Financial Controller - Remote UK

Wakam; London; Remote; GBP 45,000 - 75,000

Job description

☆ Who are we?

Wakam is a B2B2C insurance company that creates white-label insurance solutions via its Play&Plug technology platform for more than 80 partners. We provide most of our insurance products through API, and host white-label insurance solutions via our Play&Plug technology platform.

With a footprint spanning 32 countries and revenue of more than ₠900 million in 2023, mostly generated outside France, Wakam is the European leader in digital and embedded insurance.

Strongly committed to social responsibility, Wakam is a mission-driven company dedicated to "enabling transparent and impactful insurance".

☆ About the Team
Join the dynamic Finance team at Wakam, where we're the driving force behind strategic financial decision-making and operational excellence. We safeguard Wakam's financial health through strategic fiscal management, budgeting, and financial reporting. The Finance team plays a crucial role in supporting the company's growth objectives. From financial planning and analysis to risk management and compliance, we are committed to driving efficiency and maximizing value across the organization.

Mission

As a key member of our Finance team, you will help shape Wakam's financial strategy and operational framework. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure financial practices align with business goals and support long-term sustainability. Your role will involve not only delivering timely and accurate financial statements but also proactively identifying opportunities for process improvements, enhancing data quality, and driving initiatives that support compliance and efficiency. By leveraging your expertise, you will contribute to Wakam's mission of transforming the insurance industry and ensuring robust financial performance.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• You will become part of a small team, and assume a broad and varied role with the opportunity to be involved with a wide range of activities across all areas of finance.
• Reporting to the UK CFO, the role will have direct responsibility and accountability for timely and accurate delivery of UK regulatory and statutory financial statements.
• Responsibility for management of accounts and explanations on variances between budget and actual.
• Management of the year-end process and preparation of financial statements.
• The key contact for our Auditors and Investment Managers.
• Oversight of the overall control environment and preparation of UK GAAP financial statements.
• Produce quarterly trial balance and management accounts ensuring compliance with UK GAAP.
• Review of all external regulatory reporting requirements and responses to the PRA and FCA.
• Coordinate production and provide related contributions to quarterly Solvency II.
• Knowledge of UK tax. Whilst detailed tax expertise is not required, the individual will be responsible for corporation tax and VAT returns and ensure these are accurate and submitted within required deadlines.
• Experience dealing with tax, VAT and IPT returns would be needed to assist with compliance with current legislation and recovery opportunities.
• Support the UK CFO in preparation and sign off on statutory and regulatory financial results and statements to the UK Board, Companies House and the PRA.
• Management of Outsource provider in relation to financial operations and report.
• Draft and support the CFO with Board and Audit committee papers.
• Continually transform and improve processes to reduce cycle time and improve accuracy.
• Support on aspects of Treasury Management (bank accounts, mandates, transfers, etc).
• Design and ensure operation of internal controls around the financial reporting processes.
• Support systems and process implementations in and other transformation initiatives.
• Liaise with business teams on data quality issues ensuring timely resolution.
• Maintain additional records and information as required in order to satisfy reporting and filing obligations of UK.
• Documentation of the processes to minimise key person dependencies and enable cross-skilling of the team.

☆ Experience & Key Skills

• Qualified ACA or equivalent with a track record within the insurance industry.
• Operational/technical experience with UK GAAP and Solvency II.
• Knowledge of MGM/Broker desirable.
• Experience in leadership roles at UK insurance companies.
• Track record of insurance audit portfolio management.
• Experienced in financial management including budgeting, forecasting and analysis.
• Experienced in cash flow management, risk management and annual reporting.
• Strong, solid knowledge and understanding of financial controls and regulation in the insurance industry.
• Strong experience in implementation of accounting policies and procedures.
• Solid leadership skills to motivate and guide the team on financial compliance and process.
• Strong team continuous development mindset in the creation and delivery of technical training and mentoring programmes.
• Excellent communication skills to interact with all stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving experience and mindset to identify challenges and find solutions.

☆ Your Personal Qualities

• Positive, motivated and agile with a compliance and audit mindset.
• Solutions orientated with the confidence and ability to challenge.
• Highly capable with the ability to deal with complexity.
• Experience in working collaboratively across diverse global organisations.
• Structured and flexible in approach, providing clear direction whilst leading and motivating a team.
• Self-aware with the ability to accept feedback and continuously develop.
• Adapts to new and unpredictable situations through strong resilience and positive outlook.
• Ethically driven in all interactions, ensuring standards are maintained and decisions are credible and trusted.
• Takes ownership and responsibility for decisions and outcomes.

☆ Why Join Wakam?
At Wakam, you'll join a fast-growing, innovative company transforming the insurance industry. This role offers:

• The opportunity to lead and shape financial strategies across diverse insurance products.
• Collaboration with talented professionals in a dynamic and international environment.
• A chance to drive innovation using advanced analytics and cutting-edge tools.
• The ability to make a meaningful impact on business outcomes and customer experiences.
• Flexibility to work fully remotely, empowering you to thrive from wherever you are.

Recruitment Agencies:
Wakam has an in-house recruitment team, which focuses on sourcing great candidates directly. Wakam does not accept unsolicited resumes from agency or search firm recruiters. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired. When we do use agencies, we have a PSL in place, so please do not contact our managers directly.

More About Us
Check out our website to learn about the 11 cultural markers that make Wakam truly special! If you're adventurous, impact-driven, and ready to shape the future of insurance, we'd love to meet you!

What Makes Us Unique:
• True remote work flexibility with our Wakam From Anywhere (WFA) program - yes, we even have a teammate working from a sailboat!
• Flat hierarchical system promoting direct impact and autonomy.
• Monthly Free.day: dedicated time for personal growth and skills development.

At Wakam, our "Free to Impact" culture is built on four essential pillars that shape everything we do:

• Communication & Knowledge Management:
  Foster transparent collaboration across our flat organizational structure.
  Share knowledge freely in our highly collaborative environment.
  Contribute to our collective intelligence through open dialogue.
• Curiosity:
  Embrace our monthly Free.day for learning and skills sponsorship.
  Think big and challenge conventional insurance norms.
  Stay eager to learn and explore new possibilities.
• Continuous Improvement:
  Take initiative to transform the insurance industry.
  Turn challenges into opportunities for innovation.
  Constantly evolve our ways of working.
• Outcome Oriented:
  Focus on impact rather than hierarchy.
  Drive results through clear objectives and autonomy.
  Transform bold ideas into concrete solutions.

At Wakam, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please feel free to reach out to your recruiter.