Vice President of Finance and Accounting - Jobs in Toronto, ON

Job Description

Zensurance is a fast-growing start-up turned “scale-up”, InsurTech company that is disrupting the property and casualty insurance market.At Zensurance, we want to empower small businesses across Canada to thrive by offering an honest, simplified, and modern approach to insurance. We are boldly going where no insurance broker has gone before!The Vice President of Finance and Accounting will not only be an exceptional finance professional and hands-on with company finances but will also be commercially aware, advising on the best path of growth for the business, particularly one that is so nascent in its existence. The has overall control and responsibility for all financial aspects of the company and is expected to analyze figures and implement recommendations based on these findings, with the most commercially successful outcomes. Building, managing and leading a team through highly pressurized periods including month end, year end and annual budgeting, the Head of Finance and Accounting will have excellent communication skills with all levels of staff, including working with various other departments to help them plan and manage their own budgets. In an organization that is experiencing change and growth the role is critical in coordinating the approach to corporate finance, debt, taxation, equity and acquisitions as appropriate.Responsibilities include:Strategy

• Contribute fully to the development of company strategy across all areas of the business, challenge assumptions and decision-making as appropriate and provide financial analysis and guidance on all activities, plans, targets and business drivers.
• Play an instrumental role in ensuring that the business moves at speed, using the Lean Startup methodology as a framework for success.
• Maintain and enhance the company metrics dashboard, ensuring that the measures of success are truly aligned with what matters at each stage of business evolution.
• Proactively identify business trends and recommend ways to drive improvements or mitigate risks.
• As appropriate, act as an internal financial and strategic consultant for the Zensurance Senior Leadership Team

Deal Making

• Provide direction to ensure that financially viable and successful negotiations are struck with third party commercial partners.
• Partner with the CEO in company policies regarding capital requirements, debt, taxation, equity, disposals and acquisitions, as appropriate.
• Build financial models to evaluate new opportunities, and provide recommendations on how to approach different opportunities.

Insurance and Risk Management

• Working in collaboration with our partners, support the construction and maintenance of loss triangles for all our insurance agreements
• Manage the financial aspects of insurance agreements, including profit share calculation and other commercials
• Support evaluation of alternative risk structures, including captives, reciprocals or fronting/reinsurance

Company Performance

• Control the budgeting and forecasting processes to monitor, assess and report to the various stakeholders progress against financial and appropriate non-financial (innovation accounting) targets established in planning cycles.
• Ensure corporate planning processes are carried out and reviewed in line with expected timetables.Lead communication of financial performance on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis (and other as appropriate) to various stakeholders, providing course correction where required to take advantage of opportunities or mitigate risks.
• Lead the development and evolution of key analytical and forecasting tools that will drive superior decision making in the organization as it moves firstly to revenue generation and then further to profitability.

Finance and Accounting Processes

• Ensure that company financial systems and processes are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth.
• Leverage resources and processes from our partners as appropriate.
• Take ultimate responsibility for the company cash management policies and cashflows.
• Ensure that the regulatory requirements of all statutory bodies are met.
• Take responsibility for leading the engagement with external auditors and other third party professional services providers.
• Contribute to the wider decision making process, including the ability to represent and champion the interests of Finance and Accounting alongside the commercial interests of the Group.

Team Leadership

• Grow the high-caliber finance function with an appropriate system of internal financial controls capable of driving decisions and budget clarity throughout the organization while ensuring consistent application and compliance with the relevant legal and accounting standards.
• Balance the need for local resourcing with the talent available to support from our partners

Education

• The candidate will be required to have achieved high levels of academic success and is highly likely to be a CPA or MBA.

Experience

• A minimum of 10-15 years finance management experience in progressively responsible roles within an established organization, but also having encountered the fast paced nature of a start-up environment.
• Successful experience of building out, leading, inspiring and directing Finance teams.
• Experience partnering with auditors, lawyers and other professional advisors to positive outcomes.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, aligned to a clear communication approach.
• Previous experience of running a full P&L will be an advantage.Previous experience in P&C insurance will be an advantage

Perks we offer at Zensurance:

• Opportunity to work for Canada’s fastest-growing #insurtech startup
• Flexible work environment/work from home arrangements available to everyone, including the equipment
• One-time home office allowance to help with work-from-home costs
• Comprehensive, flexible health, including mental health and dental plans to suit all lifestyles
• Health/Personal Spending Accounts to subsidize your healthy habits and purchases
• Parental Leave Top Up
• Work internationally for up to 60 days per occurrence
• Weekly Friday companywide huddles for casual catch-ups with other departments
• Build next-level relationships with your peers through scheduled companywide virtual team-building events
• Be a part of something special. We are confident you won’t find any other insurance company like us :)

Who we are. What were building.Business is hard work, insurance doesn’t have to be!At Zensurance we believe that teamwork makes the dream work.We are passionate about providing business owners with the best insurance solutions at great rates through an online and easy-to-use platform.Our secret sauce is all about our culture. Here at Zensurance our culture is built on four core values that we live and breathe every day, they are:INTEGRITY: We do whats right.INCLUDE: We are an open and safe space for all.INVENT: We take an innovative approach to creating straightforward solutions for our customers.DELIVER: We set ambitious goals and hold ourselves accountable for achieving them.If reading all that piqued your interest, drop us a line and let us know why you would be a great fit for us. Whether it be through a resume - or something else you think is better - send us what you believe will impress us. Show us your creative process - how you think and solve problems!True to its Canadian values, Zensurance celebrates diversity in its workforce structure and encourages applications from all backgrounds.Zensurance is an inclusive employer that celebrates diversity in its workforce structure. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective provincial human rights codes throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please advise the recruiter, if you require accommodation; to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated throughout this process. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.Quick Apply

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