Life Fund Accountant

Job description

Role Title: Life Fund Accountant
Business: Life Fund Accounting
New or Existing Role: New
Immediate Supervisor: Life Fund Accounting Manager        
Location: Edinburgh
 
Role Purpose:
To produce accounting data required by Life Company clients within agreed service levels and to a high standard of accuracy. The data provided is essential to the Life Company Client with regard to the completion of statutory accounts and regulatory returns.
The early and accurate provision of key data to our client is essential to our operation.
 
 
Key Accountabilities:
The role holder will ensure the HSBC values are present in everything we do, both individually and as an
 Organisation. This will be achieved by consistently displaying the behaviours of:
Dependable and do the right thing
Open to different ideas and cultures
Connected to customers, communities, regulators and each other.
 
Follow the monthly control process to ensure that all key data is captured in the investment accounting system, Icon on WD1 every month. Ensure that the appropriate checklists and sign-offs are fully completed within agreed timescales. This enables the swift and accurate delivery of the monthly feed used to populate the client’s general ledger.
 
Manage, control and review your own workload to ensure that all items are processed in a timely manner, accurately and within the requirements of the regulations.
 
Develop an open relationship with our clients. Responding to enquiries from the client and other Internal \ External stakeholders in a swift and accurate manner. 
 
Review all investment accounting reports required by the client to support the general ledger feed. This includes trial balances, valuations, transaction reports. Carry out post month end control checks and advise Life Fund Accounting Manager of any issues that require to be raised with the client
 
Prepare and supply data as required for regulatory returns for clients and other statistical analysis such as VAT and NSO returns. This will require accurate and detailed analysis, often changing to reflect regulatory updates and modifications.
 
Assist the Life Fund Accounting Manager to ensure that the take-on, divestment and stock re-alignment of client assets are processed smoothly and efficiently. This will include ensuring that all positions are booked appropriately and accounted for correctly within Icon and all positions are fully reconciled to the custodian
 
To maintain best practice at all times with regard to client reporting, reviewing systems in order to automate and improve the reporting process as much as possible.
 
Sign off on a quarterly basis that there is a full understanding off all the team’s procedures notes. Maintain training and development logs.
 
Ensure procedure manuals are maintained and remain reflective of current processes.
 
 
 
 
Management of Risk:
Responsible for the continual assessment of operational risks associated with the role and inherent in the business, taking account of changing economic or market conditions, legal and regulatory requirements, operating procedures and practices, management restructuring and the impact of new technology.
 
Demonstrates compliance with HSBC Bank plc Group standards, manuals and policies and adheres to the defined work practices, internal controls and risk management standards associated with the role.
 
Observation of Internal Controls:
Maintains HSBC internal control standards, including the timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators.
 
Understands, follows and demonstrates compliance with all relevant internal and external rules, regulations and procedures that apply to the conduct of the business activities associated with the role, specifically HSBC Bank plc internal controls and compliance policies and manuals.
 

Desired profile

Knowledge & Experience / Qualifications:
General Education:
 
University Degree or equivalent industry experience.
 
Special Qualifications:
Industry relevant exams and qualifications
Part Qualified Accountant (Study Assistance Available)
High PC literacy with a comprehensive knowledge of spreadsheets Good inter-personnel and problem solving skills
 
 
If the role requires enhanced vetting – please add on internal and external adverts and GJO:
 
Within HSBC certain roles are designated as Enhanced Vetting Roles. For these roles, all internal and external applicants are required (subject to local laws), to pass satisfactorily a series of additional checks both as part of the application process and, if successfully recruited into the Enhanced Vetting role, on an ongoing basis. The Group reserves its position with regard to any steps which it may take in relation to any material adverse findings which arise either when the checks are first carried out as part of this recruitment exercise, and/or if relevant, on an ongoing basis.
This role has been designated as an Enhanced Vetting Role.
For more information about the relevant additional checks for this role please contact the hiring manager.