Financial Accountant I

Job Purpose 

The mandate of the International Financial Management team is to technically account for international programme policies transactions, thereby ensuring compliant and efficient risk transfers and cash flows between Producing/Local Offices, Network Partners, the Central Pooling Carrier and External (Co-)Reinsurers.  

The Team is also responsible for reporting, analytics and commentaries regarding International Business, including monthly aged debt reports, monthly premium flows by Producing Office, and consolidation of accounts by client programme.  

The International Business Financial Management Team's main customers are: 

• Corporate Solutions and Network Partner Local Offices world wide 

• Corporate Solutions Producing Offices 

• External brokers and insureds 

• Finance Corporate Solutions 

• Reinsurance partners 

You will be responsible for technical accounting tasks related to assumed reinsurance policies, the reconciliation of both Produced premium and local offices premium, in addition to being responsible for a timely and accurate financial management with Swiss Re's Network Partners and Co-reinsurers. The ability to design and implement a disciplined monthly / annual reporting routine is essential in addition to providing clear performance results for the Primary Lead International Business programmes.   

Ideally the candidate will have a good understanding of insurance technical accounting principles as well as basic understanding of International insurance programmes. The role will liaise with the Primary Lead team, Corporate Solutions Finance, and other functional areas as needed

Key Accountabilities 

Your main responsibilities are:  

• Book, perform a monthly reconciliation and settle technical accounts (premium, commissions, fees, claims payments) to and from pooling carrier for assumed reinsurance NP policies, skeleton technical bookings and reinsurance transactions. 

• Produce monthly co-reinsurance statement of account. 

• Produce monthly Network partner statement of account. 

• Resolve reconciliation findings (Co-reinsurance/Network Partner) with the respective functions – internal/external  

• Monitor and report open balances and coordinate with International Desk, Network Partner Coordinator, regional Technical accounting teams, Underwriters on outstanding balances 

• Coordinate/respond to inquiries for other functions Local/Producing office Technical Accounting teams, Finance FP&A, Products performing financial reporting on International  Business (act as first point of contact within International Business for those functions) 

• Ensure reconciliation of International Business technical accounts in administration system and support Finance on reconciliations in financial ledgers as required; e.g skeleton process, local premium collection, central premium collection, invoiced versus booked  

• Compare and Contrast incoming co-reinsurance data in the system against real contract and authorize 

• Liaise with International Desk, Global Network Management, Regional Technical Accounting teams, Claims/Claims operations and Underwriters/Underwriting Assistance teams to ensure service standards are met 

Other 

• Assist in announced internal/ external audit

• Participate on ongoing projects to strengthen the IFM core process 

• Participate in meetings and trainings for the purpose of conveying information required to perform job functions 

• Contribute to team effort by assisting other team member when necessary. 

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Key Skills  &  Qualification 

• Educational/Professional 

• CA/CS/ICWA/MBA (Finance)/Degree in finance/accounting and with at least 0-1 year of relevant working experience in insurance/reinsurance  

• Previous Insurance Technical Accounting experience desirable 

• Key skills and knowledge 

• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to deliver quality output to short deadlines and manage details without losing sight of the "big picture" 

• Strong communication skills, in particular ability to summarize complex technical issues to a non-expert audience, both written and verbal 

• Capable of building trust with all areas of the business in particular with the Primary Lead teams Consolidation and regional Technical Accounting teams, regional Operations teams  

• Ability to translate business initiatives into clear, actionable strategies 

• Proficiency in Word and Excel 

• Excellent command of English (spoken and written) 

• Excellent interpersonal with demonstrated ability to work well and build trust with others 

• Experience in insurance and on personal accountability for areas of responsibility 

• Stress resilient, with the ability to work independent