Full Time Permanent position
Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices

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)

Company Values

At Irish Life, our purpose is to help people build better futures. Our company values shape everything we do and underpin our vision of being the driving force behind Ireland’s financial, physical, and mental well-being.

We believe in doing the right thing—acting with integrity and making fair, responsible decisions. We aim high, setting ambitious goals and find better ways to innovate and improve. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and we are dedicated to understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations. Achieving this is only possible when we work best together—in a supportive, collaborative environment where every idea and contribution is valued.

Role Overview

Insurance & Financial Solutions (IFS) is looking to recruit for a senior role that encompasses the position of Head of Finance (PCF‑11) for Irish Life Health (ILH) and Finance Business Partner to Group Finance. This is a key leadership role, responsible for leading a team of Finance professionals and playing an active part in senior leadership team decisions on financial performance and strategy execution.

We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences who can demonstrate strong leadership, collaboration and technical finance capabilities.

The role offers a broad mix of senior finance responsibilities, combining the duties of being Head of Finance for ILH with being an integral member of the wider IFS Finance team:

ILH Head of Finance is a pivotal position in the management of one of Irish Life’s major businesses. The role involves financial reporting and analysis, business planning and advising the ILH Senior Leadership Team on key commercial decisions from a financial perspective. In addition, this role is responsible for the delivery of HIA regulatory returns.
Finance Business Partner to Group Finance, leading the Finance Business Partner interaction with Group Finance in relation to insurance KPIs and overseeing and facilitating the flow of information and data between the business units and Group Finance. This will include aggregating performance metrics and investment / restructuring business case submissions.

The role will report to the ILH CEO, and will also have a dotted reporting line to the IFS CFO, as well as a key connection to the ILG CFO. In relation to PCF responsibilities with ILH, the Head of Finance ILH will report to the ILH Board Audit Committee and have direct access to the Chair of the ILH Audit Committee and other personnel and records as necessary to carry out the role.

What you will help us to achieve

Financial Reporting and Performance Management

Deliver forward‑looking financial insights that inform and influence business decisions for ILH and ILG.
Ensure timely and accurate delivery of ILH’s financial statements, internal reporting and Group financial reporting, including clear and accessible analysis of results and key drivers.

ILH Regulatory and Risk Equalisation Reporting

Ensure delivery of HIA regulatory returns and Risk Equalisation claims and payments.
Ensure delivery of ILH Solvency II regulatory returns, working collaboratively with the Actuarial Function and the Irish Life Group’s Finance Centre of Excellence.

Financial and Commercial Leadership

Lead the development of the Health Business Plan, playing a key role in ILH’s business planning and strategic development. Provide balanced financial insights to support and constructively challenge commercial opportunities, and work with other functions to manage ILH’s financial risk profile. This includes clearly allocating roles and responsibilities to ensure a strategic approach with diverse input from the business.
Actively contribute to ILH committees, including the Executive Committee, Product & Pricing Committee, Management Risk Forum and Compliance and Operational Risk Committees.
Partner with the ILH Senior Leadership Team to produce appropriately stretching and deliverable business plans that enable the organisation to achieve its ambitions.
Undertake cashflow and capital management projections, and execute dividend plans, providing oversight of ILH’s banking arrangements and investment strategy.
Ensure the Business Partner team has the data and support required to generate insights that inform Solutions Units’ decision‑making and delivery of strategic objectives

Governance and Culture

Maintain strong financial governance and controls to ensure the accuracy and integrity of ILH’s financial and regulatory reporting, and compliance with all relevant requirements.

Expense Planning and Management

Work closely with Business Partners to the Solutions Units (Advice Solutions, Employer Solutions, Customer Solutions, IFS) and other stakeholders to manage ILH’s and ILA’s costs within agreed targets, identifying efficiency opportunities and tracking delivery.
Lead the delivery of the annual cost and sales planning process and the quarterly forecasting cycle, partnering with Business Partners, Group Finance and the Solutions Units.

