U.S. Controller

Ascot Group • Iselin, NJ

19d • Hybrid

About The Position

This is an opportunity to join Ascot Group - one of the world’s preeminent specialty risk underwriting organizations. Designed as a modern-era company operating through an ecosystem of interconnected global operating platforms, we’re bound by a common mission and purpose: One Ascot. Our greatest strength is a talented team who flourish in a collaborative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial culture, steeped in underwriting excellence, integrity, and a passion to find a better way, The Ascot Way. The Ascot Way guides our people and our organization. Our underwriting platforms collaborate to find creative ways to deploy our capital in a true cross-product and cross-platform approach. These platforms work as one, deploying our capital creatively through our unique Fusion Model: Client Centric, Risk Centric, Technology Centric. Built to be resilient, Ascot maximizes client financial security while delivering bespoke products and world class service — both pre- and post-claims. Ascot exists to solve our clients’ brightest tomorrow, through agility, collaboration, resilience, and discipline. Position Overview: Reporting to the U.S. Chief Financial Officer, the U.S. Controller is a senior finance leader responsible for overseeing U.S. controllership, financial reporting, and the end-to-end accounting and close function. This is a highly visible role that partners closely with the CFO and senior leadership to ensure accurate reporting, a strong control environment, and scalable finance operations to support Ascot’s growth.

Requirements

• CPA with 10+ years of progressive accounting and controllership experience, ideally within insurance (carrier, reinsurer, MGA, or specialty insurance platform) or a similarly regulated financial services environment.
• Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, with a solid working knowledge of Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP) and insurance regulatory reporting requirements.
• Proven ownership of the financial close and reporting lifecycle across multiple legal entities, including consolidation and complex intercompany activity.
• Strong experience with internal controls, SOX compliance, and audit management, including coordination with external auditors and preparation of financial statements and related disclosures.
• Demonstrated success leading, developing, and scaling high-performing accounting teams in evolving environments.
• Hands-on experience with finance transformation initiatives, including close acceleration, automation, system implementations or enhancements, and controls modernization.
• Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and executional levels, with exceptional attention to detail and a strong sense of accountability.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to clearly present financial results, issues, and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Comfort managing competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, with the ability to adapt as priorities evolve.
• Sound judgment and a proactive, ownership-driven approach to problem solving and decision-making.
• Collaborative, high-integrity leader and teammate, known for transparency, professionalism, and partnership.
• Ability to work in-office at least 3 days a week.

Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Close Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including journal entries, account reconciliations, balance sheet substantiation, and management reporting.
• Oversee U.S. consolidations and ensure timely, accurate financial reporting in accordance with U.S. GAAP and applicable statutory requirements.
• Ensure accurate preparation of statutory financial statements in accordance with Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP), footnote disclosures, and supporting schedules for internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee preparation and review of key accounting judgments, estimates, and technical position memos.
• Manage regulatory filings, including annual and quarterly statutory statements, schedules, and regulator-facing disclosures.
• Accounting Operations & Internal Controls Lead and strengthen accounting operations across premium, claims, reinsurance, commissions, intercompany, and financial reporting.
• Maintain and enhance a strong internal control environment aligned with SOX / internal governance expectations including documentation, testing coordination and audit readiness.
• Own control design and operational effectiveness across manual and system-driven processes, partnering with Internal Audit and Risk as appropriate.
• Drive standardization, documentation, and continuous improvement of accounting policies and procedures.
• Audit, Regulatory & External Engagement Serve as primary point of contact for external auditors and regulators on accounting and financial reporting matters.
• Lead audit planning, execution, and resolution of audit findings across U.S. entities.
• Coordinate management representation letters, audit committee materials, and regulator inquiries.
• Transformation & Systems Play a leadership role in finance system and operational transformations.
• Partner with IT and project teams to ensure accounting requirements, data integrity, and control considerations are embedded in system designs.
• Drive process improvements, automation, and system enhancements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Organizational Leadership & Collaboration Lead the high-performing U.S. accounting and controllership function across multiple legal entities and locations in a high-growth environment.
• Provide leadership and development for the U.S. accounting team; establish clear expectations, coaching, and career paths.
• Support strategic initiatives such as operational scaling, new product launches, and potential transactions.
• Act as a trusted business partner to the CFO and senior leadership by providing analysis and insights to support decision-making.
• Commitment to The Ascot Way : Embody The Ascot Way in their daily interaction with colleagues, fostering colleague engagement and development, collaboration, inclusivity, and individual accountability.

Benefits

• Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical (including prescription coverage), Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Commuter Account, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, AD&D, Work/Life Resources (including Employee Assistance Program), and more
• Leave Benefits: Paid holidays, annual Paid Time Off (includes paid state /local paid leave where required), Paid Sick/Safe leave, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Other leaves (e.g., Bereavement, FMLA, Adoption, Maternity, Military, Primary & Non-Primary Caregiver)
• Retirement Benefits: Contributory Savings Plan (401k)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed