Staff Costs Business Partner

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 

Financial Management

• Oversee and manage the staff costs element of the P&L account, ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports analysing variances in staff costs, including headcount, salaries, bonuses, pensions, and other employee-related expenses
• Collaborate with cost centre managers to review staff budgets, monitor actuals, and ensure alignment with group targets. 
• Develop and maintain robust forecasting models for staff costs, considering business needs and economic changes.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary liaison between Finance and HR, facilitating communication and ensuring cohesive working relationships. 
• Work closely with the HR Business Partner to align on workforce planning, recruitment budgets, and payroll-related changes. 
• Support cost centre managers in understanding and managing their staff cost allocations. 
• Partner with HR to track and analyse workforce metrics, such as attrition rates, recruitment costs, staff productivity etc.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure compliance with all relevant financial and legal regulations related to staff costs.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of all staff cost-related processes and decisions.
• Support internal and external audits related to staff costs. 

Ad-Hoc Analysis

•    Lead the response to ad hoc requests for staff related expense analysis and reporting from senior management and other stakeholders. 
•    Lead and provide support to special projects and initiatives as required. 
•    Lead the provision of staff costs related expense insights and recommendations as required to support business decision-making. 

Knowledge 

• Strong understanding of payroll processes
• Working knowledge of best practice accounting and regional accounting standards

Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and SharePoint skills
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Good at establishing and maintaining internal and external solid working relationships
• Effective at influencing all stakeholders
• Experience with financial planning software (e.g. Anaplan) is a plus.
• Continuous improvement mind-set

Experience 

• Professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA) preferred not essential
• Experience with financial reporting, consolidation, and analysis

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.