Howden Group Holdings has recognised that attracting and retaining the right talent is of paramount importance to the continued success of the Group. We therefore need to attract individuals of the highest calibre through a recruitment process that is free from bias and discrimination, yet aligned to our commercial ambitions. Internal mobility plays an important role for the Group in retaining expertise, experience and talent by enabling employees to pursue their individual career goals and achieve their ambitions. We recognise that all people have a fundamental need and desire for on-going development and growth, and we also recognise that the best candidate for a role may already work inside the organisation so we encourage you to look internally for the next step in your career. Hybrid role working within our Milton Keynes office. 12 month FTC The Role The Financial Controller for Specialty will be responsible for leading the financial reporting and control processes for the Global Specialty and UK Specialty divisions. This includes leading all aspects of the preparation of management accounts, board reports, and regulatory filings, while ensuring the integrity of accounting records. The role requires leadership of the Specialty financial control team, ensuring compliance with group standards, and driving continuous improvement in processes and controls. This individual will act as a key liaison with internal finance teams and external auditors, ensuring accurate reporting and the timely submission of financial data. Key Responsibilities : Lead and handle the Specialty financial control team, providing supervision and mentorship to accountants. Be responsible for the preparation of monthly management accounts, quarterly board reports, and annual financial documents. Ensure accuracy, integrity, and compliance of accounting records with group and statutory standards. Liaise with key finance functions (FP&A, IBA, Cashiers, and overseas teams) to handle day-to-day accounting matters for the Specialty divisions. Review accounting entries, reconciliations, and ensure timely completion by the financial control team. Provide detailed performance reporting to senior management, identifying and analysing key performance indicators (KPIs). Document and improve accounting processes to enhance efficiency and maintain strong internal controls in a growing business. Supervise the audit process, collaborating closely with external auditors as needed to ensure smooth completion. Coordinate the submission of financial data to Group Tax for the preparation of tax returns. Ensure adherence to all reporting deadlines and provide clear communication on financial timelines. Skills & Attributes : Proven experience in leading and developing a team of accountants, fostering a culture of teamwork and accountability. Strong analytical skills with a keen attention to detail and the ability to review and interpret sophisticated financial data. Excellent social skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, including senior management and external auditors. A proactive approach to identifying process inefficiencies and implementing improvements for more streamlined financial control. Ability to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, growing business environment. Qualifications & Experience : Professional accountancy qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with at least 5 years of post-qualification experience. Demonstrated experience in accounting for multiple entities, preferably in an international context. Strong technical accounting knowledge with experience in managing statutory and group reporting requirements. Prior experience in managing external audits and liaising with tax authorities. Our Culture: People First We’ve travelled far since opening our first office in 1994. Back then we were local experts – based in London, with direct access to the world’s biggest insurance market. We’re still locals, and we still deliver the right advice and the right insurance to our clients. But now, we’re local all over the world. With 15,000 global colleagues and a partner network spanning more than 100 territories, we are the largest independent insurance broker in the world. But our values haven’t changed since day one, when we set out to create a company grounded in: • An employee-ownership model • Aligned external investors • The trust and integrity born of friendship • Expertise • Independence Our focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of Howden. Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture; one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. Our employee ownership model sets us apart in the market. It’s created a culture of collaboration and innovation, where we’re driven to think bigger and empowered to challenge convention. Our flat structure and entrepreneurial spirit help us attract the best people and empower them to be the best version of themselves. And when we bring in and nurture great talent, more follows. That makes us better – and that’s better for everyone. Diversity & Inclusion At Howden we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness and respect, regardless of their age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status or family circumstances.