Senior Accountant

Challenger Limited is an ASX-listed investment management firm managing $127 billion in assets (as at 30 June 2024). Life with us is fast moving and always exciting. Together we're driving to deliver our vision to provide our customers with financial security for a better retirement.

We achieve this goal by providing a work environment where people from diverse backgrounds, with a range of skills and experiences can contribute and succeed.

Role Title: Senior Accountant

Reports to: Group Financial Controller

Location Sydney

About the opportunity

The Senior Financial Accountant provides hands on financial control and accounting support to the Group Financial Control team and owns the accounting process for Challenger Mortgage Management. They are an important part of Group Financial Control's service delivery to its internal customers across the Challenger operating segments.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control

• Maintaining the financial control processes the Group's mortgage trusts.
• Act as support cover for the Challenger Group Services Accountant
• Liaising with external trust accounting providers and managing their deliverables, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery.
• Monthly reporting of results and analytical review.
• Preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations.
• Tax effect accounting and tax return completion.
• Responsible for the accurate accounting and reporting of the mortgage trusts and related investment sub consolidation containing the NIM portfolio and the INCA portfolio, along with BNK, Arise and Orde books. Review and ensure distribution payments are made when they fall due and check accuracy of calculation before payment authorisation.

Consolidation / Cash Flow reporting

• Preparation of consolidation journals
• Review of sub consolidations from other business units performing key checks around retained earnings, equity, intersegment transactions and account mappings.
• Cashflow reporting

External Reporting / Statutory Reporting

• Assist with preparation of the ASX listed annual report for Challenger Limited and explanatory notes.
• Preparation of audit files and dealing with auditors with regards to audit queries.
• Preparation of statutory financial statement for those corporate entities and the securitised mortgage trusts.
• Heavy involvement in the Challenger Group annual reporting process for inclusion in Group ASX external reporting (Annual / Interim reports) and monthly management reporting. This includes but is not limited to SPV note preparation, contributing to the FRM and Derivatives notes.
• APRA and ABS reporting as required.

Other

• General support for the Group Finance function including participating in project work, Board reporting, accounting advice for deals and transactions and implementing new accounting standards.
• Cross over with Challenger Group Services, which is the main operating entity and acts as the service company for the consolidated group and boutiques.
• Preparation of waterfall calculations and other associated processes for the mortgage trusts
• Continually drive process improvements across both the Group and mortgage areas.
• Participate in ad hoc projects including strategic transactions, new system implementation, new accounting standards implementation.
• Participate in mortgage investment transactions by the Life Company
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Business Environment

The Team

Group Financial Control is a team of six (6) working towards the common goal of delivering the statutory reporting and financial results for the Challenger Group, along with accounting support for strategic transactions, and monthly consolidated results.

Members of the team share common tasks as well as owning unique tasks depending on the individual's role and experience. The wider finance team includes Group Financial Control, Business Performance, Tax, Treasury, Actuarial, Risk & Compliance, with teams operating in a highly interactive and collaborative manner.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Working understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• Identifying, assessing, and evaluating key financial controls in a finance function
• Intermediate MS Excel experience (i.e. pivot tables, SUMIF, VLOOKUP) with an ability to analyse large amounts of data.
• Financial Services Industry experience
• Experience in accounting for mortgages and other financial instruments.
• A working knowledge of the corporate regulatory environment, governance principles, corporate accountability and conduct frameworks and the process for managing risk in a large and complex business.
• Post graduate accounting qualification (CA/CPA etc.) with two years post qualification experience.
• Workiva experience (preferred)
• Financial Controls environment experience
• Mortgage accounting experience.

Core Competencies

Planning and time management

Quality and Attention to Detail

Problem Solving and Analysis

Strong Communication - verbal and written.

Building relationships and networks

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with various stakeholders including:

Growth mindset

Risk Management

We value inclusion and diversity of thought, promote flexible working practices so our people can integrate their work and personal lives, and are proud to be a Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.

We believe in bringing your authentic self and a belonging in our culture. We are prideful in participating in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) as a national benchmark on LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and best practice in Australia. We offer the opportunity for a broad career experience and value people who are inquisitive and rigorous and are driven to make a difference.

Job type:
Permanent

Posting Close Date :
09/11/2024