Syndicate Financial Controller

PoloWorks; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Private health insurance

Life assurance

Enhanced pension contributions

Volunteer days

Job summary

Polo Managing Agency in London is seeking a Syndicate Financial Controller to oversee the reporting and accounting for two to three syndicates, ensuring GAAP accounts, Lloyd's regulatory returns, and external reporting meet the highest standards.

This client-facing role requires deep knowledge of insurance accounting and Lloyd's reporting, with collaboration across the Polo group to deliver timely, accurate financial information and strong financial controls.

Qualifications

• Degree level, fully qualified accountant.
• Essential to be experienced in Syndicate/Lloyds and Insurance reporting.
• Strong GAAP technical knowledge and good regulatory understanding - specifically within insurance.
• Highly numerate and analytical, disciplined, and organised, with good communication and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the Polo managed syndicate's reporting and accounting.
• Assist in onboarding new syndicates and potentially migrating them to their own Managing Agent.
• Review and submit all Lloyd's quarterly and annual regulatory returns.
• Standardise external reporting and approve CFO/FD/Finance reports and Audit Committee reports.
• Lead the quarterly close process and reporting, coordinating with stakeholders internally and externally.
• Manage the external audit timetable and liaise with the FD and auditors to resolve issues.
• On-board accounting/reporting requirements for newly acquired syndicates.
• Develop accounting for transactions including RITCs and prepare Board papers.

Skills

Syndicate reporting

Lloyds reporting

GAAP knowledge

Insurance accounting

Leadership

Communication

Team player

Regulatory understanding

Education

Chartered accountant

Job description

Syndicate Financial Controller

Department: Managing Agency

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: London

Description

The Syndicate Financial Controller ("SFC") manages all aspects of the reporting and accounting for two to three of PMA's managed syndicates. The responsibilities involve controlling the production of GAAP accounts, Lloyds regulatory returns, and external reporting for the Syndicate Management Committees and Audit Committee and maintaining an effective control environment.

This is a client-facing role; Polo Managing Agency is a Third-party Managing Agency, managing syndicates on behalf of third-party capital providers. The role requires a deep knowledge of insurance accounting and Lloyd's reporting.

This role requires liaison across several divisions of the Polo group to facilitate the timely production of accurate financial information and working in a growing company and in a change-focused environment. The role will be supported by a Syndicate accountant in London and a team of accountants based in Cheltenham who are primarily responsible for compiling and producing the syndicate financial and regulatory reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the Polo managed syndicate's reporting and accounting.
• Assist in onboarding new syndicates, and potentially helping syndicates migrate to their own Managing Agent (if that is their longer term strategy).
• Review and recommend for submission all Lloyd's quarterly and annual regulatory returns.
• Standardization of external reporting; Review/approval of CFO/FD/Finance reports, Audit Committee Financial Reports.
• Effectively manage the quarterly close process and reporting requirements, and in doing so, manage, execute and dictate process, timetables and deliverables to all stakeholders - internally and externally.
• Manage the external audit timetable and process across all departments that contribute to the audit client schedule list. Work closely with the FD to manage the syndicate auditors and the resolution of audit issues arising as required.
• Working in conjunction with the FD to on‑board the accounting and reporting requirements for any newly acquired syndicates.
• Assist with technical accounting for transactions, including RITCs, and develop Board papers accordingly.
• Working with the wider syndicate finance teams to develop and streamline reporting processes in a standardised and uniform manner.
• Driving the development of reporting systems and processes capable of meeting the demands of an evolving business area.
• Provision of timely high quality management accounting information to all business units using the Syndicates together with extensive business partnering between finance, actuarial, data/MI and claims teams.
• Own, drive and continuously seek to improve the Syndicates reporting processes.
• Production of timely, insightful, and strategic financial MI for management and the Board.
• Ensure appropriate Financial Controls are in place and operating effectively (in line with the Group financial controls framework) and where required, identify, and close any financial control gaps affecting financial reporting, forecasting and out of tolerance financial risks.
• Develop a suite of financial risk management reports / dashboards covering risk of financial misstatement, liquidity risk, capital risk, credit risk and tax working collaboratively with subject matter experts from other Group teams.
• Lead, motivate and develop the team including managing their engagement through the embedding of new/improved financial processes.
• Effective change agent - comfortable working in an agile way.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Degree level, fully qualified accountant.
• Essential to be experienced in Syndicate/Lloyds and Insurance reporting.
• Strong GAAP technical knowledge and good regulatory understanding - specifically within insurance.
• Highly numerate and analytical, disciplined, and organised, strong system understanding, proven leadership capabilities, ability to communicate and motivate across all levels of the business.
• Team player with a demonstrable ability to work under pressure and be flexible.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, discretionary annual bonus, and a minimum 26 days of annual leave (with the option to buy more).
• Excellent benefits package, including flexible, hybrid working, private health insurance, life assurance, income protection, enhanced pension contributions, and occupational maternity and paternity pay.
• Access to company volunteering days, an Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing scheme, an employee assistance programme with retail discounts and savings.
• Generous employee referral scheme and regular sports and social events.