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About Great Lakes Insurance SE:
As a specialty provider of primary insurance services in the UK, Great Lakes Insurance SE, UK Branch is a substantial part of our parent, Great Lakes Insurance SE in Munich. Our interlocked business model is to seize opportunities closely connected to the reinsurance core business and innovation opportunities, in our role as an integral part of the Munich Re Group. Great Lakes Insurance SE currently operates from its Head Quarter in Munich, and via branch offices in UK, Switzerland, Italy and Australia. In the UK, we also operate through a subsidiary, Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited.
The finance shared services and tax team sits within the wider Finance team, under the remit of the CFO of Great Lakes London and Munich Re UK Services Limited. The team provides services to the Great Lakes entities and also to other Munich Re UK group companies and branches.
About the role:
We are seeking a qualified or part-qualified accountant to join our Closing & Reporting team. This role provides an exciting opportunity to work within a high-performing finance function, supporting entities generating around £3.7bn in premium. This position is ideal for an accountant eager to transition to an in-house role from an accounting firm or someone with in-house experience looking for their next move. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing financial and Solvency II reporting, driving process improvements, and working closely with various teams to streamline reporting and audit processes.
Key Responsibilities:
* Make accounting decisions based on the application of appropriate accounting standards and ensure accounting in the general ledger (IFRS and UK GAAP) is up-to-date and accurate.
* Prepare management accounts and statutory financial statements on a quarterly/annual basis.
* Ensure timely and accurate quarter-end reporting to Group.
* Work with the tax team to ensure tax is appropriately accounted for in the general ledger (including VAT/IPT).
* Be a key go-to person in the finance team for CFOs, able to provide advice working closely and flexibly with other parts of the team who have ownership of the detailed figures.
* Assist in assessing the impact of any future changes in accounting standards.
* Be the key go-to person for our external auditors and manage the audit of the service company.
* Work closely with other teams, ensuring seamless quarter-end and annual reporting processes.
* Identify opportunities to improve and automate our processes and controls and take a key role in implementing these.
Key Skills & Experience:
* Financial Reporting and Accounting Standards:
o Demonstrated experience in producing management accounts and statutory financial statements, with a strong understanding of IFRS and UK GAAP standards.
o Background in fast-paced, quarter-end/year-end close processes, ideally with experience in a high-volume reporting environment.
* Audit and Regulatory Knowledge:
o Experience in working with external auditors and managing audits, with the ability to coordinate and communicate effectively throughout the audit process.
o Familiarity with Solvency II requirements and other regulatory reporting standards is a plus.
* Process Improvement Mindset:
o Proven ability to identify and implement process improvements and efficiencies in reporting, with a focus on automation and use of technology.
o Skilled in evaluating existing controls and suggesting enhancements to improve accuracy and timeliness.
* Collaboration and Communication Skills:
o Effective at building relationships with cross-functional teams, able to work flexibly with other team members who manage detailed figures.
o Strong communication skills to advise CFOs, finance partners, and auditors, maintaining transparency and ensuring accuracy across reporting processes.
Qualifications and Educational Requirements:
* Recognized accounting qualification (or working toward one), such as ICAEW, ICAS, or equivalent.
* Relevant experience in external or internal financial reporting (e.g., producing management and statutory accounts).
* Familiarity with accounting software and Excel, with experience using ERP systems a plus.
This role is an excellent opportunity for an accountant to make a significant contribution to a growing team and be part of an environment that values continuous improvement and professional development.
You will be rewarded with a great compensation package, on-target bonus, 25 days annual leave with the option to purchase more along with private medical insurance and employers' contributory pension of 10%.
We are one of the few employers to offer fully paid 6 months family leave for times when you need it the most.
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