U.S. Controller

This is an opportunity to join Ascot Group - one of the world's preeminent specialty risk underwriting organizations.

Designed as a modern-era company operating through an ecosystem of interconnected global operating platforms, we're bound by a common mission and purpose:
One Ascot. Our greatest strength is a talented team who flourish in a collaborative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial culture, steeped in underwriting excellence, integrity, and a passion to find a better way, The Ascot Way.

The Ascot Way guides our people and our organization. Our underwriting platforms collaborate to find creative ways to deploy our capital in a true cross-product and cross-platform approach. These platforms work as one, deploying our capital creatively through our unique Fusion Model:
Client Centric, Risk Centric, Technology Centric.

Built to be resilient, Ascot maximizes client financial security while delivering bespoke products and world class service - both pre- and post-claims. Ascot exists to solve our clients' brightest tomorrow, through agility, collaboration, resilience, and discipline.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the U.S. Chief Financial Officer, the U.S. Controller is a senior finance leader responsible for overseeing U.S. controllership, financial reporting, and the end-to-end accounting and close function. This is a highly visible role that partners closely with the CFO and senior leadership to ensure accurate reporting, a strong control environment, and scalable finance operations to support Ascot's growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & Close

* Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including journal entries, account reconciliations, balance sheet substantiation, and management reporting.

* Oversee U.S. consolidations and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable statutory requirements.

* Ensure accurate preparation of statutory financial statements in accordance with Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP), footnote disclosures, and supporting schedules for internal and external stakeholders.

* Oversee preparation and review of key accounting judgments, estimates, and technical position memos.

* Manage regulatory filings, including annual and quarterly statutory statements, schedules, and regulator-facing disclosures.

Accounting Operations & Internal Controls

* Lead and strengthen accounting operations across premium, claims, reinsurance, commissions, intercompany, and financial reporting.

* Maintain and enhance a strong internal control environment aligned with SOX / internal governance expectations including documentation, testing coordination and audit readiness.

* Own control design and operational effectiveness across manual and system-driven processes, partnering with Internal Audit and Risk as appropriate.

* Drive standardization, documentation, and continuous improvement of accounting policies and procedures.

Audit, Regulatory & External Engagement

* Serve as primary point of contact for external auditors and regulators on accounting and financial reporting matters.

* Lead audit planning, execution, and resolution of audit findings across U.S. entities.

* Coordinate management representation letters, audit committee materials, and regulator inquiries.

Transformation & Systems

* Play a leadership role in finance system and operational transformations.

* Partner with IT and project teams to ensure accounting requirements, data integrity, and control considerations are embedded in system designs.

* Drive process improvements, automation, and system enhancements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.

Organizational Leadership & Collaboration

* Lead the high-performing U.S. accounting and controllership function across multiple legal entities and locations in a high-growth environment.

* Provide leadership and development for the U.S. accounting team; establish clear expectations, coaching, and career paths.

* Support strategic initiatives such as operational scaling, new product launches, and potential transactions.

* Act as a trusted business partner to the CFO and senior leadership by providing analysis and insights to support decision-making.

* Commitment to The Ascot Way:
Embody The Ascot Way in their daily interaction with colleagues, fostering colleague engagement and development, collaboration, inclusivity, and individual accountability.

Requirements:

* CPA with 10+ years of progressive accounting and controllership experience, ideally within insurance (carrier, reinsurer, MGA, or specialty insurance platform) or a similarly regulated financial services environment.

* Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, with a solid working knowledge of Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP) and insurance regulatory reporting requirements.

* Proven ownership of the financial close and reporting lifecycle across multiple legal entities, including consolidation and complex intercompany activity.

* Strong experience with internal controls, SOX compliance, and audit…