FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS (FP&A) ANALYST
20 hours ago
City of London
FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS (FP&A) ANALYST LOCATION: LONDON This career opportunity is available at Santam Syndicate 1918 for an Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Analyst reporting to the Financial Controller, and who will either be based in the UK & have the right to work in the UK or be based within our team in South Africa. WHAT WILL YOU DO? Perform and deliver the financial planning and analysis role for the Syndicate and related entities. This includes: • The accurate and timely compilation of annual business plans, on both an underwriting year basis and accident year basis;, • Frequent updating of forecasts as typical in a start-up and growing business;, • Oversight and delivery of ground-up expenses planning, tracking of actuals to plan and expense allocations; and, • Provision of quality financial MI, insights to assist management in oversight and control of the business for inclusion in Board and Committee reporting as required. WHAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL IN THE ROLE? Key responsibilities: Financial Planning: • Build and develop an underwriting year business planning model, initially likely to be in Excel - to be replaced with an appropriate system in the future., • Prepare the detailed financial forms for inclusion in the Lloyd’s SBF planning pack and high-level business plan., • Develop, build and deliver an IFRS business plan, converted from the underwriting year plan., • Liaison with local management on all planning and with Group team on IFRS basis financial year planning., • Deliver forecasts as required during the growth phase of the business., • Support in delivery of cash flow planning & forecasts and subsequent management in the treasury management system. Expenses management: • Develop, build and deliver a ground-up expense planning system to generate expense budgets by cost centre, expense type, calendar month, etc., • Deliver a regular monthly process to monitor expenses against plan, with narrative and challenge to variances., • Work with budget holders to monitor and address cost drivers and variances to plan., • Agree expense accruals and prepayments within the finance function., • Build and deliver an expenses allocation model to facilitate full class of business level analysis. Analysis and commentary: • Design, build and deliver regular and insightful financial MI and analysis to support management and the business in oversight, performance tracking and governance., • Contribute to compilation of Board and Committee papers for financial MI, analysis and supporting commentary., • Provision of ad-hoc reports in support of key analysis, strategic initiatives etc., • Provide financial and modelling support to teams within the business to assist in decision making with financial acumen, such as cost v benefit analysis etc. Systems and processes: • Whilst initially likely to be working in Excel, ensure build out of robust, controlled models that have clear inputs, processes and outputs ensuring data completeness and accuracy., • Look to build repeatable processes that are efficient and in time make use of latest available and appropriate technology and solutions., • Working with the Syndicate’s technology solutions and wider Group solutions for data management, reporting and analysis. Stakeholder Collaboration: • Syndicate Executive Team, • Syndicate finance, actuarial and underwriting teams in respect of planning and performance, • Group Finance Team (South Africa), • The Syndicate’s managing agent, Asta, and relevant teams within, • Lloyd’s teams where applicable, • External Auditors QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: • ACA, CA(SA), ACCA, or CIMA qualification or equivalent, • Likely to be relatively newly qualified., • Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field likely to be an advantage, • Experience in FP&A or similar role in the financial services sector., • Exposure to Lloyd’s syndicate business may be an advantage., • Proficient experience in design and use of financial systems, ledgers, data warehouses etc (SAP, Oracle, or similar) and of course M’Soft Excel. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: • Strong technical insurance accounting knowledge, • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, • Strong communication skills, • High attention to detail, • Skilled in writing plain English and conveying technical narrative to a variety of stakeholders, • Strong organisational and project management skills, • Business analysis and strong working knowledge of the insurance market PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES: • Drives results, • Deciding and initiating action, • Leading and supervising, • Collaborates, • Client focus, • Flexibility and adaptability, • Analytical thinking, • Influencing, • Business acumen WHO WE ARE: Santam syndicate 1918 is a new wholly owned and capitalised entity of Santam Insurance, the largest insurance company in South Africa with a 107-year heritage. 1918 is strategically important in expanding and developing Santam’s international footprint, through access to the London market talent, distribution network and Lloyd’s global insurance and reinsurance licenses. Our syndicate is a London managed and run business, with a strong, experienced leadership team, focused on underwriting discipline, whilst allowing our teams to feel empowered and accountable for their actions. We are building a collaborative team where underwriting, claims, actuarial and other functions work closely, to help achieve superior underwriting results