Technology, Data and Transformation

Establish a Management Information Hub for cost and sales data, enabling efficient sharing and use of this data across ILG, with a strong focus on aligning solutions with other ILG data hubs.
Champion increased use of technology to enhance accounting and reporting processes, in line with similar initiatives across ILG.
Work with the Business Partner team to provide clear direction and support to the Solutions Units in preparing cost‑benefit analyses for business cases, particularly for initiatives targeted at long‑term operational transformation.
Collaborate with Group Finance teams to achieve the objectives of Intelligent Process Optimisation.

Talent Development

Lead, mentor and motivate the team, setting clear expectations and providing regular, constructive feedback.
Implement personal development plans and other supports to upskill team members and build robust succession plans.
Create and maintain a positive, inclusive work culture that encourages collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
Develop open and effective relationships with Solutions areas, ILG Finance teams, external auditors, the Board of Directors and external regulators.
Promote continuous improvement of finance processes and governance.
Foster a culture of financial awareness and positively influence the strengthening of controls across the organisation where needed.

What you will need to be successful in the role

A relevant accountancy qualification (ACA, CIMA, ACCA) with significant post‑qualification experience, including experience at senior management level.
Strong commercial acumen and the ability to derive insights that inform and influence commercial decisions.
Experience in financial controls and financial reporting processes and technology.
A background in insurance company financial reporting (or similar) would be an advantage.
Excellent problem‑solving and sound decision‑making ability.
A strong track record of driving continuous improvement and automation in finance processes.
The ability to challenge constructively at Board and Executive level.
Proven ability to organise and prioritise work to deliver to agreed deadlines.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex issues clearly and concisely to a wide range of stakeholders, both in writing and verbally.
Strong influencing skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and levels.
Demonstrated leadership capability and experience in developing and coaching talent.

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 ILFS Human Resources.

About us

Irish Life is one of Ireland’s largest financial institutions with a presence across a range of financial services markets. We are one of Ireland’s leading financial services groups with over 1.4 million customers. For over 80 years, we’ve been helping people to look after their life insurance, pension and investment needs, and more recently their health insurance.

It is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco and a member of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies.

We are proud of our culture of developing and supporting the growth and professional development of our people. The focus has resulted in a team of top talent with high standards, positioning us at the forefront of our industry.

Insurance & Financial Solutions

Insurance & Financial Solutions (IFS) works collaboratively to efficiently manage Irish Life’s insurance companies. IFS works in partnership with the other Solutions teams to deliver the Irish Life Group’s strategic, customer and financial objectives. IFS plays a central role across ILG and works very closely with other Solutions to deliver on the Group’s Better Futures strategy for all stakeholders. The Finance team in IFS plays an important role in supporting the successful delivery of IFS’s strategic and business objectives, and in driving the wider financial performance of the insurance business of ILG.
Irish Life Health provides Health Insurance to over 500,000 people across Ireland both directly and through corporate schemes. Our Vision is to help people live healthier lives and we focus on providing access to healthcare solutions that will help our customers do this.
A key goal is to support the company to deliver its targeted business and financial outcomes while ensuring the integrity of financial reporting processes and compliance with all applicable regulatory financial reporting requirements.
As part of the Irish Life Group, this role presents an exciting opportunity to be part of one of Ireland’s leading financial services companies, known for its innovation, stability, and strong reputation in insurance, pensions, and investments. The company fosters a dynamic and collaborative work environment, offering career growth, learning opportunities, and strong employee benefits. With a commitment to customer excellence, diversity, and sustainability, Irish Life provides a chance to contribute to meaningful financial solutions while working in a forward-thinking, people-focused organisation.

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

Irish Life 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.

Irish Life Financial Services supports Equal Opportunity.

Irish Life Assurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Head of Finance Irish Life Health & Group Finance Business Partnering Lead

Benefits

Job Description