Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis.

Location: Flexible – the team is based in Swindon/London and office presence will be required

The opportunity: 

As Business Partner to the Life business your role will be to support the UK Life business to deliver their commercial strategy. Working with them to develop and deliver the financial plan and act as the key contact for all finance topics.

The role will lead the wider UK Life Finance Business Partnering team, and report to the UK Life CFO, deputising where appropriate.

To be successful the role holder will be a strong leader of people, capable of building excellent relationships with senior stakeholders, both in the Life Management Teams in the UK and across UK Finance, working closely with PPM, Commercial Life Actuarial and UK Life Actuarial in helping to drive the Life business forward.  You will also need to be comfortable navigating ambiguity, and able to provide complex financial insight to senior business leaders in a way which aids their decision making. You will be both a subject matter expert in complex financial matters across all aspects of financial performance, but equally able to act as a conduit between Finance and UK Life Management business leaders and other functions to support the business in delivering their goals.  

Many of our employees work flexibly in a variety of different ways, including part-time, flexible hours, job share, an element of working from home or compressed hours. This is because we want the best people for our roles, and we recognise that sometimes those people aren’t available full-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may need.

What will you be doing? 

• Support the UK Life business in understanding their financial performance. Provide challenge and insights to UK Life leaders to help them set their commercial and financial strategy to drive improved results.  You will be key in helping the business to achieve its strategic focus of delivering both top-line and bottom-line results over the plan period.
• Build relationships with the UK Life business to be considered a trusted business partner and face of Finance. Attend UK Life leadership team meetings to present financial performance and insight.
• Lead the UK Life Finance BP team through creating a positive culture and behaviours to support ongoing improvements, working with the UK Life reporting and planning processes as required. 
• Ensure the integrity of financial models and projections through implementation of suitable controls, documentation and testing.
• Aid in the creation and development of ad hoc financial models and analysis to assist and support initiatives and business cases.
• Monitor and provide insight and analysis of the actual performance vs plan and forecast, offer support and challenge to ensure delivery of the target.
• Support the UK Life CFO in leading the delivery of the annual planning cycle for UK Life in line with the UK & Group timelines.
• Maintain an effective planning and analysis capability that will provide the senior Life Management Team and Finance with appropriate analytical tools to establish goals and measure performance of UK Life’s products and services.
• Support UK Life Business Unit Reviews both within the UK business, helping to prepare the UK Life CEO and CFO and onwards up to Group level and represent UK Life Finance at the wider Finance function as appropriate.
• Provide financial advice for business initiatives such as new business opportunities.
• Support the UK Life CFO in preparing reports for the ZAL Board and Committees, including preparation of the CFO Report and other reports required over the quarterly Board cycle.
• Support UK Life CFO with ad hoc requests and analysis
• Support transformation activity across Finance and UK Life
• Lead the UK Life finance business partner team and coach them in developing the understanding, analysis and insight required to develop the UK Life financial plan and regular reporting requirements, working closely with teams in PPM (Expenses and Reporting), Commercial Life Actuarial and UK Life Actuarial and key stakeholders in the business.
• Senior member of the wider FLT demonstrating role model leadership behaviours across Finance and lead on wider projects across Finance.
• Keeps abreast of relevant industry trends and articulate impact on performance relative to competitors.

What are we looking for?

• Excellent leadership experience – leading an experienced team through coaching, developing and evolving the team to be senior leaders of the future. 
• Extensive experience in building and managing relationships with varied stakeholders at a senior level.
• Excellent understanding of the UK financial performance framework - prior knowledge and understanding of the UK Life Business, including relevant experience of IFRS17, would be useful.
• Ability to deliver complex financial analysis and to be a subject matter expert for complex financial queries relating to all aspects of financial performance.
• Experience of acting as a conduit between finance and the business units and support functions.
• Influencing or negotiating and communicating at a senior level.
• Analytical thinker with strong business acumen.
• Fully qualified accountant, or relevant qualification, with extensive experience leading a team in the UK.
• A thought leader who can lead from the front and support the business strategy.

What happens next?

As an inclusive employer we want to ensure that all candidates feel comfortable and are able to perform at their best during the interview. You’ll have the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustment or practical support needed when you apply.

Who we are:

At Zurich we aspire to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world and the best global insurer. Together we’re creating a brighter future for our customers, our people and our planet.

With over 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries, you’ll feel the support of being part of a strong and stable company who are a long-standing player in the insurance industry.

We’ve made a promise to each other and every employee; to focus on sustainable impact, to care about each other’s wellbeing, to use our diverse expertise to be curious and optimistic and to develop the skills needed for our future.

If you're interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment for a company that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives and contributions - then Zurich could be just the place for you. Be part of something great.

Our Culture:

At Zurich, our sense of community is strong and we’re particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion, which we’ve won numerous awards for. We want our people to bring the whole of themselves to work and ensure everybody is made to feel welcome, regardless of their background, beliefs or culture. We want our employees to reflect the diversity of our customers, and so are committed to treating all of our applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background, disability or any other protected characteristic.

We’ve 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. #li_hybrid

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