Financial Controller, Monese

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience
• 5+ years of proven experience as a Financial Controller, Head of Financial Control, Head of Accounting or equivalent senior finance leader
• Demonstrated track record of owning and consistently delivering month-end close, statutory reporting and audit processes to demanding deadlines
• Strong technical accounting expertise, including IFRS, UK GAAP and financial reporting requirements
• Experience within fintech, payments, banking, electronic money or another regulated financial services environment
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing finance teams, setting clear expectations and driving accountability
• Experience strengthening financial control frameworks and improving the quality and reliability of financial reporting
• Demonstrable success improving close processes, accelerating reporting timelines and implementing finance automation
• Strong organisational skills, sound judgement and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities without compromising delivery
• Confidence and credibility when engaging with senior management, external auditors and other key stakeholders
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, changing environment with a high degree of ownership and independence
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI, automation and emerging technologies to streamline finance processes, accelerate financial close, enhance reporting accuracy and drive operational efficiency

Desirable

• We're looking for an exceptional Financial Controller to lead Monese's financial accounting, control and reporting function
• Reporting directly to the CFO, you'll have end-to-end accountability for the integrity of our financial reporting, the effectiveness of our financial controls and the consistent delivery of critical finance deadlines
• This is a senior leadership role requiring strong technical expertise, exceptional execution and a relentless focus on delivery. You'll be responsible for ensuring that month-end close, statutory accounts, regulatory financial reporting and audit processes are completed accurately, efficiently and on time
• You'll lead and develop the financial control team, establish clear standards of accountability and continuously improve how the function operates
• We're looking for someone who combines the technical rigour of a seasoned financial controller with the pace, ownership and problem-solving mindset of a high-growth fintech
• You won't simply oversee the numbers. You'll take full ownership of delivering them
• Financial close and reporting excellence
• Take full accountability for the timely, accurate and efficient delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual financial close and reporting
• Establish and consistently deliver against a disciplined month-end close timetable, with clear ownership, deadlines and escalation procedures across the finance team
• Drive continuous improvement in close timelines, reporting quality and financial processes, with a clear ambition to achieve a best-in-class financial close
• Ensure the integrity, completeness and reliability of the financial statements, general ledger and balance sheet
• Deliver high-quality financial reporting to the CFO and other key stakeholders, with clear explanations of material movements, accounting judgements and financial risks
• Anticipate and proactively resolve issues that could impact reporting accuracy or deadlines, ensuring there are no avoidable surprises
• Build a culture where financial reporting commitments are consistently met and delivery against deadlines is non-negotiable
• Financial governance and control
• Own and continuously strengthen the Groups financial control framework, ensuring it is robust, proportionate and appropriate for a regulated fintech
• Maintain clear accountability for balance sheet integrity, accounting policies and key financial controls
• Identify, assess and address financial reporting risks, ensuring control weaknesses are remediated promptly and effectively
• Provide leadership and technical oversight on complex accounting matters, ensuring compliance with applicable accounting standards
• Establish a strong control culture across the finance function, balancing regulatory discipline with operational efficiency
• Ensure financial control processes remain effective as the business, its systems and transaction volumes evolve
• Statutory, regulatory and audit delivery
• Take full ownership of the timely and accurate delivery of statutory financial statements and finance-owned regulatory financial reporting
• Lead the annual external audit from planning through to completion, ensuring an efficient, well-managed process and delivery against agreed deadlines
• Maintain a high standard of audit readiness throughout the year, rather than relying on intensive year-end remediation
• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards, statutory reporting obligations and applicable financial regulatory requirements
• Oversee the effective management of tax compliance and external advisers
• Act as the senior point of accountability for financial accounting, audit and reporting matters
• Finance transformation and operational excellence
• Lead the development of a high-performing, efficient and scalable financial control function
• Drive automation, systems improvements and process simplification to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy and accelerate reporting
• Identify structural inefficiencies and implement sustainable solutions rather than temporary fixes
• Establish clear performance measures across the function, including close timelines, reporting accuracy, control effectiveness and delivery against deadlines
• Leverage technology, data and automation to improve the reliability and efficiency of financial accounting and reporting
• Ensure the finance function has the processes, systems and capabilities to support the changing needs of the business
• Leadership, accountability and execution
• Lead, develop and hold the financial control team accountable for consistently high standards of performance and delivery
• Establish a results-driven culture with clear responsibilities, measurable objectives and disciplined execution
• Set realistic but ambitious deadlines and ensure the team delivers against them
• Take ownership of challenges, remove obstacles and escalate material issues early, with clear recommendations and solutions
• Build a strong, capable team with the technical expertise, judgement and resilience to operate effectively under pressure
• