Head of Accounting

Description

AXA Belgium is looking for a new Head of Accounting and Reporting.

All accounting and reporting activities (e.g. P&C, Life, Health, Investments, etc.) of AXA Belgium are centralized within the Finance department and the responsibilities of the Accounting & Reporting (A&R) team cover all accounting and regulatory frameworks (e.g. IFRS 17, BGAAP, Solvency II).

The head of the A&R team is an essential pillar of the finance function and a crucial point of contact with the Group (the role therefore includes regular interactions with the Group Head of Accounting & Reporting and several Group finance teams). The A&R head is also an invited member of the Board of Directors' Audit Committee and a permanent contact point for the National Bank. He/she is also a member of the board of directors of several group companies and represents finance in steering certain cross-functional projects. He also ensures the link between traditional accounting, modeling and actuarial science. Finally, he is an important contributor to the Ovide project (transformation and modernization of the Finance function) and contributes to several initiatives of this project (e.g. migration to the new version of SAP, use of automation and artificial intelligence techniques within accounting processes, etc.).

The Head of Accounting and Reporting leads a team of more than 60 people distributed across sub-departments and supervises the work carried out by the shared service center in India (40 people).

The main priorities for the coming years include (i) continuous improvement of closing processes under IFRS 17 and 9 standards and enhancement of analyses and reporting, (ii) transition to next-generation accounting applications and continuous optimization of closing and reporting processes (leveraging, for example, new technologies, automation and outsourcing), (iii) improvement of CSRD sustainability reporting (ensuring control levels similar to those of other reports) as well as implementation and monitoring of sustainability objectives and levers to achieve them.

Main Responsibilities:

• A&R Central: Responsible for organizing and approving the closing process (in BGAAP, IFRS and Solvency II), quality control of balance sheet accounts and compliance with various standards; and management of AXA's chart of accounts, general accounting tasks (including closing routines, cash reconciliations, subsidiary accounting, ...) as well as various declarations.

• A&R Life: Responsible for monthly closing and reporting (BGAAP & IFRS) for the Life Business Unit. Responding to ad hoc requests/projects and providing data for forecasts.

• A&R Non-Life: Responsible for monthly closing and reporting (BGAAP and IFRS) for the Non-Life Business Unit. Responding to ad hoc requests/projects and contributing to forecasts.

• A&R Investment: Responsible for accounting and reporting production under different standards across AXA Belgium's entire portfolio (including derivatives), and supervision of back-office activities (e.g. the entire tax documentation process for securities accounts and the tax reclaim process).

• A&R Broker management, expenses and treasury: Responsible for expense accounting, supervision of proper processing of bank inflows and outflows as well as management and monitoring of broker accounts.

• CSRD: Production of structured and controlled reporting on environmental reporting, EU taxonomy and sustainability-related regulatory information, as required by the CSRD regulation.

Qualifications

• Accounting and financial expertise: Relevant experience in a similar leadership role within the Finance department of an insurance company, ideally in Belgium. Thorough mastery of international accounting standards (IFRS) and local standards (Belgian GAAP). Practical experience in managing ERP systems (SAP in particular). Good knowledge of consolidation methods. Good knowledge of the tax environment in Belgium and corporate tax. Previous experience in Mergers & Acquisitions is a plus (purchase or sale of insurance portfolios).

• Leadership skills: Strong leadership and management capabilities to lead and motivate a team of accounting, reporting and actuarial professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment. He is credible and generates buy-in. Previous experience managing a team of more than 20 people is essential.

• Strategy and change management skills: Able to define and execute a strategy with impact on people, organization, systems and processes. He has an overarching vision and has experience in leading change. He is decisive, has impact and is results-oriented.

• Presentation skills: He is credible when addressing the board of directors, the executive committee, the group, the board of directors' audit committee, the National Bank. Is persuasive and inspires confidence.

• Analytical mindset: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret financial data, identify trends and provide useful insights for decision-making.

• Language skills: excellent active command of French and Dutch is required. Good knowledge of English (and particularly technical insurance/accounting English) is also important for interactions with other Group entities.

AXA aims to be a reflection of the diverse society in which we live and has therefore been pursuing a policy of active diversity, non-discrimination, and equal opportunities for many years. In this context, we guarantee equal treatment and access to recruitment, regardless of age, origin, cultural background, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

AXA Belgium 

We are more than 3000 employees, partnering with 3200 brokers, located in our modern offices in Brussels, Antwerp, Eupen, and Liège. We are serving 3 million customers, and we are proud to be the number 1 car insurer. It is our ambition to not only be a payer but rather a real partner for our customers. 

Our four core values drive us every day to give our best for our customers while collaborating effectively with our colleagues: Customer First, Integrity, Courage, and One AXA. 

At AXA, we reject unfair or unlawful discrimination in any form. More info in our Diversity & Inclusion Policy. 

What we offer  

A nice reward for your work 

An attractive salary, supplemented with discretionary personal and collective bonuses and of course, meal and eco vouchers, and a cafeteria plan. You will also have an electric company car for your travel, or you can choose a federal mobility budget. 

The benefits of working at an insurance company 

From group to hospitalization insurance and ambulatory care (family members can also join at an advantageous rate) and with up to 30% discount on all additional insurance products. 

A job that respects your personal life and dreams 

A flexible schedule of 35 hours per week, 34 days of leave per year to recharge, as well as the option to work partially from home.  

You will benefit from sports classes at work, employee wellness programs and trainings, to keep you in great shape, both physically and mentally.