Finance Manager, Life Financial Control

• You'll be part of a tight-knit, collaborative team that is passionate about supporting each other and continuously improving processes.  

• Challenger Life operates within a complex financial environment, offering exposure to non-standard transactions and diverse financial challenges—ideal for finance professionals who thrive in dynamic settings. 

• We work flexibly from our Sydney CBD Office where you can expect to work 3 days in the office and 2 days from home.   

About the role  

As Finance Manager, you will be instrumental in delivering statutory financial reporting for Challenger Life while enhancing financial controls and driving process efficiencies. You will also play a key role in managing the general ledger for assigned entities and ensuring compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements. 

You’ll have two direct reports who you will coach, mentor, and develop and foster a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that key technology systems are used optimally. 

Some of your core responsibilities will include (but aren’t limited to) 

• Own the Month-End Process: Oversee journals, tax and distribution calculations, capital gains, depreciation schedules, GL reconciliations, and valuations to ensure timely and accurate reporting. 

• Manage the General Ledger: Ensure financial integrity by maintaining accurate and compliant ledger data. 

• Drive Valuation Oversight: Align Life’s valuation processes with valuation committee approvals and provide critical insights. 

• Lead Audit & Compliance Activities: Manage half-year and year-end reporting, prepare audit files, and liaise with auditors. 

• Ensure Regulatory & Tax Compliance: Oversee APRA, BAS, and tax return submissions, ensuring full compliance. 

• Streamline Reconciliation & Consolidation: Prepare consolidation entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and resolve discrepancies. 

• Provide Financial Insights: Deliver monthly/quarterly commentary on financial statement items and advise on accounting implications for new products. 

• Enhance Processes & Risk Management: Identify efficiencies, strengthen internal controls, and drive process improvements. 

• Lead & Develop the Team: Manage and mentor a team of two, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. 

• Engage with Stakeholders: Work closely with different key stakeholders including front office to ensure asset movements align with the general ledger. 

About the team 

The Life Financial Control Team consists of 12 finance professionals dedicated to delivering statutory results. The broader finance function includes Group Financial Control, Business Performance, Tax, Risk, and Actuarial teams, all of whom work in a highly interactive and collaborative manner. 

Challenger Life’s business model offers exposure to complex financial structures, making this an exciting and challenging environment for finance professionals seeking variety and growth. 

The skills and experience you’ll need. 

To succeed in this role, you’ll be a highly organised, dynamic, and customer-centric finance professional with strong technical accounting knowledge and post-qualification experience in a senior accounting capacity.  You’ll have experience working in a financial services environment, particularly within a complex financial environment. 

You’ll need good experience in accounting consolidation and statutory reporting and ideally, you’ll be already operating at a Finance Manager level, with direct people management experience.  

You’ll also have: 

• CA or equivalent accounting qualification with post-qualification experience. 

• Strong knowledge of APRA, ASIC, Tax & GST regulatory requirements. 

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. 

• Advanced excel skills, ability to analyse large volumes of data.   

• Experience with using general ledger systems 

• A proactive approach to risk management, with experience in identifying and mitigating financial risks. 

• Experience in leading, coaching, and mentoring a team. 

• Ability to manage and review outsourced providers, ensuring accuracy and compliance. 

Highly Desirable 

• Experience with financial instruments such as derivatives, fixed income, and equities. 

• Strong interest and understanding in the funds management industry. 

• Familiarity with data and AI-driven financial processes.