Head of External Reporting Edinburgh   £80000 per annum + Full FS Benefits

The Organisation/Team

This is a new role working for one of Europe's largest financial Groups. The business is a UK market leader. The divisional reporting team reports direct to the Finance Director via the Director of Reporting. The team is relatively small and extremely high profile, covering internal and external reporting requirements across the Division. This includes responsibility for monthly management reporting and support for Group external reporting to the stock market, in particular the quarterly Interim Management Statements, the half year news release and year end news release and statutory Group financial statements. The team also provides support to the Divisional Finance Director, the Divisional CEO and Group on various ad hoc projects. In summary, the team provides the link between Group and the various business units (spread across the UK). They ensure that divisional deliverables are well understood, planned and delivered accurately and in a timely fashion whilst providing value through robust, but constructive challenge of the information received.

The Role
Reporting to the Divisional Director of Reporting you will be expected to build strong relationships with the respective business unit finance teams and build a good understanding of the drivers of performance. Working with the reporting managers in the businesses, the External Reporting Manager will make sure that there is a robust plan for year-end, and half year which is well communicated with Group Finance and the businesses, ensure all disclosures relating to insurance are agreed with all stakeholders in a timely fashion, and work with the business units to ensure that the information provided to the Group and Insurance Executive is accurate and adds value. In doing this the External Reporting Manager will be expected to form good relationships with the Divisional Financial Planning & Strategy team to provide an understanding of performance in the context of the impact of current conditions. The External Reporting Manager will liaise with the business unit finance teams to ensure delivery of ad hoc projects for both Group and the Divisional Executive.

The Person
You will be a qualified accountant with a demonstrable track record within a financial reporting environment, used to the disciplines of monthly management reporting, or direct from an accounting practice. Ideally you Will have life or general insurance experience, although strong candidates will be considered without this knowledge. Interpersonally you will be a robust self starter. Other qualities include:
A good communicator, both in person and in written.
Analytical, able to focus on the detail whilst keeping an eye on the wider picture
Disciplined and a good planner
Persuasive
Builds understanding and trust and able to ensure issues are brought out into the open. Collaborative, works well as part of a team.
Seeks out continual improvement in processes and products.

Job Reference:   IW100712

Closing Date:     11-Feb-2010

• Print