REALTY INSURANCES Title Head of Financial Reporting Report Line Finance Director Job Type Full Time, Permanent Location 70 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JP About Realty An excellent opportunity has arisen to join Realty Insurances Limited, a highly successful, specialist, independent insurance broking firm in the heart of the West End of London. This ambitious company is in the envious and unique position of being part of Grosvenor, one of the pre-eminent private international property companies whose activities span urban property, food and agtech, rural estate management and support for philanthropic initiatives. Realty Insurances, established in 1950, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The company specialises in providing advice and arranging insurance for commercial and residential property owners and developers, rural estates and farms, and private clients. The company places in excess of £40 million in insurance premium per annum into the insurance market and, having grown consistently in recent years, is now recruiting to deliver the next phase in its growth ambitions. Purpose The Head of Financial Reporting will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of financial management, reporting, budgeting, financial compliance and the oversight of the outsourced IBA function. This role is pivotal in ensuring financial governance and delivering critical financial insights to drive informed decision-making at Executive level. The role requires a strategic mindset combined with technical expertise and a hands-on objective driven approach to transform the financial operations whilst executing exemplary financial governance, maintaining full compliance with FCA regulations and accounting standards. The individual will actively contribute to the business's sustainability and ESG endeavours and play a pivotal role in shaping the future financial direction of the organisation during a period of significant change and transformation. Key Responsibilities Financial Leadership: Provide expert financial counsel to the Executive Committee, influencing key business decisions and strategic initiatives with robust financial analysis and foresight. Partner with the Finance Director to establish and monitor key financial performance indicators that align with strategic objectives and shareholder expectations. Lead authoritative presentations of financial performance analyses to senior stakeholders, translating complex financial data into strategic commercial insights that drive operational improvements and commercial opportunities. Oversee the outsourced IBA function relationship and operate as the primary point of contact with the third-party provider for all servicing matters related to the outsourced function. Monitoring and review of operational performance and adherence to key performance indicators. Financial Reporting: Production of high-quality monthly management accounts and annual statutory financial statements that meet exacting standards and tight deadlines, ensuring they provide meaningful insights for the Leadership Team. Production of comprehensive monthly analysis of financial performance against budget, forecast and prior year results, highlighting material variances and providing insightful commentary that enables informed decision-making. Oversee and execute all month-end procedures, collaborating with senior stakeholders across broking and operational teams to ensure accurate transaction recording and system integrity. Champion continuous improvement in reporting processes, implementing best practices and innovative approaches to enhance reporting efficiency and effectiveness. Lead the production of annual budgets and quarterly forecasts with sophisticated modelling techniques, ensuring alignment with the organisation's strategic direction. Lead the development of cash flow forecasting models that enhance liquidity management and support the businesses strategic goals. Operational Excellence and Transformation: Lead the implementation of the target operating model for financial reporting, directing cross-functional initiatives to enhance broking integration, general ledger operations, and management information systems. Lead the financial reporting transformation programme, designing and implementing enhanced financial systems aligned with organisational objectives and future growth plans. As part of the businesses ESG steering committee, lead and direct the ESG financial strategy, establishing the organisation as a leader in sustainable financial practices and ensuring compliance with emerging ESG reporting requirements. Implement and execute robust financial control frameworks that protect organisational assets whilst enabling business growth and operational agility. Partner with external advisors to design, deliver and implement control enhancements. Identify and deliver cost reduction initiatives and operational efficiencies that enhance the organisation's financial performance. Partner with IT and operations to implement integrated financial technology solutions that streamline processes and enhance data quality. Oversee the accounts payable function, implementing innovative solutions to optimise supplier payments whilst maintaining strong supplier relationships. Provide treasury support to ensure sufficient operational cashflow while maximising return on invested funds. Oversee banking procedures, ensuring all necessary financial and regulatory controls are in place. Regulatory Compliance & Stakeholder Management: Serve as the businesses primary contact when engaging with external stakeholders including regulators, auditors, and financial institutions, representing the organisation with the highest levels of professionalism and expertise. Oversee regulatory compliance, ensuring exemplary standing with the FCA and adherence to all relevant financial regulations, staying ahead of regulatory changes and their potential impact. Lead the completion and submission of all FCA financial returns with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring complete accuracy and timeliness. Direct the engagement with external auditors, overseeing the preparation of comprehensive support papers and resolving complex queries relating to statutory and insurer audits. Establish and maintain robust working relationships with group tax, payroll, pension and legal functions and act as the primary business contact for banking partners, positioning the organisation as a trusted and respected financial entity. Ensure tax compliance including liaising with Group tax and payroll teams to ensure the payment of monthly PAYE/NI liabilities to HMRC, settlement of quarterly corporation tax payments on account and the submission and settlement of other tax returns such as VAT, PAYE settlement agreements and PIID forms. Maintain the businesses financial contingency plans to ensure business continuity and adherence to regulatory wind-down planning requirements under various scenarios. Other ad hoc assignments as identified by the Finance Director. Desired Skills & Attributes Professional Qualifications & Experience: Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) with a high level of demonstrable post qualified experience. Proven track record of driving financial transformation in FCA-regulated environments, with demonstrable success in implementing financial systems and controls. Comprehensive understanding of UK insurance industry dynamics and financial regulatory frameworks, particularly in relation to broker operations. Extensive experience in producing statutory accounts under UK GAAP and managing external audit relationships. Demonstrated expertise in treasury management, cash flow optimisation, and financial risk management. Substantial experience in leading financial transformation projects and delivering measurable improvements. Technical Expertise Advanced knowledge of Acturis financial reporting systems. Expert understanding of financial controls and governance frameworks within regulated environments. Comprehensive knowledge of UK tax legislation and compliance requirements. Strong command of treasury management principles and practices. Proficient in advanced financial modelling and analysis techniques. Thorough understanding of data visualisation tools and management information systems. Strategic Approach Forward-thinking professional who challenges traditional approaches to financial management and drives innovation. Solutions-focused with proven ability to design innovative financial frameworks that enhance business performance. Commercial acumen with ability to translate financial insights into business value and strategic advantage. Analytical thinker with exceptional problem-solving abilities and attention to detail. Results-oriented with a track record of delivering measurable improvements to financial operations. Ethical practitioner with unwavering commitment to transparency, accuracy, and integrity in all financial matters. Key Relationships Internal Finance Director (direct report) Executive Committee and Board members Senior Leadership Team Broking and Operational Team Leaders Compliance & Governance Lead External External Auditors Banking Partners Insurance Partners Tax Authorities Outsourced Service Providers (IBA - External, Payroll, Tax, Legal, HR - Internal) Industry Bodies and Professional Networks We know flexibility is important and take a hybrid approach to working, please contact us for further details. We want you to have every opportunity to show us your strengths. There are adjustments available for our process, please contact us on Realty.Recruitmentrealtyinsurances.co.uk to discuss. Realty is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you would like to speak with us for more detail, please contact Realty.Recruitmentrealtyinsurances.co.uk. To apply for this job please click on "Apply". To begin your application you will be asked to create an account. 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