Job Description

Location - Bristol
Employment Type - Full Time - Fixed Term
Salary - 70,000 - 78,000 per annum
Hours Per Week - 37.5
We are recruiting for an Insurance Financial Controller to join us on a 9-month fixed term contract, with the possibility of becoming permanent.


The Insurance Financial Controller will provide overall leadership and oversight of the finance function across all Group companies. This role is pivotal in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting, compliance with regulatory requirements, and the continuous improvement of financial controls and management information.


Key Responsibilities:

Lead and Manage Finance Teams:

Provide overall leadership to the broking, shared services, treasury, purchase ledger, and payroll teams, ensuring effective collaboration and performance. Manage the monthly and Group quarterly reporting process, including the preparation of management accounts and balance sheet reconciliations for all group companies.

Prepare and Oversee Financial Statements:

Prepare monthly management consolidated accounts for the group, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Oversee the preparation of statutory financial statements for the Group companies, ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards.

Manage External Audits and Assignments:

Coordinate the annual external audit and accounting assignments, ensuring adherence to agreed timescales. Liaise with external auditors, accountants, and tax advisors to ensure smooth and efficient audit processes.

Ensure Regulatory Compliance:

Ensure compliance with regulatory reporting requirements, including quarterly regulatory returns and CASS compliance. Manage Client Money reconciliations and oversee both internal and external audits, ensuring the integrity of financial data.

Drive Financial Controls and Reporting Improvements:

Drive improvements in the timeliness and accuracy of management information and the financial controls environment. Enhance and monitor monthly financial controls, including reconciliation procedures, to ensure robust financial management.

Review and Analyse Financial Data:

Review client money calculations as required, ensuring data integrity and highlighting any anomalies to management on a day-to-day basis as per CASS requirements. Analyse financial data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, providing insights to support strategic decision-making.

Liaise with External Stakeholders:

Liaise with external stakeholders for financial requirements as needed, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.

Required Skills/Experience:


A recognised accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA). Proven experience in leading and managing finance teams, including broking, shared services, treasury, purchase ledger, and payroll teams. Strong knowledge of financial reporting and accounting principles, with proven experience in preparing management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, and statutory financial statements. Significant experience in managing regulatory reporting requirements, including CASS compliance and Client Money reconciliations. Proven experience in managing external audits and accounting assignments, including liaising with external auditors, accountants, and tax advisors. Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, and provide insights to support strategic decision-making. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate financial information to both internal and external stakeholders. Proven experience in driving improvements in financial controls and management information, including reconciliation procedures Experience in liaising with external stakeholders for financial requirements, ensuring effective communication and collaboration. Proficiency in financial software and systems, such as ERP systems and advanced Excel skills. Experience in managing finance-related projects, including process improvements and system implementations is desirable.

Our Benefits:


Hybrid working - 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days over 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service. Plus bank holidays! Discretionary annual bonus Pension scheme - 5% employee, 6% employer Flexible working - we will always consider applications for those who require less than the advertised hours Flexi-time Healthcare Cash Plan - claim cashback on a variety of everyday healthcare costs Electric vehicle - salary sacrifice scheme 100's of exclusive retailer discounts Professional wellbeing, health & fitness app - Wrkit Enhanced parental leave, including time off for IVF appointments Religious bank holidays - if you don't celebrate Christmas and Easter, you can use these annual leave days on other occasions throughout the year. Life Assurance - 4 times your salary 25% Car Insurance Discount 20% Travel Insurance Discount Cycle to Work Scheme Employee Referral Scheme Community support day Christmas and Summer parties

Working at SBG


At Somerset Bridge Group we aim to build a sustainable and innovative business focused on underwriting, broking and claims handling of UK motor insurance, offering transparent products and an efficient and fair service to our policy holders.


We are very proud to have been awarded a Silver Accreditation from Investors in People! We recognise that all of our people contribute to our success. That's why we are always looking for talented people to join our team - people who share our vision, who are passionate about what they do, and who want to be part of something special.


Equal Opportunity Employer


Somerset Bridge Group is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic factors or other characteristics protected by law. SBG makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, skills and business requirements.