expense management and planning systems (e.g., Excel & Anaplan) and robust financial reporting tools

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

What we offer:

At AXA UK, we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• Competitive annual salary
• Annual company & performance-based bonus
• Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)
• Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)
• Private health cover
• Car allowance
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave
• Wellbeing services & resources
• AXA employee discounts

To apply, click on the ‘apply for this job’ button, you’ll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to [e-mail].

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Who we are:

AXA UK Support Functions power AXA’s three customer-facing business units, providing the infrastructure, support and expertise to ensure our customers can always count on us. Whether you’ve got heaps of experience and qualifications behind you, or you’re just starting out, we’ll give you the support and opportunities to help you grow and develop with confidence.