Canada Life Assurance Europe plc (‘CLE’) is a dynamic insurance company with over 700 people across our offices in Germany and Ireland. We have been operating in Germany since 2000 and have established a fast-growing presence in one of the world’s largest and most established markets. We specialise in providing innovative unit-linked pension, savings, and protection solutions and have become a trusted partner for life insurance products distributed through independent brokers. It is our priority to support our customers at every stage of life with the best products and service, tailored to their needs - and we’re doing it all in a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees.

Role Overview

Based in Dublin, we are seeking to hire an experienced Management Accounts & Expense Manager for CLE. In this role you will be responsible for the team management of accounts payable function, monthly close activity and monthly executive cost reporting. Annual Expense Budgeting process is a key responsibility of this role and the ongoing cost control, reporting and budgeting.

Reporting to the Head of FP&A, you will be responsible for the leading the delivery of financial performance information (eg sales, earnings, costs, asset flows) to the Senior Leaders.

Team Background

What you will help us to achieve

This role will lead the management accounts function and deliver monthly expense updates, annual budgets and manage the expense reporting process.

Reporting
• Own the analysis of expense actual results for the company and analyse financial performance against established budgets and provide action orientated insights. This supports the monthly earnings and forecast/ budget management.
• Sales and CSM reporting and budgeting (in partnership with Commercial Team and Actuarial)
• Own the delivery of the company’s expense annual budget and periodic forecasting processes delivering key insights and ensuring consistency with the overall strategic goals of the business.
• Own all non-regulatory reporting to our shareholder and external (e.g. rating agency) agencies.

Results
• Identify variances and trends (within our business and the market), offering recommendations for corrective actions or adjustments to achieve financial objectives.
• Robustly challenge expense, sales, efficiency and productive metrics while identifying opportunities to ensure activity meets strategic and short-term financial ambitions.

Strategy
• Leverage current (and implement new) systems to maximise the use of technology to support this goal – while adhering to control standards.
• Contribute to Global, European and local projects on an ad hoc basis to deliver positive outcomes aligned to Group goals.

People & Leadership
• Leadership of the Management Accounts team (including AP team management) ensure delivery of key processes while also developing the team to deliver a service that focuses on outcomes that supports and drives the ambitions of the business.
• Be a key member of the Finance Leadership team driving the strategy of Finance function and ensuring strong staff engagement.

Key Organisational Relationships

The key organisational relationships for the role include the following:
• Finance Controlling team
• Business operational functions such as Actuarial, IS, Administration, Risk and Internal Audit.
• Canadian parent finance partners
• Regulators and auditors
• External support providers e.g. technology platforms

What you will need to be successful in the role

The ideal candidate would possess the following capabilities and attributes:

People Management
• Team management to ensure clear and challenging goals in line with organizational goals
• Ability to foster collaborative relationships across functions and businesses to facilitate cooperation and information exchanges that improve customer and business outcomes.

Strategic and Commercial Acumen
• Prior experience as a people manager, preferably across multi-jurisdictions.
• Insurance industry preferable, or broader financial services experience.
• Ability to deliver BAU and projects

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving ability; ability to analyse results and produce and present analysis and insights that drive resource allocation and prioritisation.
• Proficiency in using digital and analytics tools and software in the delivery of the role of finance.
• Knowledge of SAP (Ledger and Expense Module)/Oracle would be beneficial.

Adaptability and Resilience
• Flexibility, resilience, and adaptability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Keeps current with wider market developments and trends.

Technical and Professional Expertise
• Member of a recognised accounting body (ACA, CIMA, ACCA).
• Knowledge of IFRS 17 and Solvency II would be an advantage – but not essential
• German language skills an advantage

Key Competencies

Planning and Organising

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Building and Maintaining Relationships

Leadership

Functional and Technical

The company reserves the right to draw up a shortlist as part of the selection process. Where Agency assistance is required the Canada Life Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Canada Life by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.

Even if you don’t see yourself reflected in every job requirement listed on the posting above, we encourage you to reach out and apply if you feel you are a good fit for the role. We are committed to creating a more equitable, inclusive and diverse company, and we strongly encourage applicants of all genders, ages, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, sexual orientation and life experiences to apply.

Canada Life Group Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. We have created an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential, to ensure they can bring their whole selves to work and to feel valued. We celebrate diversity of thought and perspective and want all of our employees to feel valued, respected and supported. We have built a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees and strive to ensure that our behaviours, processes and practices are aligned to this culture.

If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process please contact lifecareers@irishlife.ie and we will be delighted to ensure you are fully supported to be your best.

CLGS supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Management Accounts & Expense Manager

Job Description