Corporate Finance Associate

Why AXA? Every day, we work together for human progress by protecting what matters. A mission that puts a smile on your face and makes you want to get up in the morning

One of the world's leading insurers in the protection of property, people and assets, AXA is 145,000 employees and contributors who are committed to our customers on a daily basis, 51 countries in which we distribute our products and services and more than 90 million customers who place their trust in us worldwide.  As a responsible corporate citizen, AXA is committed to social and environmental causes on a daily basis. We are committed to an inclusive policy that recognizes and values individual differences. Do these ambitions speak to you? Then come and change the world with us

The headquarters of the AXA Group (GIE AXA) brings together our corporate activities. It provides guidance and support to subsidiaries around the world, to ensure the coordination and monitoring of the Group's global strategy, the application of its standards, the consistency of commercial approaches and the sharing of best practices. The headquarters gathers approximately 1000 employees and is distinguished by its strong international culture (45 nationalities), which makes it a rich and stimulating place to work.

Within the Group, you will join the Group Corporate Finance department within DCFG (Direction Centrale des Finances du Groupe).

The Group Corporate Finance team, organized in geographic areas, covers two main areas of activities:

• Coordinating and executing AXA Group's Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) projects including review of acquisitions, disposals, greenfield projects, long-term distribution agreements, internal restructurings, etc. M&A transactions stakeholders are very broad, incl. AXA local and Group teams (financial planning, legal, tax, operations, IT, etc.), and external advisors (financial, actuarial, tax, legal, etc.).
• Coordinating the Capital Management activities. Capital Management activities contribute to optimize the level of capital and remittance of operating entities of AXA Group, including through reinsurance and in-force transactions, organizing the capital allocation meetings (bi-yearly) and discuss the performance and strategy of the entities in terms of capital management throughout the year.

Attached to an Area Manager, you will actively contribute to and gradually take the responsibility over the execution of M&A transactions and the monitoring of capital management activities, in liaison with the Group legal, financial and operational teams, as well as at times external consultants.

Dimension

• An M&A transaction contributes to accelerating the transformation strategy of the Group.
• M&A transaction stakeholders are very broad, incl. AXA internal teams (financial planning, legal, tax, operations, IT, etc.), and external consultants (financial, actuarial, tax, legal advisors, etc.). Project teams often surpass 25 individuals across various functions and in different countries.
• Capital management activities contribute to optimize the level of capital and remittance of a number of operating entities of AXA Group, including through reinsurance and in-force transactions, organizing the capital allocation meetings and discuss the performance and strategy of the entities in terms of capital management throughout the year.
• Each Corporate Finance project is specific to the scenario at hand (i.e., acquisition, disposal, reinsurance, etc.) and has its own cultural and people dimension.
• Communication of recommendations to DCFG and AXA's top management, and day-to-day interactions with the entities, including their top management.

Context and Major Challenges 

This position, often exposed to complex situations and tight deadlines, has the following key challenges:

• Ability to quickly identify issues as they arise and solve them in an optimized manner
• Ability to demonstrate leadership skills and build trust with both internal & external teams with their own sometimes competing priorities, to achieve the common objective
• Ability to deliver complex tasks under high time pressure and to make initiatives
• Ability to handle high exposure on sensitive topics
• Ability to grasp the technical and structuring requirements of a transaction, including financial, valuation, and operational aspects
• Ability to step back on business plans in a critical manner
• Ability to understand AXA's markets and competitor dynamics
• Ability to communicate effectively and influence

Key Accountabilities

1. Financial & Strategic Analysis
   • Analyze AXA operating entities and potential targets and their economic and competitive environment
   • Preparation and review of business plans, financial analysis and valuation
   • Evaluation of tactical considerations on transaction structure, and impacts for AXA Group
   • Feasibility studies, analyses and implementation of structures to improve use of capital and balance sheet optimization
2. Project Management
   • Organize the capital allocation meetings on a biannual basis
   • Co-ordinate efforts of various internal stakeholders and external consultants on a given M&A or inforce project
   • Participate in the drafting / negotiation of contractual documents
3. Communication
   • Explain the conclusions of the analysis to facilitate the decision-making process
   • Draft summary documents adapted to top management
   • Explain objectives and constraints in order to achieve the desired outcome

Technical skills:

• Good quantitative and analytical skills
• Knowledge of corporate finance
• Knowledge of insurance as well as major concepts within actuarial science
• Knowledge in accounting, taxation, law and regulation
• Project management skills including the capability to handle several projects at once
• Synthetic spirit and good communication and presentation skills
• Around 4/ 5 years of experience

Various skills:

• Strong motivation, ability to work long hours
• Strong team spirit
• Ability to interact optimally with stakeholders of different seniority levels

 You will join:

• A responsible company, towards people, including its employees and customers, and towards the planet 
• A company with strong values
• A company promoting internal mobility and the training of its employees
• A company offering many benefits (learn more here: Reward & Benefits | AXA Group)
• A flexible company, allowing hybrid work, in the office and from home.

In line with our commitments, we celebrate each new hire by taking action for global reforestation: we plant a tree for every recruitment. So, are you ready to apply?