Head of Commercial Finance

Company
HSB
Location
Manchester , United Kingdom

Role: Head of Commercial Finance 

Location: Manchester (Hybrid) 

Permanent 

 

To be successful in this role, you must have hands on experience within the UK insurance industry at a senior level. 

 

Job Purpose:

This is a key finance leadership role that will provide financial and commercial support to the business. The Head of Commercial Finance will communicate effectively at all levels within the business challenging, contributing to and facilitating delivery of objectives. 

 

You will lead a team of Finance Business Partners and the FP&A team, supporting all the divisions within HSB UK&I by providing insightful financial analysis to inform business decisions and business planning. 

 

This role is key to support the delivery of the HSB Group's profitable growth ambitions in the UK&I. 

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the provision of insightful financial analysis and commentary to support commercial decision making, working with other business and finance teams across the Company in the UK and Ireland and with the Finance team of HSBIIC in the US.
• Drive the annual financial planning process and regular re-forecasting, working with business teams and senior management to provide all relevant commentaries, analysis and reporting templates. Act as lead contact for HSBIIC on all aspects of the plan.
• Own and co-ordinate the delivery of all internal monthly commentaries and operational (“Greenbook”) reporting to monitor performance against plan/forecast and drive analysis to understand, evaluate, challenge and improve performance.
• Support the business through the delivery of effective Finance business partnering by working with senior members of the leadership team, including the provision of financial underwriting performance data, financial and non-financial data management information and financial analysis to support new products and distribution channels.
• Act as lead finance business partner to all divisions, supporting the delivery of detailed business plans and participating in their management meetings and planning activities. • Work to identify opportunities to increase the information available to the business and to present this according to stakeholder requirements. Driving change and improvements where possible.
• Support the effective implementation of new systems and the delivery of Company projects to ensure accurate reporting of financial data.
• Act as people manager to 4 Finance Business Partners and an FP&A team of 4, including coordination of team workload, carrying out performance management and contributing to development opportunities.
• Act as lead contact for ad-hoc queries and information requests as required.
• Act as finance representation at key commercial committees

 

Key Skills and Experience

Essential

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Expertise in financial accounting, financial planning and financial reporting.
• Good knowledge of UK, US and IFRS accounting standards.
• Fluent using Microsoft packages i.e. Excel.

 

Desirable

• Relevant financial services experience.
• Experience working in a similar role

 

Additional Skills and Responsibilities

• Interacting with People: Establishing relationships and maintaining contacts with employees including Senior Management/Key decision makers.
• Initiative: Innovative approach to problem solving, anticipating opportunities and the ability to question/challenge existing methods and approaches.
• Attention to detail: Applying high quality standards to all tasks undertaken.
• Mentoring: Supporting junior team members towards their achievements and qualifications where appropriate.
• The ability to communicate effectively at all levels, both verbally and written.
• Be confident in presenting and explaining information to non-finance stakeholders.
• Ability and willingness to work flexibly and across locations, where deadlines require, within the Company’s required operating hours

 

Qualifications and Educational Requirements:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

 

Benefits:

A snapshot of some of our benefits:

• Agile/Hybrid working
• Private Healthcare (Aviva)
• Aviva Digital GP
• Employer Pension contribution of 13%
• Annual bonus
• Professional qualification support
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• x2 wellbeing days per year