Head of Syndicate Accounting & Reporting

Job Type:

Build a brilliant future with Hiscox
 

Position:  Head of Syndicate Accounting & Reporting

Reporting to: Director of Syndicate Finance

Location: London

Type: Interim – 12 Month - Fixed Term Contract

The Role

The Head of Syndicate Accounting & Reporting is a senior leadership position responsible for the strategic direction and operational excellence of the accounting and reporting function across Hiscox’s three Managed Syndicates, Managing Agent, and corporate member. 

Reporting to the Director of Syndicate Finance, you will be responsible for leading the accounting and reporting function, ensuring effective financial management and oversight across all entities. This position requires close collaboration with key business areas, including actuarial, underwriting, risk and compliance, FP&A, and group finance, to support external reporting submissions and other requirements. You will provide leadership in overseeing the complete ledger controllership process, conducting financial analytics, fostering business partnerships across units, managing results, and ensuring comprehensive external and internal reporting. 

Additionally, you will oversee Finance projects, such as implementation and improvement of controls frameworks, automation of the processes, and execution of ad hoc initiatives as necessary. Working closely with the Director of Syndicate Finance, you will help build an effective finance function, drive improvements in reporting processes, increase controllership efficiency, strengthen business partnerships, and enhance both group and external reporting capabilities. Furthermore, you will play a key role in reinforcing the syndicate financial control framework. 

This role is situated within a Finance team distributed between London and Colchester and includes responsibility for overseeing service delivery and the management of outsourcing arrangements with our outsourcing business partner in India. 

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of Syndicate Accounting and Reporting processes including complete ownership of Lloyds reporting and Solvency II reporting processes. 
• Managing the production, review and sign off of Lloyd’s quarterly and annual regulatory returns, annual reports and accounts, IFRS statutory reporting with quantitative and qualitative analysis and disclosures.
• Manage the production and reporting of the corporate member share of the Syndicates’ results (on an IFRS basis) to Group Finance.
• Managing the production of interim, annual, and underwriting accounts for the three Hiscox-managed syndicates, as well as for the managing agent and corporate member accounts.
• Preparation and presentation of Lloyds results commentary including BS, P&L and other KPIs for governance committee.
• Managing the relationship with business process outsourcing service providers, ensuring optimal service delivery and effectiveness. 
• Driving the automation, innovation, and development of reporting systems and processes capable of meeting the demands of an evolving business area.
• Provision of timely high quality management accounting information to all business units.
• Own, drive and continuously seek to improve the syndicates Accounting and Reporting processes.
• Supporting the Director of Syndicate Finance by preparing the presentations and papers required for the Managing Agency Board and for the Audit Committee.
• Lead on the management of the overall capital and liquidity position of the syndicates.
• Manage Lloyd’s related treasury activities including cash flow forecasts, situs trust funding and provision of Funds at Lloyd’s.
• Work closely with the Risk and Compliance functions to deliver accurate financial data, such as for the ORSA process.
• Managing the service to different stakeholders such as reserving, Syndicate FP&A etc and completing the process handovers/hand backs with various departments accurately as per the schedule. 
• Function as a key point of contact for the Syndicate auditors, maintain and develop the relationship, and manage the resolution of audit issues as required.
• Ensuring group accounting policies are adhered while performing the accounting and reconciliations.
• Ensure effective financial control framework is in place and is operating effectively. Timely updating the control framework or introducing new controls where required for the process changes.
• Identify areas for process improvement and follow through to implementation, resulting in a best-in-class Finance function.
• Manage, coach, and develop the Syndicate Accounting & Reporting team.
• Work closely with the Director of Syndicate Finance in developing and enhancing the syndicate financial controls, ensuring compliance with the Group’s financial controls framework, and identifying and closing any gaps affecting Syndicate financial reporting.

Skills/ Qualifications/ Experience required.

• Be a qualified accountant and/or have relevant demonstrable 10+ years’ experience in a senior Lloyds Accounting and Reporting role.
• Be educated to degree level and/or have relevant demonstrable experience in syndicate financial accounting and reporting.
• Strong IFRS technical knowledge and good regulatory understanding – specifically within insurance
• Have excellent working knowledge of Lloyd’s reporting requirements.
• Possess excellent IT skills, with exposure to data modelling software and accounting ledger being a real benefit due to the nature of the reporting required in the role.
• Have had exposure to distributed teams and relationship building with stakeholders who are also not located within the same location.
• Have previous experience of working with third party outsourcing arrangement.
• Have previous management or coaching experience.

About Hiscox

As an international specialist insurer, we are far removed from the world of mass market insurance products. Instead, we are selective and focus on our key areas of expertise and strength - all of which is underpinned by a culture that encourages us to challenge convention and always look for a better way of doing things.

We insure the unique and the interesting. And we search for the same when it comes to talented people. Hiscox is full of smart, reliable human beings that look out for customers and each other. We believe in doing the right thing, making good and rebuilding when things go wrong. Everyone is encouraged to think creatively, challenge the status quo and look for solutions.

If you excel in a dynamic, team-oriented environment where you are trusted to use your instincts and encouraged to reach your full potential, this is the place for you. 

Work with amazing people and be part of a unique culture