Management Accountant

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 15,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

From day one, our mission has been to create an independent business with a unique culture - one that is controlled by the people who work for it. Finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people has always been key to our success.

People come to Howden for lots of different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. That's what sets us apart, and why we nurture and retain the best talent in the market. Whatever your priorities - work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you'll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Role
The Management Accountant will deliver accounting services for both Business Unit and Operating Entity reporting purposes, and analysis to assist with business planning processes.

This individual is responsible for ensuring that their activities align with Group policy in order to achieve targets, meet monthly, quarterly and annual reporting deadlines, ensure the development of the business and deliver a comprehensive service.

(This role is currently in Bedford, however the office will be moving to Milton Keynes at the end of this year. 3 days a week in the office)

Key Responsibilities

Production of monthly management accounting and reporting information to a strict timetable for business units within the Group.

Production of general ledgers journals, including international payrolls.

Monthly revenue reporting, to include posting and reconciliation of technical ledgers.

Preparation of month end journals, including intercompany and recurring charges.

Ownership and preparation of balance sheet account reconciliations, including investigation and resolution of identified issues/concerns.

Assist with the production of information and data for VAT and tax returns, including those for any overseas companies and branches.

Continual development of reporting solutions.

Ad-hoc management reporting and financial analysis.

Keep updated with all regulatory and legal changes.

Ensure that records are maintained at all times on the Company systems.

Respond appropriately and accurately to urgent issues as they arise.

Create new processes and procedures documents relevant to job role to ensure documents are current and accurate.

Skills & Attributes

Flexible and able to quickly adapt to change.

Motivated and resilient.

Accuracy and attention to detail.

Good organisational skills and communication skills (written and verbal).

Able to work in a high pressure environment.

MS Office Literate (advanced Excel – nested vlookups, data manipulation, pivot tables etc).

Previous experience of operating as an Accountant is critical, and within a Financial Services environment desirable.

An understanding of payroll and previous experience/exposure to payroll reports and postings desirable not but essential.

Technical knowledge of financial reporting under UK accounting standards.

Qualifications

Professional accountancy qualification or Passed Finalist with a recognised body (ACCA/CIMA etc) or qualified by experience.

Our Culture: People First

We've traveled far since opening our first office in 1994. Back then we were local experts - based in London, with direct access to the world's biggest insurance market. We're still locals, and we still deliver the right advice and the right insurance to our clients. But now, we're local all over the world. With 15,000 global colleagues and a partner network spanning more than 100 territories, we are the largest independent insurance broker in the world. But our values haven't changed since day one, when we set out to create a company grounded in:

An employee-ownership model

Aligned external investors

The trust and integrity born of friendship

Expertise

Independence

Our focus on being a people-first business has always been at the very heart of Howden. Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture; one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. Our employee ownership model sets us apart in the market. It's created a culture of collaboration and innovation, where we're driven to think bigger and empowered to challenge convention.

Our flat structure and entrepreneurial spirit help us attract the best people and empower them to be the best version of themselves. And when we bring in and nurture great talent, more follows. That makes us better - and that's better for everyone.

Who we’re looking for

At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality type’. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

We support each other, in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

We are determined to make a positive difference, at work and beyond

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Howden, we consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.