Chief Accounting Officer

Chief Accounting Officer

Build a brilliant future with Hiscox

Location: Atlanta, Boston, West Hartford

Hiscox USA underwrites small commercial risks through brokers, distribution partners and directly to customers. In 2025, gross written premiums are expected to be about a $1B and lines of business include: Allied Healthcare, Architects & Engineers, Miscellaneous Errors & Omissions, Media, Technology, Cyber, Business Owner's Policy, Entertainment, General Liability, Directors & Officers, Crime and Terrorism. Slightly over 50% of the portfolio is comprised of small commercial business sold digitally either online or through partners, and the remainder represents traditionally traded business intermediated through brokers.

The Hiscox Group employs over 3,000 people in 13 countries and has customers worldwide. Through our retail businesses in the USA, UK and Europe, we offer a range of specialist insurance products in commercial and personal lines. Internationally traded, bigger-ticket business and reinsurance are underwritten through Hiscox London Market and Hiscox Re.

The Hiscox businesses are rated 'A' by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's and 'A+' by Fitch

The Role:

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).

Key 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.

Candidate Profile:

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.

Additional Requirements:

• 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.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following:

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.

**Please Note: This position is hybrid and requires working in our Atlanta, Boston, or West Hartford office two (2) days per week**

Hiscox Values:

• Courage: Dare to take a risk
• Ownership: Passionate, commercial and accountable
• Integrity: Do the right thing, however hard
• Connected: Together, build something better
• Human: Clear, fair and inclusive

What We Offer:

• 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
• Company paid subscription to Headspace to