Title: Senior Accountant
Bristol, GB London, GB
Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.
Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.
Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.
Job Purpose
The Senior Accountant (Expense Finance Business Partner) reports to the Expense Budgeting & Forecasting Manager within the UK FP&A team, providing dedicated finance support to designated business functions. Responsibilities include expense planning, forecasting, and delivering actionable insight to support effective cost management. Experience in expense management is required; a financial services background is not essential.
The successful candidate will partner credibly with senior stakeholders, ensure robust allocations and benefits tracking, and play a critical part in enabling the UK to meet long-term expense targets and the Group’s externally disclosed expense-efficiency commitments. Strong relationship-building and influencing skills are essential to embed cost discipline across supported functions.
Key Accountabilities
- Contribution to Board and Committee papers and presentations in respect of the Wealth and Asset Management entities
- Contribute and assist in the preparation of the annual Business Plan and quarterly forecasts/reforecasts for the CLUK division across expenses.
- Provide timely and relevant insight and information to support the UK Division and key Business Lines in delivering their expense targets against Plan.
- Support with allocations owning the impacts for each function, document basis and facilitate discussions whilst working alongside the FP&A partnering team.
- Support ad hoc projects where possible, delivering timely stakeholder MI to assist decision making in the business.
- Be aware of potential changes to the forecast/budget and the impact on allocations, as well as working with the wider FP&A team to address issues.
- Further develop industry wide knowledge by working with the wider FP&A team. Attend meetings and join conversations to gain a more balanced and in-depth view of business functions.
Desired Knowledge / Experience / Skills
• Wealth Management and/or Life Insurance Industry experience - desirable, but not essential
• Qualified accountant
• Strong ability to apply analytical skills to business problems
• Excellent communication skills – able to address non-technical and non-technical audiences in formal and informal settings
• Good attention to detail and strong interpersonal skills
• Strong Microsoft Office experience and comfortable working with multiple systems for reporting and data manipulation.
Benefits of working at Canada Life
We believe in recognising and rewarding our people, so we offer a competitive salary and benefits package that’s regularly reviewed. As a Canada Life UK colleague, you’ll receive a competitive salary and comprehensive reward package including a generous pension and bonus scheme, along with, income protection, private medical insurance and life assurance. We have a fantastic number of other benefits and support services as well as regular personal and professional development.
How we work at Canada Life
Our culture is unique and incredibly important to us. We care about doing the right thing for our people, customers and community and helping others to build better futures. Our blueprint behaviours shape and influence how we work, and are central to the relationships we have with others. Every day we are encouraged to be more curious, own the outcome, face into things together and find a way forward.
We want colleagues to have rewarding careers with us so we invest in the development of our people, technology and workplaces. That’s why we offer a range of training, flexible working and opportunities to grow and develop.
Diversity and inclusion
Building an inclusive workplace with a diverse workforce where everyone can feel they belong and achieve their potential regardless of gender, ethnicity or any other characteristic is a key commitment for us. We are proud of the progress we’re making in DEI, and we continue for it to be a significant focus.
“At Canada Life we believe in the power of great people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives coming together to build better futures. Emerging talent is crucial to our growth and creating an environment that continues to inspire us all.” Nick Harding, Chief People Officer, Canada Life UK
We appreciate that everyone has different work and life responsibilities. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, including part time, for any of our roles should this be a requirement for you.