Finance Systems and Analysis Manager

Hastings Direct is one of the fastest growing insurance companies in the UK, providing car, van, home and bike insurance to over one million customers as well as a full range of additional products and services. Our growth plans are ambitious - we want to protect one in ten of all UK insurance customers by 2020 and with a customer joining us every 45 seconds we have high hopes to achieve this. We are committed and proud to offer our customers the best value products combined with first class customer service. Based in Bexhill-On-Sea on the South Coast with over 1500 staff at our HQ we are currently seeking a Finance Systems and Analysis Manager to join the team on a contract basis.

PURPOSE

Reporting to the Financial Controller you will take responsibility for coordinating the maintenance of the financial systems in order to ensure that they provide accurate financial information to the business and aid the business with system modernisation and implementation. Leading the systems and analysis team, developing a results driven culture and delivering a high quality service to the rest of the business. Managing a small team of specialist business, systems and reporting analysis supporting the finance function

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

- Deliver and contribute towards the Finance system and project strategy
- Ensure that you (and any direct reports) are meeting customers' fair and reasonable expectations and provide fair outcomes.
- Question and challenge peers and managers where processes and procedures do not meet these expectations and any activity that does not place customers' interests at the heart of how we do busines
- Lead and mentor a functional team of system analysts
- Deliver against the Finance systems and project strategy as defined by Company and Departmental goals.
- Maintain and deliver requested enhancements on the financial systems used in maintaining efficient and effective financial ledgers and reporting.
- Work with the business to identify and correct inaccurate financial information caused by issues in static data, systems or processes
- Identifies, consolidates and recommends on internal and external finance issues relating to change projects in the business and regulatory change affecting finance systems and processes
- Ensure the maintenance of up-to-date project and process documentation in line with company and finance policies
- Developing system design and requirements in conjunction with PMO and IT in response to business and finance requirements requests
- Responsible for coordinating systems improvement and regularly reviewing the requirements of the business in conjunction with key stakeholders, ensuring training is organised and delivered when appropriate.
- Assist Finance Control in the development and implementation of system controls, including system checks, interface routines and period end procedures.
- Coordinating with IT regarding system upgrades, including updating financial processes, devising comprehensive project plans and leading on the systems development process.
- Responsible for the effective identification, management and reporting of risk within your area of responsibility.
- Help ensure the disaster recovery arrangements for the Finance Department are appropriate and have been tested in accordance with the DR plan.
- Ensure there is appropriate debate, discussion and challenge of risks within your areas of responsibility.
- Enhance the risk management culture within Finance for the effective identification, management and reporting of risk within your area of responsibility.
- Ensure completion of all training as mandated by the company and regulated by the FCA.
- Ensure that direct reports and self achieve and demonstrate levels of competence required to fulfil job requirements.

Knowledge & Experience

- Experience of delivering a service to a multi disciplined specialist team
- Extensive exposure to complex finance business analysis
- Working knowledge of MS reporting estate (SQL SSRS, SSIS through to MS Office)
- Working knowledge of TM1 design and implementation
- Working knowledge of different project management approaches including Prince2 and Agile
- Understanding of broad financial control principles and double entry bookkeeping
- Experience of using and maintaining an accounting package
- Experience of being a senior business analyst supporting a finance function