Financial Accounting Expert (m/f) - Focus on IFRS 17

at  Allianz

Financial Accounting Expert (m/f) - Focus on IFRS 17
Let’s care for tomorrow. Your ambitions. Your dreams. Your tomorrow Whether it’s aircraft, international business or offshore wind parks, Allianz Commercial has an extensive range of risks covered when it comes to protecting businesses.
We are looking for a Financial Accounting Expert (m/f) to join Allianz Risk Transfer (ART) preferably in Wallisellen near Zurich, or in Schaan (Liechtenstein). Your Team The Accounting Allianz Risk Transfer (ART) team is responsible for the non-insurance related closing tasks under IFRS, HGB and Solvency II, the preparation of the annual report of ART as well as for several regulatory and management reporting.
The Impact You Will Have Be the global expert for the accounting of transactions in the Alternative Risk Transfer Line of Business, which includes Insurance/Reinsurance accounted multi-line/multi-year transactions and transactions accounted in investment form like insurance-related derivatives, Cat bonds, etc.
In this role, your key responsibilities will be the assessment and alignment of the accounting treatment and requirements of new transactions at Underwriting stage and to ensure that the agreed accounting approach is properly implemented in practice. You will continuously oversee the correct reflection of ART transactions from an accounting policy perspective in financial closings across all Allianz Commercial’s balance sheets, and run issue resolution processes with Group Accounting in close alignment with the Head of Accounting Policy at Allianz Commercial to clarify and align on IFRS 9/17 accounting treatments. Being an expert in ART products and the accounting and valuation thereof, you will to support all Finance processes at ART and Allianz Commercial in whichART LoB / ART expertise is required.

Some of your specific responsibilities could include:

• F&A sign-off of new transactions at Underwriting Stage: Assess complexity of new transactions from an Accounting prespective, and analyse which compliant accounting treatment needs to be followed and if investments in resources or systems are needed. Liaise closly with Underwriting and Deal Services to perform this assessment.
• Monitoring of proper implementation of accounting treatment of new ART transactions, review Accounting treatment of legacy transactions: Once transaction is bound, ensure that agreed accounting treatment is properly implemented and followed in practice to ensure compliance with local and IFRS accounting standards. In case of shortcomings, support the accountants with the incident handling and error corrections.
• Align IFRS 9/17 accounting treatment of new products with Head of Accounting Policy at Allianz Commercial and Group Accounting Policy Department. Define the F&A sign-off process coherently from a governance and risk perspective, and review the effectiveness of the F&A sign-off process on a regular basis.
• Coordinate the valuation process of investment-accounted transactions: For transactions accounted under IFRS 9, a Fair Market Value may need to be determined for Balance Sheet valuation purposes. Organise and coordinate the valuation process of these transactions with the valuation providers involved (Underwriting, Risk Management, Actuarial, etc).
• Drive best practice sharing, efficiency increases, global standard setting and harmonization: Align with other colleagues in CFO, cross functional collaboration across the business to enhance overall business understanding, find opportunites to improve and streamline processes.
• Support audits, closings and projects: In order to best leverage from the expertise in ART, participate in projects, support internal and external audits and implement projects at Allianz Risk Transfer and Allianz Commercial as required. Support movement analysis for closing purposes and forecasting for planning purposes.

What You’ll Bring to the Role

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree preferably in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Mathematics or qualified by experience in related discipline.
• 5 years of experience in the financial services industry, ideally P&C insurance or reinsurance.
• Proven understanding of standard accounting (GAAP & IFRS) for insurance and reinsurance.
• Profound knowledge of Reinsurance business/accounting, ideally in the Alternative Risk Transfer area.
• Comprehensive knowledge of local GAAP, IFRS 9/17, and relevant regulatory standards like Solvency II.
• Finance and Insurance know-how (ideally P&C) as well as understanding of complexities inherent in an insurance group (consolidation processes, legal vs. management view) allowing for cross-departmental thinking and acting.
• Advanced understanding insurance financial statements and products, their performance measurement and drivers.
• Several years of experience in project and team work in an international and dynamic environment.
• Advanced Office skills like Excel, Access & Powerpoint and proficiency in using systems in own area (like SAP, Business Warehouse).
• Excellent analytical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience in communication of results to a variety of stakeholders including senior management.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Fluent English skills are required. German skills are a plus.

55220 | Finance & Accounting | Professional | Allianz Commercial | Full-Time | Permanent

Some of your specific responsibilities could include:

• F&A sign-off of new transactions at Underwriting Stage: Assess complexity of new transactions from an Accounting prespective, and analyse which compliant accounting treatment needs to be followed and if investments in resources or systems are needed. Liaise closly with Underwriting and Deal Services to perform this assessment.
• Monitoring of proper implementation of accounting treatment of new ART transactions, review Accounting treatment of legacy transactions: Once transaction is bound, ensure that agreed accounting treatment is properly implemented and followed in practice to ensure compliance with local and IFRS accounting standards. In case of shortcomings, support the accountants with the incident handling and error corrections.
• Align IFRS 9/17 accounting treatment of new products with Head of Accounting Policy at Allianz Commercial and Group Accounting Policy Department. Define the F&A sign-off process coherently from a governance and risk perspective, and review the effectiveness of the F&A sign-off process on a regular basis.
• Coordinate the valuation process of investment-accounted transactions: For transactions accounted under IFRS 9, a Fair Market Value may need to be determined for Balance Sheet valuation purposes. Organise and coordinate the valuation process of these transactions with the valuation providers involved (Underwriting, Risk Management, Actuarial, etc).
• Drive best practice sharing, efficiency increases, global standard setting and harmonization: Align with other colleagues in CFO, cross functional collaboration across the business to enhance overall business understanding, find opportunites to improve and streamline processes.
• Support audits, closings and projects: In order to best leverage from the expertise in ART, participate in projects, support internal and external audits and implement projects at Allianz Risk Transfer and Allianz Commercial as required. Support movement analysis for closing purposes and forecasting for planning purposes

What You’ll Bring to the Role

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree preferably in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Mathematics or qualified by experience in related discipline.
• 5 years of experience in the financial services industry, ideally P&C insurance or reinsurance.
• Proven understanding of standard accounting (GAAP & IFRS) for insurance and reinsurance.
• Profound knowledge of Reinsurance business/accounting, ideally in the Alternative Risk Transfer area.
• Comprehensive knowledge of local GAAP, IFRS 9/17, and relevant regulatory standards like Solvency II.
• Finance and Insurance know-how (ideally P&C) as well as understanding of complexities inherent in an insurance group (consolidation processes, legal vs. management view) allowing for cross-departmental thinking and acting.
• Advanced understanding insurance financial statements and products, their performance measurement and drivers.
• Several years of experience in project and team work in an international and dynamic environment.
• Advanced Office skills like Excel, Access & Powerpoint and proficiency in using systems in own area (like SAP, Business Warehouse).
• Excellent analytical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience in communication of results to a variety of stakeholders including senior management.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Fluent English skills are required. German skills are a plus