Cost Controller / Senior Expenses Cost Analyst

Short Summary

Join the transformation journey to contribute to a value-adding Group operational cost control function, supporting the business in their transformation to be the “reinsurer of tomorrow” and for the effective and efficient use of resources.

The company is a global leader in insurance, providing solutions to insurers and businesses..

Job Summary

Operational Cost Controlling is a new function created early 2024 within Operations Comex function. It takes over the functional controlling previously directly performed in the Comex functions to increase the value, efficiency and maturity. This function is positioned within Operations in Transformation department as it requires to well balance finance & managerial views and should strongly support the company transformation financial and non-financial benefits.

Reporting to the Head of Operational Cost Analytics Office, within the Transformation Management Office (TMO), within the Operations / Transformation department, you will ensure the efficient and effective use of resources and propose continuous improvement to the business units in alignment with transformation goals and Group strategy thanks to analytics on management expenses.

Your main areas of responsibility will be:

1. Manage the cost base of your function (payroll, external purchases, …)

2. Ensure the run of operational cost control (incl. reporting), along the yearly lifecycle, for your function

3. Act as a Business Partner, with a deep expertise on costs, for your function

4. Contribute to cost optimization and efficiency gains for your function

5. Contribute to cost control process and tooling improvements (continuously or through projects)

6. Take ownership of one discipline for the operational cost control team

Key duties and responsibilities

1. Manage the cost base of your function (payroll, external purchases, …)

• Get in-depth knowledge on content of the cost basis and derive analyses and recommendations

• Provide projections and trends to Comex functions, proactively supporting them in the achievement of their financial constraints / targets

• Ensure proper monitoring and respect of the budget (incl. variance analyses)

• Identify and analyse areas of risks (esp. operational & compliance risks)

• Follow-up management expense evolution, with key drivers and impacts

• Develop quarterly report for senior leadership (Comex and Comex -1 levels)

2. Ensure the run of operational cost control (incl. reporting), along the yearly lifecycle, for your function

• Deliver the budget for your Comex function and ensure proper, in close collaboration with Finance teams (GCCB, FP&A)

• In close collaboration with Group HR, participate in the internal workforce budgeting and monitoring, establishing HC trajectory, payroll projection drivers and principles

• Measure the costs of business initiatives and strategic projects (growth initiatives, innovation initiatives and improvement of quality of service)

• Deliver relevant projections and forecasts during the year (potentially towards rolling forecast)

• Ensure compliance with reporting requirements

3. Act as a Business Partner, with a deep expertise on costs, for your function

• Be recognized as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for costs in your perimeter, and answer requests from managers

• Generate operational value, going beyond the figures and usual cost control habits

• Support decision-making process and alignment within your Comex function

• Support the Comex-functions in their transformation and strategy

• Define and follow relevant KPIs (financial and non-financial) aligned with strategic plans

4. Contribute to cost optimization and efficiency gains for your function

• Advise Comex-functions in terms of most efficient budget strategy

• Proactively identify areas for optimization

• Ensure dynamic cost monitoring with all stakeholders, alert them about any dysfunction observed and ensure implementation of corrective actions

• Track Transformation financial goals and support business cases creation and analysis

5. Contribute to cost control process and tooling improvements (continuously or through projects)

• Be actively part of operational cost control team, which has among others the objective of increasing processes maturity through industrialization, standardization and cross-fertilization

• Dedicate some time to continuous improvements as part of the run of cost control

• Contribute to projects within cost control area or more widely with Finance teams

6. Take ownership of one discipline for the operational cost control team

• Main horizontal disciplines are likely to be split as follows:

o L&H cost controller for internal invoicing

o P&C cost controller for Travel & Expenses

o Finance cost controller for master data mgt., processes & tooling improvements

o COO/CRO/CSO cost controller for payroll controlling and transverse costs

o IT cost controller for external purchases and projects

• Objective is to be the Subject Matter Expert (SME) within the operational cost control team, for one of this topic to build expertise and bring more transversality within the team

Required experience & competencies

Experience:

• Approx. 10 years of work experience, ideally with a combined experience in a big four audit firm and within a finance department

• Strong finance / accounting experience, within the financial services industry

• Ideally, prior management or contribution to large Finance projects with senior exposure

• Ideally good knowledge of IFRS 17, Solvency 2 (but not mandatory)

Hard skills:

• Fluent in English

• Excellent mastery of Excel and ideally of Power BI

• Good knowledge in other Microsoft tools (e.g., PowerPoint)

• Knowledge of SAP would be appreciated

Soft skills:

• Attention to details, rigorous and organized

• Results (lower costs) and Customers oriented

• Willing to take initiatives and persistent/tenacious

• Skilled at building relationships with co-workers while challenging requests

• Team player, collaborative spirit

Required Education

Masters’ degree, business school or equivalent