Equity Modelling Director

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Role Overview

The Equity Modelling Director will be responsible for the development, ownership, and management of financial models for complex share schemes within the organisation. This role plays a key part in ensuring accurate valuation of equity-based compensation schemes and providing critical financial insights to support strategic financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes.

The role requires close collaboration with senior leaders in HR, Finance, and Deals to ensure that all scheme details are accurately captured, clearly documented, and reflected appropriately in the models. Additionally, the role demands a strong eye for detail to ensure that no critical element is overlooked in the financial models.

Key Responsibilities

Development and Ownership of Financial Models

• Lead the creation, enhancement, and ongoing maintenance of complex financial models for equity share schemes.
• Ensure models are robust, accurate, and capable of accommodating multiple scenarios to support valuation and forecasting needs.
• Maintain a keen eye for detail to ensure financial models comprehensively capture the specifics of each individual scheme.
• Continuously improve models to reflect changes in business requirements, accounting standards, and external regulations.

Valuation and Financial Planning

• Provide accurate valuations of equity schemes to support financial reporting, ensuring compliance with IFRS 2 or other applicable accounting standards.
• Deliver key inputs to financial plans, including forecasts, budgets, and long-term financial projections.
• Offer scenario analysis and insights to aid decision-making and financial strategy development.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with senior leaders in HR, Finance, and Deals to ensure all scheme details are clearly documented and accurately captured in the models.
• Act as a trusted business partner to finance and HR teams, working closely with senior stakeholders to provide insights and recommendations.
• Communicate financial modelling outputs clearly, including key assumptions, risks, and potential scenarios, to senior leadership.
• Support external audit and valuation processes, ensuring timely and accurate provision of required information.

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure financial models comply with internal governance frameworks and SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of models, including methodology, assumptions, and control processes.
• Keep abreast of changes in accounting regulations, tax laws, and industry best practices to ensure continued compliance.

Required Skills and Experience

• Financial Modelling Expertise: Demonstrated ability to develop and manage complex financial models with a strong focus on accuracy and attention to detail.
• Detail Orientation: A sharp eye for detail to ensure that financial models capture all aspects of individual equity schemes.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical capability to translate complex requirements into well-structured models and evaluate a range of scenarios.
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Equity Modelling and Controls: In-depth understanding of equity compensation modelling, including experience in a SOX-compliant environment.
• Professional Qualification: Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with a minimum of 10 years’ relevant post-qualification experience.
• Team Collaboration: Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, particularly finance, HR, and Deals, fostering strong working relationships.
• Team Player: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a large, complex organisation.
• Familiarity with a range of equity compensation schemes, including share options, and long-term incentive plans.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial modelling tools.
• Experience with financial systems and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.