Job summary

Working within the Finance Department of a UK Group of Lloyd’s Insurance Market companies, and under the ownership of China Re Group; this role is responsible for reviewing and approving transactions, reviewing subsequent reconciliation and control files for all corporate entities’ general ledgers including two overseas offices and two wider group company entities, and managing the quarterly consolidation process.

The role will work with the Corporate and Consolidations Accountant and other colleagues within the finance team (reporting, treasury and investments, Syndicate accounting, business partnering, tax and finance systems support) to ensure the smooth production of information from the ledgers necessary for the population of regulatory returns and management information as well as quarterly onward group reporting to China Re.

Main duties

Reviewing and approving regularly occurring BAU journals for the Corporate entities
Reviewing and approving the accounting of complex transactions in the relevant ledgers of the corporate entities such as dividends in specie, IFRS16 adjustments and group eliminations
Acting as a key contact with third party actuaries and pension administrators regarding defined benefit pension accounting
Managing payroll-related ledger reconciliation issues with the in-house HR/payroll team
Reviewing reconciliation of investments between external third party system and general ledger
Supporting and reviewing the preparation of group and regulatory investment disclosures
Acting as a key contact with external third party responsible for populating the general ledger with investment-related transactions
Reviewing and approving monthly and quarterly balance sheet reconciliations in relation to the above
Reviewing the suite of monthly and quarterly control files including revaluation and translations checks, FX reviews, accounting of currency forwards and commentary on variance analysis
Reviewing and scrutinising remote office submissions (and uploading into PeopleSoft where applicable)
Reviewing of annual Statutory Accounts and quarterly and annual DFSA returns for Chaucer MENA
Managing and reviewing in detail the consolidation process including automated PeopleSoft processes, manual consolidation adjustments, communicating with key stakeholders to ensure handovers are appropriately sequenced, and reviewing the consolidation output
Acting as an SME on PeopleSoft including understanding the mechanics behind its revaluation, translation and automated elimination processes, the asset management module, building custom queries, and structure of the general ledger
Identifying issues that appear in reconciliation and review files and ensure these are resolved in a timely fashion
Ensuring issues that are identified by line manager are dealt with in a timely fashion
Completing ad hoc investigation on balances which are the responsibility of the Corporate accounting team as and when required
Liaising with the group reporting manager to ensure the Corporate and consolidated financial statements are free from material errors
Acting as a main contact for audit queries that pertain to the Corporate entities and consolidation adjustments
Overseeing the audit timetable for the external audit of Chaucer MENA
Reviewing the preparation of the financial statements of Chaucer ApS including review of audit report
Providing support to overseas offices on technical accounting matters
Playing an active role in the improvement to BAU processes and leading on implementation
Maintaining a sound system of internal controls including the proposal of control enhancement required when issues are identified
Ensuring that process documentation relevant to Corporate accounting is robust and complete
Active participation on various project work including the review of testing completed on system changes
Line management of one direct report

Relevant experience

Essential

At least 4 years experience of working in a finance department with multicurrency
Expert knowledge of consolidation processes and procedures
Ability to manage competing deadlines under pressure

Desirable

Exposure to the Lloyds market

Technical skills

Essential

Proven record demonstrating expert knowledge of the reporting requirements imposed by UK GAAP, Companies Act and IFRS
Advanced experience of using Excel
Excellent verbal communication

Desirable

Prior experience of using PeopleSoft
Working knowledge of investment accounting and reporting, and defined benefit accounting

Education & Experience

Essential

CIMA/ACCA/CA/ACA with at least 4 years post-qualified experience

Personal skills

Able to deliver results under tight deadlines, showing flexibility when required
Strong sense of accountability and ownership of the work assigned
Emphasis on quality of the outputs produced
Self-starter requiring minimum supervision, with the ability to solve problems and find solutions
Can do attitude and willingness to take responsibility
Good communication skills with others including those outside of the immediate team
Organised and able to ensure outstanding issues and queries are resolved in a timely fashion

Other responsibilities

Attend as the finance representative in the Chaucer MENA, Chaucer ApS and Chaucer Bermuda Annual Board Meetings to present the results of the annual financial statements

ABOUT US

Chaucer is a leading insurance group at Lloyd’s, the world’s specialist insurance market. We help protect industries around the world from the risks they face. Our customers include major airlines, energy companies, shipping groups, global manufacturers and property groups.

Our headquarters are in London, and we have international offices in Bermuda, Copenhagen, Dubai and Singapore to be closer to our clients across the world. To learn more about us please visit our website.

Chaucer is committed to diversity, actively values difference and respects people regardless of the protected characteristics which are outlined in the Equality Act 2010 (UK legislation) as a result of the Equal Treatment Directive 2006 (EU legislation).

A diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace are core to our success as a business and integral to our winning strategy and culture. We recruit from the widest available pool of talent, and our hiring, assessment and selection process is fair, free from bias and one which ensures we select the right person for the job, based on merit. We are committed to promoting a culture that actively values difference, and recognises that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their employment.

We are open to considering flexible working arrangements for all roles and encourage you to outline your needs during the interview process.

Senior Accounting Manager jobs

Senior Corporate and Consolidations Manager (12 month FTC)