Senior Accountant, Technical Accounting

Job Summary

Job Title: Senior Accountant, Technical Accounting

Location: West Hartford, CT

Division: Finance

Reports To: Head of Technical Accounting

Key Relationships: Head of North America Finance, Head of North American External Reporting, US Controller, Finance Management Team (FMT), Finance Teams, External Auditors

We are looking for a Senior Accountant (equivalent to a Technical Accounting Manager). This role focuses on two main areas:

The Senior Accountant will provide expert technical accounting advice and guidance while ensuring compliance with accounting and regulatory reporting requirements for the Group and subsidiaries globally. This is a hands-on role where you will work independently, author technical papers, conduct research, and liaise with teams across the Group.

External Reporting

• Oversee the technical reviews over statutory reporting and regulatory returns prior to issuance, ensuring compliance with group accounting policies, external reporting requirements and accuracy of statements.
• Oversee annual updates of statutory and group reporting disclosures to ensure they are up to date, adhere to relevant reporting standards and embed best practice.
• Manage, prepare and review reporting to Group and entity Audit Committees on technical accounting matters pertaining to periodic reporting.
• Manage and resolve technical/subjective external audit comments on financial reporting.

Accounting Consultation

• Serve as business partner for the TA team within and outside of Finance. Ensure that changes to and impacts on accounting policies are implemented properly, and that the TA team provides post-implementation support and training.
• Provide support for global Finance teams on technical accounting matters. Collaborate to identify, research, resolve and communicate findings on accounting-related questions regarding business transactions and non-routine matters.
• Support Finance BAU teams with technical accounting papers for internal and external use.
• Act as a point of contact for external auditors on technical accounting matters.

Accounting Policy

• Improve the organisation’s documentation of policies and procedures to enhance the quality of financial reporting.
• Oversee research of new accounting guidance and exposure drafts, assist with interpretation and implementation of new or amended regulatory and reporting standards.

Team Oversight and People Development

• Provide coaching and guidance to other finance team members on accounting and reporting matters.

Education and qualifications

• Required:
  
  Qualified Accountant (CPA)
• Required:
  
  At least 7 years accounting experience, preferably in P&C insurance.

Essential Criteria

• Required:
  
  Background in external audit in a large public accounting firm.
• Required:
  
  Experience of working in or with large insurance groups, including working with or auditing NAIC reporting in a P&C context.
• Required:
  
  Strong technical knowledge of accounting concepts/theories (specifically NAIC SSAP) and how they apply to the insurance industry.
• Beneficial:
  Experience performing a similar role in a public accounting firm in accounting advisory/consulting.
• Beneficial: IFRS knowledge and experience, including IFRS 17.

Skills and Abilities

• Proactive approach to investigating and understanding changing accounting and regulatory standards
• Experience researching and documenting technical accounting implications required
• Excellent analytical skills, strong attention to detail, ability to…