Financial Controller

Howden; Lakeside (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Part time

Job summary

Howden in Lakeside, California, seeks a leader to run the management accounting and financial control function, ensuring integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting while developing a strong control environment.

This role oversees four Management Accountants, coordinates monthly close, prepares board packs, manages audits with external auditors, collaborates with Group Tax and FCA regulatory returns, and drives process improvements.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA)
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (FRS 102 and IFRS)
• Confident leader with proven experience of managing finance teams
• Strong communicator with the ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders
• Detail-oriented with a dedication to financial accuracy and integrity
• Experienced in managing audits and working with external auditors
• Proactive in identifying process improvements and driving efficiencies
• Collaborative and able to build positive relationships across finance functions

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end and quarter-end processes with timely reporting
• Oversee judgemental areas including provisions and accruals
• Coordinate with FP&A and Finance Director on monthly/board reporting
• Own balance sheet integrity and reconciliations
• Ensure robust financial controls and documentation
• Oversee cash flow forecasting and working capital movements
• Coordinate end-to-end audit processes and reporting
• Collaborate with Group Tax for timely tax submissions
• Review regulatory returns to the FCA
• Support quarterly attestations and develop the management accounts team
• Ensure compliance with accounting policies and statutory standards
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency

Skills

ACA/ACCA

Technical accounting (FRS 102/IFRS)

Leadership

Stakeholder communication

Audit management

Process improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

ACA/ACCA qualification

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities - work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you’ll find like‑minded people driving change at Howden.

Role Purpose

This role leads the management accounting and financial control function and is responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting. The position also has line management responsibility for four Management Accountants and plays a key role in maintaining and developing a strong financial control environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead month-end and quarter-end process ensuring accurate reporting to agreed timelines.
• Oversee judgemental areas including provisions, non-recurring costs and judgemental accruals, ensuring consistency with accounting policies and standards
• Review pre-close outputs in collaboration with FP&A and the Finance Director and feed into monthly management reporting and quarterly board reporting
• Overall ownership and sign-off of balance sheet integrity including review and approval of Balance Sheet reconciliations.
• Support a robust financial control environment, including documentation and evidencing for key controls
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, providing challenge to cash assumptions and working capital movements
• Oversight and coordination of the end to end audit process, including review of financial statements, impairment and accounting papers on significant estimates and Going Concern
• Coordinating with Group Tax for timely and accurate tax submissions
• Review and approval of regulatory returns to the FCA
• Support quarterly attestation processes, ensuring completeness and accuracy of submission
• Lead and manage the Management Accounts team, providing supervision and development.
• Ensure compliance with Group accounting policies and statutory standards.
• Identify and implement improvements to processes to improve financial control and increase efficiency

Skills & Experience

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA)
• Strong technical accounting knowledge (FRS 102 and IFRS)
• A confident leader with proven experience of managing finance teams
• Strong communicator with the ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders
• Detail-oriented with a dedication to financial accuracy and integrity.
• Experienced in managing audits and working with external auditors.
• Proactive in identifying process improvements and driving efficiencies.
• Collaborative and able to build positive relationships across finance functions.

What do we offer in return?

A Career That You Define. At Howden, We Value Diversity - There Is No One Howden Type. Instead, We’re Looking For Individuals Who Share The Same Values As Us

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

• Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)