Reporting to: Finance & Performance Manager (Group & 1856) / Head of FP&A
Location: London
Direct Reports: 1 – FP&A Analyst (Expenses)
About us
IQUW is a speciality (re)insurer at Lloyd’s (Syndicate 1856) underwriting a diverse range of Property, Commercial and Speciality (re)insurance products from Cargo and Marine to Political Violence, Terror and War. We combine data, intelligent automation, and human expertise to make smart decisions, fast.
ERS is the UK's largest specialist motor insurer with an A+ rating. We recognise that for some, motor insurance is more than just a must-have; it's a way of taking care of what stands at the heart of their passion or livelihood. For those people, standard insurance isn't enough. That's why we work exclusively with motor insurance brokers to help get under the skin of the most difficult insurance risks, helping build products to meet their customer’s needs.
The role
The FP&A Manager (Expenses) reports to the Finance & Performance Manager (Group & 1856) / Head of FP&A and plays a key role in the FP&A team. Role involves ownership of the end-to-end expense budgeting, forecasting and Business Partnering activities across the Group. Monthly analysis and challenge of actual performance against expected and underlying drivers. Identify business and departmental needs for management information and process improvements to drive forward to completion. Communicate results to key decision makers and stakeholders across the business and contribute to direction and shaping of the business functions.
Key responsibilities
- Ownership of the end-to-end expense budgets and reforecasts – Syndicate and wider Group
- Production of value-add MI of actuals vs forecast vs budget - qualitative and quantitative
- Challenge AvEs to understand drivers, trends, and areas of opportunity or remedial action
- Preparation of Committee, Executive and Board papers with supporting narrative and analysis
- Derivation and monitoring of Group expense allocation metrics to entity and class of business
- Development of strong working relationships across all levels of the business / stakeholders
- Work corroboratively with Expense controlling, cost centre owners and wider Finance teams
- Act as a key Expenses Finance point of contact for cost centre owners and related activities
- Provide leadership, direction, training and support to direct reports and others within the team
- Identification and drive forward process simplification and improvement opportunities
- Support the aligned build-out of Group FP&A function and performance of ad-hoc projects
The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list and you may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties compatible with your experience and competencies. This description may be varied from time to time to reflect changing business requirements.
Essential qualifications, skills, and experience
- A qualified commercially minded financial accountant with PQE – CA/ACA/CIMA/ACCA
- Strong knowledge of Insurance accounting, UK GAAP and finance systems – essential
- Relevant and recent experience in a multi-line insurance finance role – essential
- Good experience of Lloyd’s regulatory/syndicate accounting requirements
- Intermediate/Advanced Microsoft Excel skills – TM1 experience highly advantageous
- Extremely proficient in use of Microsoft Office product suite and general PC skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills which is tailored to the audience
- Ability to manage own workload and work to strict deadlines
- Effective organisational and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure
- Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and an inquisitive mindset
- Highly organized and methodical thinker
Desirable behavioural attributes
- Effective Communication skills: to express themselves clearly with a diverse set of stakeholders
- Initiative & Change: Self-starter, takes action without being prompted. Able to react to change and use initiative to identify areas where change is necessary
- Driving & Delivering Results: See success for self and team as being aligned to business goals.
- Planning & Organising: Establishes effective priorities and timelines
- Problem Solving: Defines problems clearly and logically, communicates the problem and solution appropriately.
- Decision Making Effectiveness: Able to make decisions to achieve goals, and drive these to successful completion.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with others
- Commercial Awareness (Including Financial Awareness) Has an awareness of internal and external commercial and financial markets and the financial and commercial impact their decisions may have on the success of their department and the wider business.
- Personal Growth & Self-Management. Effective management of own and others time, establishing effective personal goals and standards for future growth and development
- Building Relationships: Develops good relationships, gets along with all levels of staff and executive, putting them at ease.
- Strategic Thinking: Able to contribute valuable suggestions to future direction and plans.
