Challenger Limited is an ASX-listed investment management firm managing $127 billion in assets (as at 30 June 2024). Life with us is fast moving and always exciting. Together we’re driving to deliver our vision to provide our customers with financial security for a better retirement.
We achieve this goal by providing a work environment where people from diverse backgrounds, with a range of skills and experiences can contribute and succeed.
Role Title: Financial Accountant
Reports to: Group Financial Controller
Location Sydney
About the opportunity
The Financial Accountant provides hands on financial control and accounting support to the Group Financial Control team and is responsible for the day-to-day accounting of various corporate entities including Challenger Group Services, Challenger Treasury Limited and related entities when required. They are an important part of Group Financial Control’s service delivery to its internal customers across the Challenger operating segments.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Control
* Be responsible for the day-to-day accounting of Challenger Group Services Pty Limited, which is the main operating entity and service company for the Group.
* Assist with the accounting of Challenger Treasury Limited, the corporate treasury entity.
* Monthly accounting for Challenger’s Performance Plan Trust.
* Month end accounting and reporting of financial results.
* Preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations.
* Tax effect accounting.
* Partnering with internal customers to ensure accruals, prepayments, and other balances reliant on information from the business are accurate and complete.
Consolidation / Cash Flow reporting
* Support the group consolidation and sub consolidations by performing key checks around retained earnings, equity, intersegment transactions and account mappings.
* Cashflow reporting – statutory and management reports including reconciliation of operating cash flows result to normalised profit result.
* Continuous improvements via ongoing reviews of procedures and processes to identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, facilitate process changes and ensure appropriate controls are enforced to manage risks.
External Reporting / Statutory Reporting
* Heavy involvement in the Challenger Group reporting processes for inclusion in Group ASX interim and annual reports. This includes preparation of various notes, supporting workpapers and other disclosures as required by the Group Financial Controller.
* Preparation of Tier 2 General Purpose annual financial reports as required for CGS and CTL to comply with ASIC requirements annually.
* Preparation of audit files and dealing with auditors with regards to audit queries.
* Board papers preparation, including workpapers for audit and risk committees; as well as preparation of accounting memos on new standards or areas of reporting.
Other
* Be a backup to the Senior Accountants as required.
* Ad hoc project work on strategic initiatives as required, along with systems testing and assistance with maintenance of the Workday Foundation Data Model (FDM).
* Involvement in improving automation of reporting via Workiva and Workday.
* Ad hoc work to help the business as and when required.
The Team
Group Financial Control is a team of six (6) working towards the common goal of delivering the statutory reporting and financial results for the Challenger Group, along with accounting support for strategic transactions, and monthly consolidated results.
Members of the team share common tasks as well as owning unique tasks depending on the individual’s role and experience. The wider finance team includes Group Financial Control, Business Performance, Tax, Treasury, Actuarial, Risk & Compliance, with teams operating in a highly interactive and collaborative manner.
Required Knowledge and Skills
* Working understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
* Identifying, assessing, and evaluating key financial controls in a finance function
* Intermediate MS Excel experience (i.e. pivot tables, SUMIF, VLOOKUP) with an ability to analyse large amounts of data.
* Financial Services Industry experience
* Experience in a large and complex working environment.
* A working knowledge of the corporate regulatory environment, governance principles, corporate accountability and conduct frameworks and the process for managing risk in a large and complex business.
* Post graduate accounting qualification (CA/CPA etc.) with post qualification experience.
* Workday and/or Workiva experience (preferred)
* Financial Controls environment experience
Core Competencies
Planning and Time Management
Quality and Attention to Detail
Problem Solving and Analysis
Strong Communication – verbal and written.
Building relationships and networks
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with various stakeholders including:
Growth mindset
Risk Management
We value inclusion and diversity of thought, promote flexible working practices so our people can integrate their work and personal lives, and are proud to be a Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.
We believe in bringing your authentic self and a belonging in our culture. We are prideful in participating in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) as a national benchmark on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and best practice in Australia. We offer the opportunity for a broad career experience and value people who are inquisitive and rigorous and are driven to make a difference.
Job type:
Permanent
Posting Close Date :
28/11/2024