Chief Accounting Officer

Hiscox•Atlanta, GA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer of Hiscox USA, the Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) will be responsible for managing financial risks and regulatory compliance, assisting with financial strategy, and leading the Accounting, Financial Reporting, Treasury, and other related areas for the business unit. The CAO is responsible for building, developing and resourcing a team currently comprised of about ten Finance professionals in order to drive effective and efficient processes across all functions, manage and ensure compliance with a robust set of financial controls, and deliver accurate and timely results to support the business. The Chief Accounting Officer will have 4 direct reports (Controller, Financial Reporting Manager, Accounting Manager, and Treasury Manager).

Requirements

The ideal candidate will be an exceptional leader and strategic thinker with a strong and credible presence.
S/he should have strong financial management and technical accounting capabilities, broad operational experience with strong strategic insight, business acumen, superior delivery skills and strong leadership capabilities.
Experience in General Insurance or an equivalent highly regulated industry (e.g. banking, energy) is strongly preferred.
Solid experience in planning and building operational processes, combined with an analytical and metrics-based approach, and experience in maintaining accurate financial reporting and regulatory compliance is required as well.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of collaborating and managing senior stakeholders across the enterprise.
The ability to translate strategic thinking into tangible plans and delivery to effectively meet business objectives.
Significant people management and leadership experience.
Deep technical acumen and regulatory knowledge to make sound business decisions.
Strong accounting professional judgment is critical to success in this role.
High learning agility and intellectual curiosity, combined with the entrepreneurial spirit to work in a complex and global environment.
A proven track record of collaborating and managing stakeholders across all levels, including senior management and board level.
Leadership Ability: Record of building high trust relationships that creates a network of partners across a global and matrixed organization.
Inspires commitment, leadership, initiative, and extra effort from others.
Aligns, empowers, and influences others through ideas, encouragement and insight.
Creates a work environment that fosters teamwork and collaboration.
Driving Positive Change: Effectively challenges the status quo and infuse new ideas and innovation.
Understands the company and business line cultural identity and core strengths, and how to drive successful change.
Sets clear and measurable performance objectives and monitors progress rigorously, planning ahead, and linking action to business priorities.
Innovation: Known as an innovative leader with a deep understanding of the technological landscape.
Ability to look ahead at the strategic digital horizon and prioritize digital opportunities based on estimated impact, ease of implementation and potential downside risk.
Must be able to think critically about changing trends and business conditions that would have implications to the organization’s growth and development.
Technical Acumen: An individual with strong financial management and technical accounting capabilities.
Ideally, this person will have experience overseeing all aspects of Accounting and Controls, Financial Reporting, Tax and Compliance, and Capital and Risk Management, in a highly regulated industry.
A CPA license is a minimum requirement.
Strategic Ability / Learning Agility: Thoroughly understands business models, financials and the competitive terrain.
Analyzes complex business challenges and applies analytics to drive strategic solutions and achieve goals.
Has strong problem-solving abilities, including an ability to take a “deep dive” into the details of the business while staying focused on the big picture.
Takes a systematic, structured view of situations, deconstructing them into their fundamental elements.
Executing for Results: Proven ability to galvanize a workforce to drive performance by building an understanding of key drivers, through the establishment of targets and metrics, setting clear accountabilities, and aligning rewards with performance.
Consistently dependable in achieving or exceeding goals and overcomes obstacles.
Pursues everything with energy and drive and demonstrates initiative and takes appropriate responsibility for outcomes.

Nice To Haves

Experience in General Insurance or an equivalent highly regulated industry (e.g. banking, energy) is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead all aspects of BAU Financial Accounting as well as enforce the related controls; oversee accurate and timely accounting of the results for Hiscox USA under IFRS, including multiple legal entities maintained for tax and regulatory purposes, and for the US insurance carriers under STAT, insuring completeness and compliance with corporate, accounting, and regulatory standards
Ensure timely and accurate preparation of internal and external financial statements; manage all aspects of Reporting including financial, regulatory and compliance (as related)
Oversee Treasury and cash management activities, including cash forecasting, liquidity management, funding requirements, banking operations, excess cash yield management, and foreign exchange exposures, to support business growth and financial resilience.
Change champion who will lead accounting policy and procedure implementation, transactional services (e.g. M&A), financial integration, and accounting process improvements
Assist Chief Financial Officer and partner with other senior leadership team members regarding financial decisions that affect the company’s profitability and regulatory compliance; provide insights and lead initiatives on capital, reinsurance, investment, risk, reserve, and tax
Facilitate Board meetings, including Audit Committee meetings, with periodic financial and capital results and updates
Manage relationships with external auditors, external pointed actuary, government regulators, tax authorities, banks and financial institutions, and key service providers
Scale the function and drive continuous process improvements and transformation in regards to operating model, growth, development and long-term strategic plans
Lead and support high-impact strategic projects, including M&A activity, financial integration, transformation initiatives, and cross-functional programs that strengthen operational effectiveness, enhance scalability, and position Hiscox USA for continued growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary and bonus (based on personal & company performance)
401(k) with competitive company matching
Comprehensive health insurance, vision, dental and FSA plans (medical, limited purpose, and dependent care)
Company paid group term life, short-term disability and long-term disability coverage
24 Paid time off days plus 2 Hiscox days, 10 paid holidays plus 1 paid floating holiday, and ability to purchase 5 PTO days
Paid parental leave
4 week paid sabbatical after every 5 years of service
Financial Adoption Assistance and Medical Travel Reimbursement Programs
Annual reimbursement up to $600 for health club membership or fees associated with any fitness program
Recipient of 2024 Cigna’s Well-Being Award for having a best-in-class health and wellness program
Dynamic, creative and values-driven culture
Modern and open office spaces, complimentary drinks
Spirit of volunteerism, social responsibility and community involvement, including matching charitable donations for qualifying non-profits via our sister non-profit company, the Hiscox USA Foundation