Outwards Reinsurance Accountant Manager

Since Aspen was founded in 2002, we have become a leading, diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance company. We respond thoughtfully and creatively to find the best outcomes for our clients and business partners through carefully-tailored solutions.

We believe the way we work is just as important as the work we do, and we are guided by our core values of respect, honesty, trust and professionalism.

Aspen is a great place to develop your career offering an exciting and challenging environment where achievement is rewarded.

Role Purpose 

Supports the function’s Senior Management team, by applying specific technical expertise, related accounting principles and regulatory standards to effectively and efficiently carry out a range of high value/complex accounting activities, and manage processes/ other subject matter experts within their discipline; providing relevant advice, guidance and approval in accordance with authority limits, to meet business objectives

Our Aspen Values are expected to be reflected in the delivery and performance of every role

Key Results Areas

Strategy and Planning 

• Contributes to functional strategy development and prioritises operational deliverables and activities of team to support delivery of overall business target
• Manages tactical plan and provides support to others to achieve positive results for the business in line with strategy
• Benchmarking against plan objectives
• Delivery of profitable growth of business

Policy, Process and Procedures 

• Applies specific expertise to manage processes and workflow within the team, and is responsible for ensuring accuracy, efficiency, good practice and adherence to prescribed standards
• As a senior technical expert, is responsible for executing high value/highly complex transactions (making decisions within authority limits) to ensure that they are appropriately completed and that related records and systems are properly maintained
• Interprets, and helps to cascade organisation goals and regulatory/legislative requirements; and is responsible for monitoring functional activity, and application of Policy and Procedures, to ensure that compliance, effectiveness and risk management is optimised

Technical Perfromance 

• As a senior and experienced finance professional, applies technical knowledge of related accounting principles (such as GAAP) to and effectively, and efficiently carry out higher value/complex accounting activities and provide relevant advice, guidance, and approval in accordance with delegated underwriting authority limits, to meet business objectives.
• Is responsible for ensuring their team complies with internal and external regulations and guidelines
• Manages the review and analysis of functional performance to identify and influence progress towards business objectives
• Contributes to the 'Business Optimisation' agenda, bringing together an array of financial, capital, risk, volatility and historical performance metrics to identify profit opportunities and under-performance challenges
• Conducts and presents analysis to to the senior leadership team (including contributing information and papers to the Board and Executive Committee as required) to provide relevant oversight in relation to Aspen's finances

Knowledge 

• Extensive and relevant knowledge of their financial discipline and overall Finance strategy
• Technical understanding of service parameters and delegated authorities; including relevant operational goals/targets - and how this role contributes to overall performance
• Comprehensive knowledge of, and technical expertise in the finance systems, processes and toolsets used in their discipline
• Discipline specific technical expertise and knowledge in relation to legal and regulatory requirements (including specific reference to e.g. GAAP, FCA/Lloyds regulation)
• Working knowledge of best practice accounting and regional accounting standards
• Knowledge of the market the company operates in and London Market Operations (Lloyd’s, IUA, LPSO, LPC etc)

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication, including presentation and technical writing skills.
• Teamwork – able to collaborate, manage and work flexibly with others
• Able to manage and coach staff
• Able to work independently and autonomously with minimal supervision
• Ability to build strong business relationships across a global business
• Highly proficient in MS Office applications e.g. Excel and other discipline specific software packages.
• Excellent analytical skill
• Research skills – maintaining awareness of emerging issues, including regulations, industry practices, and new technologies.
• A high level of numeracy and literacy
• Attention to detail
• Effective time management, planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage priorities to meet strict deadlines
• Problem solving skills

Experience 

• Significant post-qualification work experience in finance environment within a complex multi national financial services business.
• Experience of resolving complex finance or accounting queries; and has significant experience of working with relevant specialist toolsets or applications
• Has established senior level customer/supplier/professional body relationships that are relevant to their role / specialism
• Experience of managing finance teams or groups of individuals with relevant subject matter expertise
• Lloyd’s market experience is desirable
• Degree level education (or equivalent) (And relevance of degree subject to role) is preferred.
• It is expected that the incumbent is qualified in relevant finance or accounting qualifications (with particular emphasis on related specialism).

At Aspen we know that having a diverse and inclusive workforce is good for our people, good for our business and good for the environments in which we operate.  We therefore welcome applications from people which allows us to draw on diverse cultures, perspectives, skills and experiences.