Head of Finance

Brightwater Executive; Dublin; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightwater Executive is exclusively representing our client for a Head of Finance role in Ireland. The role reports to the CFO and oversees the finance function across operations, reporting, tax, treasury and investment accounting, with accountability to Board and committees.

The candidate will provide strategic financial insight, lead a sizeable team, drive governance and build strong relationships with regulators, auditors and stakeholders to support the company’s growth agenda.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent).
• 10+ years' progressive Finance experience, including senior leadership.
• Strong IFRS, FRS 102 and Solvency II knowledge and experience.
• Experience engaging with Boards, regulators and senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead Finance function across accounting close, tax, treasury and investment accounting.
• Oversee statutory reporting and regulatory returns to authorities.
• Build scalable operating model to support growth and new products.
• Provide strategic financial insight to CFO, Exec Committee and Board.
• Champion governance, data quality and continuous improvement across Finance.

Skills

Senior leadership

Strategic finance

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA)

Job description

Brightwater Executive is delighted to be exclusively representing our client for this Head of Finance role.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Head of Finance will have end-to-end responsibility for the Finance function, leading a sizeable team across financial operations, statutory and regulatory reporting, financial control, tax, treasury and investment accounting.

Role Purpose

As a member of the senior leadership team, the role provides strategic financial insight and advice to the CFO, Executive Committee, Board and relevant Committees. The successful candidate will maintain a broad understanding of all areas critical to the effective operation of Finance, foster collaboration across Finance, Actuarial, Investments and Risk Management, and build strong relationships with Group stakeholders, regulators, auditors and key service providers.

The successful candidate will combine strong financial stewardship with commercial leadership, ensuring Finance delivers accurate, timely and well-controlled reporting while building the insight, planning and business-partnering capabilities required to support the Company's strategic growth agenda.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Finance Leadership

• Lead, develop and inspire the Finance function, setting clear priorities, accountabilities and performance expectations.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the CFO and a strategic Finance partner to the Executive Committee, providing clear insight, constructive challenge and decision support.
• Translate the Company's commercial strategy into robust financial plans, forecasts, performance measures and investment decisions, balancing growth ambitions with capital, profitability, liquidity and risk considerations.
• Build a scalable Finance operating model capable of supporting both the legacy portfolio and new business, including new products, digital platform capabilities and distribution partnerships.
• Promote a collaborative and high-performing Finance culture, with effective succession planning, capability development and knowledge sharing.
• Maintain effective relationships with Group Finance, the Central Bank of Ireland, external auditors, tax advisers, banks and outsourced service providers.
• Champion continuous improvement, simplification, data quality and automation across Finance processes while maintaining strong governance and control.

Finance Operations

• Own the integrity and timely completion of accounting close processes and the underlying books and records.
• Oversee accounts payable, operating expenses and the management of the Company's cost base, including close monitoring of actual performance against budget.
• Ensure timely and accurate tax compliance, filings and related governance.
• Lead banking and treasury operations, including short-term liquidity, cash positioning, bank accounts, access rights, collateral activities and related controls.
• Oversee investment accounting and ensure appropriate accounting, reporting and disclosure treatment under IFRS, FRS 102 and Solvency II.
• Direct and oversee Finance outsourced service providers, including investment accounting, delegated EMIR reporting and collateral management, with clear service standards and effective performance management.
• Maintain effective coordination with the Chief Investment Officer, Head of Actuarial Function and relevant Group teams to support the efficient operation of the wider Finance, Actuarial and Investment functions.

Financial, Statutory and Regulatory Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of annual statutory financial statements and quarterly and annual Solvency II regulatory returns to the Central Bank of Ireland.
• Own the presentation and interpretation of statutory financial statements and regulatory returns for review by the Audit Committee and approval by the Board.
• Lead Group reporting under IFRS and Solvency II, ensuring compliance with applicable Group instructions, timetables and quality standards.
• Lead the Finance contribution to strategic planning, forecasting and budgeting, including rigorous analysis of earnings, expenses and performance against plan.
• Prepare and present regular reporting and commentary on the financial development, position and outlook of the Company to the CFO, Executive Committee, Board, relevant Committees and Group stakeholders.
• Maintain current technical knowledge of IFRS, Solvency II, statutory reporting, investment accounting and relevant regulatory obligations, assessing and implementing changes that affect the Company.

Governance, Risk and Control

• Maintain a robust financial control framework across the Finance team, with clear ownership, documented processes and timely remediation of issues.
• Act as the principal contact for the annual external audit, coordinating delivery across key stakeholders.
• Comply fully with the requirements applicable to a Controlled Function role under the Central Bank of Ireland Fitness and Probity Regime.

Candidate Profile: Experience & Qualifications

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with substantial post-qualification experience.
• 10+ years' progressive Finance experience, including significant senior leadership responsibility in life assurance or a similarly regulated financial services environment.
• Proven experience leading finance managers and specialist professionals.
• Strong technical expertise in IFRS, FRS 102 and Solvency II, with a sound understanding of statutory and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated experience across accounting close, tax, treasury, liquidity, investment accounting, expenses, financial control and outsourced services.
• Strong commercial and strategic capability, with experience supporting growth, transformation, new products or operating-model change through disciplined planning and decision support.
• Experience engaging with Boards, Board Committees, executive leaders, regulators, auditors and Group stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information into concise insights and recommendations.
• Proactive, resilient and collaborative leadership style, with the judgement and credibility to challenge constructively and deliver through others in a complex, fast-changing environment.
• Eligibility to perform relevant Controlled Functions under the Central Bank of Ireland's Fitness and Probity Regime, with a commitment to maintaining full regulatory compliance.

Remuneration Package: Highly Competitive + Benefits