Job Description

Job Type:

Fixed Term

Build a brilliant future with Hiscox

The Role

We are recruiting a Finance Business Partner to support the performance management of Hiscox’s Corporate Functions (specifically Finance, People (HR) and Operations Functions), with responsibility for providing insight, challenge and commercially focused financial support across reporting, planning, forecasting, business case review and decision-making.

This role is suited to an experienced finance professional with strong FP&A and business partnering experience who is ready to take greater ownership of stakeholder relationships, performance conversations and financial decision support. The successful candidate will lead and influence regular management reporting, forecasting, budgeting and analysis, helping stakeholders understand performance, risks, opportunities, financial viability of initiatives and actions required.

The Finance Business Partner will work closely with central FP&A, functional stakeholders and reporting teams to provide accurate, timely and insightful financial guidance. Strong data capability remains important, including the ability to work confidently with Excel, Power Query and large datasets, but the emphasis of the role is on turning analysis into clear insight, challenge and recommendations. Experience or curiosity in AI tools, including agent-based solutions, would be advantageous but is not essential.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting, Planning & Analysis

• Lead the delivery of regular management reporting, including monthly performance packs, variance analysis and clear, action-oriented commentary
• Own key elements of budgeting, forecasting and planning cycles, ensuring outputs are accurate, well-controlled and delivered on time
• Develop clear analysis on actuals, forecasts, risks and opportunities, translating financial performance into insight that supports decision-making
• Liaise with the Financial Accounting team (Corporate Finance) during month-end close to ensure BAU and Project actuals are accurate, appropriately understood and align against Business forecast expectations
• Provide financial insight and recommendations to functional stakeholders and senior finance teams, helping shape performance conversations
• Review business cases with Business Initiative Owners, assessing financial viability, key assumptions, risks, dependencies and expected benefits
• Monitor actuals and forecast CTA and benefit projections, tracking performance against approved business cases and highlighting risks, opportunities and required actions
• Maintain reporting models, data inputs and reconciliations to ensure robust and consistent outputs
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, analysis and data processes through better use of tools, automation and standardisation

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Support

• Partner directly with functional stakeholders, providing financial insight, challenge and guidance to support commercial and operational decisions
• Translate financial performance into clear messages, actions and recommendations, ensuring stakeholders understand the drivers of performance and options available
• Build trusted relationships across finance and the business, developing credibility as a proactive Finance Business Partner
• Lead stakeholder conversations on cost performance, key drivers, risks and opportunities, bringing constructive challenge where needed
• Deliver ad hoc analysis and financial support to answer business questions, assess options and inform decisions
• Support Business Initiative Owners in understanding the financial implications of proposed initiatives, ensuring forecasts and benefit assumptions are robust, transparent and aligned to agreed governance
• Contribute to a culture of constructive challenge, continuous improvement and clear financial ownership

Cost Allocations & Attribution

• Support the review and refresh of cost allocation methodologies and allocation keys, ensuring they remain appropriate, transparent and aligned to how Corporate Function costs are consumed by the Hiscox Business Units
• Work with Finance stakeholders and Business Unit contacts to explain how costs are attributed, providing clear analysis and supporting commentary on allocation drivers, movements and impacts
• Monitor allocated costs through actuals and forecast cycles, identifying changes in cost base, allocation keys or business usage that may impact Business Unit charges
• Help improve documentation, governance and stakeholder understanding of allocation processes so Business Units have a clear view of the basis on which Corporate Function costs are charged

Data, Tools & Process Improvement

• Use Excel, Power Query and other reporting tools to manage, analyse and present financial data
• Improve the quality, consistency and efficiency of financial models, data processes and reporting outputs
• Support process documentation, controls and handover materials for recurring BAU activities
• Explore practical ways to use automation and AI tools to reduce manual effort and improve insight where appropriate

Candidate Profile

• Qualified accountant, or equivalent recognised accountancy qualification, with significant post-qualification experience in FP&A, commercial finance or business partnering
• Strong FP&A, management accounting or commercial finance experience, ideally with ownership of functional cost management, planning cycles or performance reporting
• Experience reviewing business cases, assessing financial viability and monitoring initiative costs, CTA, benefits and forecast performance
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret financial performance and identify key drivers
• Strong business partnering skills, including the ability to build trusted relationships, explain financial information clearly, influence stakeholders and provide constructive challenge
• Strong Excel capability, with experience working with large datasets, formulas, reconciliations and reporting models
• Practical experience using Power Query or similar data preparation tools
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to produce accurate, controlled and well-presented outputs
• Ability to manage competing priorities, drive deadlines and work effectively across multiple senior stakeholders
• Curiosity and willingness to improve finance processes, reporting and analysis through better use of data and technology

About Hiscox

As an international specialist insurer, we are far removed from the world of mass market insurance products. Instead, we are selective and focus on our key areas of expertise and strength - all of which is underpinned by a culture that encourages us to challenge convention and always look for a better way of doing things.

We ensure the unique and the interesting. And we search for the same when it comes to talented people. Hiscox is full of smart, reliable human beings that look out for customers and each other. We believe in doing the right thing, making good and rebuilding when things go wrong.

Everyone is encouraged to think creatively, challenge the status quo and look for solutions.

Scratch beneath the surface and you will find a business that is solid, but slightly contrary. We like to do things differently and constantly seek to evolve. We might have been around for a long time (our roots go back to 1901), but we are young in many ways, ambitious and going places.

Some people might say insurance is dull, but life at Hiscox is anything but. If that sounds good to you, get in touch.

Diversity and flexible working at Hiscox

At Hiscox we care about our people. We hire the best people for the job, and we are committed to diversity and creating a truly inclusive culture, which we believe drives success.

Working life does not always have to be in the office so we have introduced hybrid working to encourage a healthy work life balance.

This hybrid working model is set by the team rather than the business to enable you to manage your own personal work-life balance. We see it as the best of both worlds; structure and sociability on one hand, and independence and flexibility on the other.

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Work with amazing people and be part of a unique culture