Interim Financial Controller

Financial Controller Six-month contract | London | Hybrid

Arthur have partnered with a London Market insurer who are seeking an experienced Financial Controller to lead its Financial Accounting & Reporting function for an initial six-month period. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Financial Controller will take ownership of the company’s statutory, management, regulatory and group reporting requirements. The successful individual will provide leadership and stability across the function while ensuring that reporting remains accurate, timely and compliant.

This is a senior and hands‑on assignment requiring someone who can quickly understand the business, take ownership of the reporting timetable and operate effectively with limited ramp‑up time. The position can be structured as either a fixed‑term contract or a day‑rate engagement.

• Financial accounting and reporting
• Lead the monthly close and production of management accounts.
• Analyse performance against budget and communicate the drivers behind material variances.
• Present monthly results to senior finance and executive stakeholders.
• Maintain control and integrity across the general ledger.
• Oversee insurance and reinsurance accounting, including premium debtor and reinsurance creditor reconciliations.
• Lead the preparation of statutory financial statements under FRS 102 and FRS 103.
• Own the external audit process, including planning, information delivery and resolution of audit queries.
• Produce quarterly IFRS 17 results for submission to the Tokyo head office.
• Convert business plans and forecasts onto an IFRS 17 basis.
• Lead the reforecasting process in partnership with relevant business functions.
• Regulatory reporting and technical provisions
• Lead the production and submission of Solvency UK financial regulatory returns.
• Support additional international regulatory returns, including NAIC and NCID requirements.
• Work closely with actuarial colleagues during quarterly reserving.
• Ensure the integrity of financial data used to calculate IBNR reserves and Solvency UK technical provisions.
• Calculate reserves on an IFRS 17 basis.
• Present relevant financial information to the Reserving Committee.
• Financial control and governance
• Maintain a robust internal financial control framework.
• Complete quarterly control attestations.
• Assess the design and operational effectiveness of key controls.
• Monitor currency exposures against agreed risk appetite.
• Work with stakeholders across the business to improve upstream data quality.
• Strengthen reporting processes, documentation and financial governance.
• Leadership and transformation
• Lead, support and develop a team of financial accountants and trainees.
• Set objectives, allocate responsibilities and maintain delivery against reporting deadlines.
• Provide coaching and technical guidance across the team.
• Support finance transformation programmes and system enhancements.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting processes, controls and efficiency.

• Qualified accountant: ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
• Approximately ten years’ post-qualified experience.
• Significant financial control and reporting experience within an insurance carrier, reinsurer, London Market insurer or specialist insurance business.
• Strong practical knowledge of IFRS and IFRS 17.
• Experience of statutory, management and group reporting.
• Strong understanding of Solvency UK reporting and prudential requirements.
• Experience working with actuarial teams on reserving and technical provisions.
• Strong knowledge of insurance and reinsurance accounting.
• Proven ownership of financial controls, governance and external audit.
• Previous experience leading and developing finance teams.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to senior committees and stakeholders.
• Capacity to enter an interim assignment and deliver with minimal support.
• Candidates whose experience has been predominantly within insurance broking are unlikely to possess the required depth of IFRS 17 reporting experience.
• Direct carrier, reinsurer or specialist insurer experience is therefore strongly preferred.

• Initial six-month assignment
• London-based
• Hybrid working: approximately two to three office days per week
• FTC salary: approximately £140,000-£150,000
• Day rate: approximately £800-£900 per day
• Immediate or short-notice availability preferred
• Fast interview and decision-making process