Management Accountant

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities - work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering - you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The role

As a Management Accountant, you’ll provide accurate, timely accounting services for business unit and operating entity reporting, alongside financial analysis that supports business planning. You’ll take ownership of core month-end activity, reconciliations and reporting, helping the business meet its monthly, quarterly and annual deadlines while maintaining strong financial control.

Please note that this is a full-time, fixed-term contract role based in our Milton Keynes office, running until March 2028. The role follows a hybrid working pattern, with an expectation of three days per week in the office.

What you'll be doing

• Produce monthly management accounts and reporting information accurately and to agreed deadlines
• Prepare general ledger and month-end journals, including intercompany, recurring charge and international payroll entries
• Deliver monthly revenue reporting, including technical ledger postings and reconciliations
• Own balance sheet reconciliations, investigating discrepancies and driving issues through to resolution
• Support the preparation of financial information for VAT and tax returns, including overseas companies and branches where required
• Provide ad hoc management reporting and financial analysis to support business planning and decision-making
• Improve reporting solutions and accounting processes to strengthen the quality and efficiency of financial information
• Maintain accurate financial records, process documentation and procedures across relevant company systems
• Monitor relevant accounting, legal and regulatory developments and reflect changes appropriately in day-to-day activity
• Share technical knowledge with colleagues, providing supervision or mentoring where required

Who we're looking for

• Proven experience working as an accountant, with hands-on responsibility for management accounting and month-end activity
• Strong experience preparing journals, balance sheet reconciliations and management reporting
• Advanced Excel capability, including nested XLOOKUPs, pivot tables and data manipulation
• Sound technical knowledge of financial reporting under UK accounting standards
• Demonstrable experience producing accurate financial information to demanding reporting deadlines
• Experience investigating accounting discrepancies and resolving issues accurately and efficiently
• Exposure to payroll reporting and payroll postings is desirable but not essential
• Experience within financial services or another regulated environment is desirable

Qualifications

• Professional accountancy qualification, passed finalist status with a recognised body such as ACCA or CIMA, or equivalent qualification through experience
• Strong A levels or equivalent
• Strong written and verbal English, with the numeracy skills required to interpret, reconcile and analyse financial information

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity - there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application - if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.