Full-time, permanent contract position.
Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices, with on-site attendance three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.

Further details on our benefits package can be accessed here Benefits (life-careers.com)

Role Overview

You will be responsible for overseeing the preparation, review and sign-off of financial, regulatory and management accounting information for an Irish regulated composite reinsurer within the Capital and Risk Solutions (CRS) division of Great-West Lifeco (GWL).

This role sits within our Dublin Finance team and reports to the Head of Finance, CRS Dublin. Leading a dynamic and stakeholder-focused team, you will gain exposure to a complex and innovative business with a wide range of traditional reinsurance transactions as well as bespoke structured reinsurance solutions.

What you will help us to achieve

The key responsibilities include:

Lead a team of experienced finance professionals who operate as key business partners in the delivery of the business goals and objectives. Manage, mentor and motivate the finance team, setting clear expectations around delivery, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Oversee the preparation of EU-IFRS statutory financials to meet Irish regulatory requirements, Solvency II, quarterly and yearly returns to the CBI and C-IFRS consolidated financials for GWL reporting purposes, monthly, quarterly and yearly within deadline.
Oversee the accounting for new European sourced reinsurance transactions, ensuring that all accounting standards are adhered to. Identify and make decisions on handling of complex accounting and financial reporting issues.
Oversee the preparation of reports to the Boards and Committees of the Dublin Reinsurance entity as required.
Identify and support the drive for process and performance improvement, taking ownership for prioritisation, delivery and embedding of improvements end‑to‑end. Identify efficiencies to bring to relevant processes. Drive enhancements and updates to finance processes/tools (e.g. Blackline, Smartsheets, Workiva, SQL) working across functions to avoid siloed solutions.
Act as a visible change leader within Finance, championing new ways of working, communicating clearly through change and ensuring initiatives are embedded in day‑to‑day operations
Support the Head of Finance in establishing sound financial governance practices over development of policies and procedures to manage and monitor financial risks and report across the business.
Keep up to date with external developments through engagement with the Accountancy and Industry bodies.
Manage relationships with stakeholders e.g. Business Development, Actuarial and Operations Functions, Internal and External Auditors, actively resolving cross‑functional dependencies, aligning objectives and breaking down silos in support of enterprise-wide outcomes.
Assessment and adoption of new reporting standards including accounting, statutory and regulatory rules/requirements, for example the implementation of the new financial reporting aspects of Solvency II
Leading and/or contributing to a wide variety of projects and initiatives as required, providing structured project leadership, clear governance, and a strong focus on adoption and outcomes.

The successful candidate will be:

Qualified accountant with 5+ years’ post-qualification experience.
Operated in a senior role in a life insurance or life reinsurance environment.
Strong track record in successfully leading a finance team.
Experience in both Financial Reporting and Management Accounting roles.
Strong technical knowledge of IFRS 17 and its practical application within the insurance industry, including measurement models, presentation and disclosure requirements.
Strong record of achievement of results within budget and timeline.
An ability to plan work, manage time effectively and ensure timely completion of all deliverables.
Demonstrate an ability and track record of building effective working relationships at all levels of an organisation.
Demonstrate experience leading or governing complex initiatives involving process improvement, system change or operating model evolution while maintaining focus on effective prioritisation and cross‑functional collaboration.
Assertive, self-motivated with the capacity to work autonomously, as part of a team and across teams, capable of building and maintaining excellent relationships with senior stakeholders and influencing people around a common set of objectives.
A flexible and enthusiastic approach to work with a strong appetite to promote change and develop processes.
Awareness of control environments within financial systems and ability to address weakness.
A commitment to working in a diverse and inclusive workplace.
The capacity to effectively and efficiently solve problems and make decisions.
Well-developed verbal and written communication skills, and in particular an ability to effectively communicate complex concepts.
Competent user of MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint, PowerBI dashboards, SQL.

Fitness & Probity

This role is a ‘controlled function’ as defined by the Central Bank Reform Act 2010 Regulations 2011. Any appointment will be conditional on the company being satisfied that the appointee meets the requirements as set out in the Fitness and Probity standards issued by the Central Bank. This requires the company to complete prescribed due diligence to assess the appointee’s fitness and probity. Further details on this due diligence process are available from Human Resources.

About us

Canada Life Reinsurance (CL Re) is a division of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco) and a leading provider of client focused reinsurance solutions in the United States, Europe and, more recently, Asia. CL Re offers a range of innovative risk and capital management solutions covering mortality, longevity, health, lapse, investment, non-life and P&C risk for insurers, reinsurers, and pension funds. CL Re is continuing to expand the reinsurance solutions it offers to new and existing clients in many global markets.

CL Re has offices in Dublin, Toronto, Philadelphia, Bermuda, Barbados, and Regina. The Dublin office is the base for CL Re’s European and Asian operations as well as the Irish reinsurance entity, Canada Life Re Ireland dac (CLReI). It comprises approximately 160 reinsurance professionals, including 115 actuaries and trainee actuaries. It is a proactive, inspiring, and friendly environment where talent and hard work are recognised and rewarded.

Lifeco and its companies have approximately $3.3 trillion in consolidated assets under administration and a capital ratio (LICAT) of 131% (as at 30/09/2025).

As a Company we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and reach their full potential.

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 Reinsurance by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.

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.

Executive Finance Manager

Benefits

Job Description