Head of Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

Location: Douglas, Isle of Man 

Closing date for applications: 5th January 2026

The opportunity:   

An opportunity has arisen within the Zurich International Finance Team for the position of Head of Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), reporting directly to the CFO. This role will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for general accounting operations, as well as internal and external financial reporting for the Business Unit.

A key focus will be balancing financial performance, compliance, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement, while driving a vision to modernise outdated financial processes. You will work closely with the business to strengthen operations and ensure we are fit for the future.

Key responsibilities: 

• Lead and inspire: Manage our skilled FAR team, focusing on recruitment, development, and employee satisfaction.
• Drive accuracy and compliance: Oversee statutory, regulatory, and Solvency reporting, ensuring precision in all financial statements.
• Support the CFO: Be accountable for the accuracy of balance sheet, P&L, and statistical items—aligning with Group standards and policies.
• Enable business growth: Support statutory and regulatory matters, including capital management, M&A, and tax.
• Own the process: Manage end-to-end production, including activities performed by service centres.
• Champion best practice: Implement consistent, regional-aligned financial accounting and reporting standards.
• Promote strong controls: Work closely with Internal Controls and Risk Management to ensure robust control environments.
• Lead change: Drive FAR change projects, including coordination with external advisors. 

Your skills and experience: 

• Qualified Accountant with significant post-qualification experience.
• Proven ability to communicate at Executive Committee and Board level.
• Strong leadership skills, with a passion for motivating and developing teams.
• In-depth understanding of the insurance industry and business model.
• Excellent presentation and influencing skills, with a talent for resolving conflicts.
• Strong problem-solving skills, and a track record of driving change and stakeholder engagement. 

Who are we? 

We are Zurich Integrated Benefits and International Life. We provide life and savings products to markets around the world.  This role is based in our state-of-the-art Isle of Man office alongside a further 360 employees at this location.

Our culture:       

At Zurich on the Isle of Man, our sense of community is strong and we’re particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion. We want our people to bring their whole selves to the workplace and ensure everybody is made to feel welcome, regardless of their background, race, gender or sexual identity, beliefs, or culture. We are committed to treating all our applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background, disability, or any other protected characteristic.    
   
We have an environment that places a real importance on our people’s wellbeing from a physical, mental, social and financial perspective. We work with our wellbeing partners and industry experts to provide the best advice and access to a wealth of lifestyle support. We’re also committed to continuous improvement, and we offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.        

We’re passionate about supporting employees to help others by getting involved in volunteering, charitable and community activity. Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, is one of the longest-established corporate trusts in the UK. In that time, we’ve awarded grants and volunteered time to deserving causes in the UK valued at over £90 million.    
 

So, make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.