Engagements | FinBrick Consulting

On client confidentiality. Client organisations are not named on this site. Every engagement below is described within the terms of the relevant confidentiality agreement. Named references, including contactable client sponsors, are provided directly to prospective clients at proposal stage where those terms permit it.

Insurance Solution architecture

Investment operations target operating model and illiquid asset framework

European insurance and savings group

Context

The group was building out its balance sheet across private credit and other illiquid assets while its investment operations sat across separate post-trade, fund accounting, valuation and reporting arrangements. There was no single target design, and no agreed framework for how illiquid assets would be onboarded, valued and evidenced.

Mandate

Engaged as solution architect and implementation lead to own the end-to-end target operating model and process architecture for investment operations, and to define the operational and reporting framework for private credit and illiquid assets.

Approach

Resolved post-trade operations, fund accounting, valuation and reporting into a single coherent target design. Ran due diligence on outsourcing options and guided selection of the core post-trade and fund accounting platform, defining the data flows and managing relationships with asset managers, custodians and data vendors. Structured the asset data dictionary and target data points, and authored the fair valuation policy and oversight framework for illiquid assets. Chaired the governance forums through solution sign-off and acted as design authority through UAT and go-live.

Outcomes

Single target architecture agreed across post-trade operations, fund accounting, valuation and reporting
Fair valuation and oversight framework in place for illiquid assets, covering independent price verification, model re-assessment and back-testing
Asset data structured to support Solvency II matching adjustment eligibility testing, IFRS reporting and fund look-through
Automated control framework over asset data, reducing operational overhead and compressing reporting timelines

Insurance IFRS accounting advisory

IFRS 17 methodology development

FTSE 100 UK life insurer and a UK savings and investment group

Context

Two separate engagements at large UK insurers preparing for IFRS 17. In both cases the standard had been read but the methodology had not been settled, and the downstream data and systems implications were unquantified.

Mandate

Engaged as technical and methodology lead to develop IFRS 17 methodology, take it through governance, and align the data solution with the regulatory requirements.

Approach

Developed the methodology in conjunction with actuarial and finance teams, took positions through governance boards, and presented findings and recommendations to senior leadership. Managed the project plan and aligned data solutions to the standard, keeping delivery to time and budget.

Outcomes

IFRS 17 methodology agreed and documented through governance in both organisations
Data solution requirements aligned to the methodology rather than retro-fitted
Delivery completed within plan and budget

Asset servicing Data platform

Investment accounting data management platform

Global custodian and asset servicing group

Context

The firm was implementing a comprehensive data management solution for investment accounting, and needed the data architecture defined around client outcomes rather than around the existing internal structures.

Mandate

Engaged as product owner and solution architect for the data management platform.

Approach

Directed the implementation, refining the data architecture for client-centric outcomes and authoring the business and solution documentation required to support operational rollout and client onboarding.

Outcomes

Data architecture defined and implemented around client reporting outcomes
Business and solution documentation produced to support onboarding at scale

Insurance Finance change and integration

Integration of acquired finance operations into the group operating model

UK life and pensions consolidator

Context

The group had acquired finance operations that sat outside its target operating model, with separate systems and reporting arrangements that needed to be brought into the group.

Mandate

Engaged as finance system and process integration lead for the transition.

Approach

Led integration of the acquired operations into the group target operating model, streamlining data reporting and operational workflows, and directed the system migration projects underpinning the transition.

Outcomes

Acquired finance operations integrated into the group target operating model
System migrations delivered without disruption to reporting
Data reporting capability strengthened across the combined operation

Track record

Continuous independent practice since 2016.

Since 2016: Independent practice, trading continuously through successive limited companies
25 years: In insurance finance, audit and investment operations since 2001
5: Contract engagements delivered since 2016, at times running concurrently
Big 4: Almost ten years in audit and assurance with EY, to Senior Manager

References available on request.

Prospective clients are welcome to speak directly with previous engagement sponsors. Contact the practice and we will arrange it.

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