Deputy Financial Controller - Life Assurance

Job description

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Location, Cherrywood Dublin 18, Hybrid working.

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You must have Irish/EU or UK work rights to be considered for this position.

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You must have experience in the life assurance industry to be eligible for this position.

Aviva are delighted to announce a new opportunity for an accomplished senior finance manager to move into the role of Deputy Financial controller for ALPI Ireland. To be considered for the position you must have experience operating in the Life Assurance area.

While there is extensive BAU as detailed below, there is also genuine opportunity here to put your stamp on how Aviva changes the way they work to deliver more efficient ways of operating in Finance. This would include the evaluation of any new tools, technologies or infrastructure as part of a wider change profile, significant input on large spend projects across the area, and real flexibility and real connection to senior stakeholders and Group (UK life). You will have a genuine opportunity to have real impact.

You will need an authoritative voice and a passion for positive change, bringing your extensive experience to bear. You may be at senior manager level in big 4/7 seeking a change to industry, at or close to Director level.

In terms of the day to day, you will be monitoring he execution of key controls relating to numerical monthly results and engaging the Irish businesses on unusual trends and transactions. You will be designing and implementing new efficient processes for cash flow accounting and managing operational risks and controls, with a focus on delivering MI packs to senior execs on the execution of your function. You will be representing Finance facing audit committees and into the CFO, CRO, and head of actuarial on a regular basis.

More about the position.

You will lead the General Ledger Control and Analysis team in this key position. The role and wider Finance & Actuarial Teams are mainly based in Dublin, and there is also an outsourced team that your team would QA. For both teams, you'll be ensuring completeness and accuracy of the general ledger and reported results. The role and team directly support the Head of Financial reporting in all IFRS and Solvency II reporting , within and external to the Aviva Group. So extensive experience with both is essential.

The role will involve leading on communication with key stakeholders across the business through analysis and interrogation of underlying results, working closely with them to ensure maintenance of a strong and effective control environment and development of a thorough understanding of the cashflows, assets and liabilities period on period.

As mentioned, the position has significant opportunity for exposure to senior stakeholders both in market and in the Aviva Group centre. This role provides a great chance to build relationships across the business, from operations and finance teams and will give you visibility and understanding of the full end to end financial reporting process.

In this role you will also shape and deliver changes to the GL team’s processes and controls with enhanced integration between the onshore and offshore teams supporting Aviva Ireland Life, targeting operational efficiencies and a focus on analytics, understanding and challenge of reported results.

What are some of the key duties & responsibilities in this role?  

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Leading an onshore team in Ireland who will own general ledger controls and analysis activity for the Ireland Life market.

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Delivery of key regular reporting close, including provision of operational and technical papers for local and Group Finance forums and input into Board and Audit Committee reporting.

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Attendance and presenting at the relevant finance governance forums.

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Proactively managing key stakeholders and direct reports in delivering reporting close effectively and efficiently with a focus on timeliness, robust controls and thorough understanding of the results.

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Working alongside and closely with the wider financial reporting and actuarial reporting teams on finance technical change and designing/implementing operational solutions to meet dynamic and planned change.

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Act as outsourcing oversight lead of all general ledger activity, complying with internal and external outsourcing governance standards and representing Ireland Life Finance at outsourcing governance forums.

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Lead on external audit engagements, managing wider finance team interaction with and responsiveness to audit requests and queries.

What skills & experience do I need?

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Strong risk and controls knowledge and delivery experience, including process and control build, design and operational implementation.

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Qualified accountant or equivalent experience desirable.

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Experience and recent operational knowledge of life assurance financial accounting , unit linked fund accounting and reporting Life assurance under IFRS and Solvency II regulatory regimes.

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Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), with the ability to communicate complex issues in an easily understood manner to a diverse stakeholder population.

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Relationship management skills to achieve objectives through others and maintain effective stakeholder relationships across both the businesses/markets and external suppliers.

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Effective influencing skills with people at all levels internally and externally with the ability to build credible working relationships and lead a team of direct reports.

What will you get for this role?  

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A competitive market leading salary depending on skills, experience, and qualifications 

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Generous pension (employee contribution matching of up to 14% if you contribute 8%)

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Annual performance related bonus and pay review

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Holiday allowance of 29 days plus bank holidays, and the option to buy/sell up to 5 additional days

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Free car parking

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Generous Health & dental insurance contributions after six months

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Aviva Matching Share Plan and Save As You Earn scheme and Approved Profit Share Scheme

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Cycle to Work benefit scheme

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TaxSaver Travel Scheme

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Family friendly parent’s (matching paternity and maternity leave) and carer’s leave.

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Up to 40% discount for some Aviva products plus discounts for Friends and Family

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Employee Assistance Programme

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Volunteering days

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Professional qualification support and transparent career progression plans

Aviva is for Everyone

Our diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives are shaping an environment where everyone feels welcome regardless of age, disability, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, maternity or those with other caring responsibilities. Our approach helps to ensure that Aviva is a place which values difference and provides equal opportunities for all.

We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Our smart working combines the benefits of flexibility with time together with colleagues. We prefer all applications to be submitted online, however if you require an alternative method of applying, please contact sophie.keely@aviva.com or at 086 1584943.