Head of Financial Accounting

As Head of Financial Accounting and Reporting in a game-changing player of the European Insurance Industry, you will mainly focus on transformation and leadership, and you will be responsible from A to Z for accounting and related project management of Athora Belgium and its subsidiaries under Belgian and International Regulation.

Reporting directly to the CFO this role offers the right dynamic candidate an unmatched opportunity to build and grow Europe’s most innovative insurance company. You will be working closely with the different Athora entities in Europe to build and consolidate the new “Athora world”.

Your responsibilities

As Head of Financial Accounting and Reporting you are responsible for e.g.:

• Supervising all accounting processes across our primary reporting bases Solvency II, IFRS and BGAAP as well as management information production covering the full range of activities from investment accounting and insurance technical to accounts payable and receivables.
• The full coordination of month-end closing activities across our reporting bases, resulting in a timely and accurate reporting of actual results in line with Group guidelines and Group/NBB deadlines.
• Performing key account reconciliations, justification, documentation.
• Performing monthly analytical reviews to ensure transparency on the full balance sheet.
• Setting up and monitoring accounting KPIs.
• Overseeing various projects around systems implementations, new accounting standards as required.
• Supervising tax accounting and statutory submissions for the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) as well as for the Group regulator.
• Ensuring full compliance with applicable regulations and deadlines (income tax, VAT, statutory).
• The successful completion of internal and external audits.
• Managing a team of 8 people.
• Guaranteeing the continuous improvement of processes and internal control within the team.
• Steering the budget allocated to the department.

Your profile

• You have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting, economics or business administration.
• You have at least 10 years of experience in a relevant position, ideally in the life insurance or banking sector. International and/or Transformation experience is an asset.
• You are a native French or Dutch speaker with good command of the other national language and have a strong command of English.
• You have a solid understanding of IFRS and Belgium general accounting procedures and you have a good knowledge of S2, IFRS17 and NBB regulation. Experience in reinsurance and financial assets is a plus..
• You have a good command of accounting software (SAP/Clearwater/Tagetik).
• You demonstrate capacity to engage and lead people during the transformation phase.
• You are rigorous, organised and can manage your priorities and respect tight deadlines.
• You are able to communicate to senior leadership and other key stakeholders.
• You are solutions and results oriented.
• You are able to influence, negotiate and resolve conflicts.
• You are dynamic with an open mind.

Good reasons to join us.

• An open-ended employment contract.
• A company on a human scale within a dynamic group where you can rapidly make an impact.
• Accessible management close to staff and a pleasant working environment.
• Many opportunities for development, thanks in particular to our Athora Academy.
• Balance between professional life and private life with generous holidays (at least 39 days a year), flexible working hours and up to 3 days of teleworking a week.
• An attractive salary package plus various fringe benefits.
• Modern, bright offices conducive to collaboration.
• A central location in the Porte de Namur district, accessible by train and public transport and with parking facilities available if needed.
• Last but not least… a sunny terrace, after-work gatherings between colleagues, team-building activities, an annual staff day and many other events to discover… 😉

f you are looking for a friendly organisation with a human face and attach value to cooperation and helping one another, you have come to the right place.