Head of Group Financial Reporting & Control

Key Responsibilities:

Financial and regulatory reporting:

• Lead and oversee the development and delivery of financial and regulatory reporting including balance sheet and cash flow reporting. Oversee the production of the consolidated financial statements and notes to the accounts for the annual report and accounts, and for a small number of centrally managed statutory entities. 
• Lead on the work for key judgements and estimates for the Group, both in terms of calculations and reporting into the Audit Committee.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, regulator requirements and maintain the integrity of financial records.
• Managing the external audit processes throughout the year acting as the main point of contact with external auditors and Audit Committee.
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes including Arch group reporting.  Review and final sign off of Arch group reporting.
• Managing the Balance Sheet control aspects of monthly reporting and supporting the Group FP&A team with the production of the monthly consolidated management accounts
• Be a key liaison on all material technical accounting matter for the wider Group and Finance department.  Keep abreast of key technical developments in the external reporting landscape.

Financial Control:

• Drive the development and maintenance of an effective financial controls framework, including CASS.
• Ensure appropriate controls are designed, implemented, and operated throughout reporting cycles to mitigate and manage risk effectively.
• Own management information to report the effectiveness of financial controls.
• Lead the investigation of risk events and develop action plans to address identified weaknesses.
• Manage controls testing cycles, develop annual testing plans, and conduct in-cycle testing.
• Foster relationships and interactions with Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit concerning financial control processes.
• Ensure strong financial controls with outsourcing providers, with clear modes of measurement.
• Engage with senior stakeholders and lead projects to deliver improvements in the financial and operating control environment.

Finance operations and Tax:

• Provide leadership and oversight to all aspects of finance operations and transactional finance including accounts receivable, accounts payable, banking and treasury, general ledger accounting, fixed asset accounting
• Develop, lead, manage and monitor the tax affairs for the business.  This includes developing and implementing the group policies, establishing and operating the firm’s tax capabilities (working closely with Arch group tax) and ensuring adequate coverage of all aspects of tax. Ensure compliance with tax regulations and oversee the production of direct and indirect tax returns.
• Provide finance systems and technology thought leadership and drive enhancements to finance systems, process and data management. 

Required Skills/Experience:

• Qualified Accountant with extensive experience in financial controls frameworks, financial reporting, risk assessment, defining effective controls, and delivering process improvements.
• Strong understanding of non-life insurance.
• Ability to lead, coach and engage your team to deliver an efficient and effective finance function. Be curious to see if we can do things a different way and drive forward the finance strategy. Be agile enough to adapt to changes that happen within the business and re-align financial activity accordingly.
• Experience in leading change, whether smaller engagements or components of large, complex operations.
• Proven ability to identify business issues, own responsibility for quality deliverables, manage stakeholder relationships, and develop persuasive recommendations.
• Critical thinking, advanced analysis, and problem-solving techniques—business/data analysis and Excel skills are essential.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, both verbally and in writing, with business stakeholders.
• Interest in using new technology to automate and improve processes.

Our Benefits:

• Hybrid working – 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days over 2 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service. Plus bank holidays!
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Pension scheme – 5% employee, 6% employer
• Flexible working – we will always consider applications for those who require less than the advertised hours
• Flexi-time
• Healthcare Cash Plan – claim cashback on a variety of everyday healthcare costs
• Electric vehicle – salary sacrifice scheme
• 100’s of exclusive retailer discounts
• Professional wellbeing, health & fitness app - Wrkit
• Enhanced parental leave, including time off for IVF appointments
• Religious bank holidays – if you don’t celebrate Christmas and Easter, you can use these annual leave days on other occasions throughout the year.
• Life Assurance - 4 times your salary
• 25% Car Insurance Discount
• 20% Travel Insurance Discount
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Community support day
• Christmas and Summer parties

Working at SBG

At Somerset Bridge Group we aim to build a sustainable and innovative business focused on underwriting, broking and claims handling of UK motor insurance, offering transparent products and an efficient and fair service to our policy holders.

We are very proud to have been awarded a Silver Accreditation from Investors in People! We recognise that all of our people contribute to our success. That's why we are always looking for talented people to join our team - people who share our vision, who are passionate about what they do, and who want to be part of something special. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Somerset Bridge Group is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic factors or other characteristics protected by law. SBG makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, skills and business requirements.