Team Leader Finance Business Partners

Are you an experienced Finance controlling professional who loves working in a demanding environment and enjoys navigating the contrast between ad-hoc delivery and standard processes/reportingDo you also like to lead a Team where you demonstrate leadership and communication skills

Then you might be the person we are looking for.

The FP&A Corporate Functions team is the port of call for financial matters of the Corporate Functions and includes Information Technology, Corporate Real Estate and all other Functions. The team is part of the FP&A Infrastructure, Automation & Cost (FIAC) Unit which reports into Group Finance.

Standard tasks include aggregation, structuring, analysis and commenting of cost data. Building on that, the role includes the constructive challenging of cost budgeting and cost management for the Divisions as well as close partnering with the counterparts on various Business unit levels. You will provide both standard and ad-hoc analyses and presentations for the management teams of the dedicated organizational units.

You also support function and division specific cost optimization initiatives and subsequently ensuring accurate allocation and transfer of funds.

In addition, the role will include managing the internal service cost allocation and underlying service catalogue. You will work with counterparts on the Business side to agree on clear cost allocation keys and explain cost development. You will do regular analysis of the service cost and work in close interaction with the Service Cost Accounting and Governance teams.

In the role of Finance Partner, it is important you understand the business strategy and support effective financial planning and analysis. You provide business expertise into accounting processes and act as a catalyst driving forward initiatives critical to delivering the strategy. Key counterparties include the Service Cost Accounting Community, Group Cost Management, Group Reporting and Business unit controlling teams.

This position requires an expert controller with team leader experience and a good functional overview of a large operation and some years in a comparable function in a multi-cultural environment. Interaction with senior Stakeholders on financial matters and therefore good communication skills are also required.

Key accountabilities

• Ensure regular cost reporting to Senior Management, understand financial needs of the Divisions, advise on efficient budget and target management
• Build budget plans, manage and challenge operational budgets
• Ensure accurate management of service cost allocation key sets and service catalogue
• Interact closely with other corporate Functions, the Business Units Reinsurance, Corporate Solutions, and legal entity representatives
• Generate concrete insights for our internal business partners with your analytical skills
• Drive process optimization and digitization initiatives
• Line Management & leadership of the team

About the Team

The FP&A Corporate Functions will have in total 41 colleagues based in Zurich, Bratislava, Bangalore and New York. We have three FP&A units and together we are part of FP&A Infrastructure, Automation & Costs with 190 professionals in total.

Our goal is to be the first point of contact for the functions and divisions for any finance related matter and to ensure alignment of top-down targets with bottom-up needs, in close collaboration with the Division Heads, Divisional Executive Offices and Cost representatives such as Department and Cost Centre Heads.

Job requirements

• Qualified CA/CFA/ CMA/ MBA Finance or University degree or diploma in Cost controlling or equivalent
• 10 years of relevant experience in Financial Planning analysis (FP&A), cost controlling & service management will be preferred

• Self-motivated, proactive and customer focused mentality, Strong conceptual capabilities
• Leadership skills, team leader experience and a good functional overview of a large operations and some years in a comparable function in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellence in MS Excel/MS PowerPoint (and preferably in Think-cell)
• Ability to work independently and make decisions/priorities in the face of complexity, conflicting pressures and ambiguous circumstances
• Above average financial competence, attention to detail and accuracy in delivery
• Stature and confidence to interact at Senior Management level
• Fluency in English, strong influencing, interpersonal and intercultural skills
• Able to deliver high quality also under pressure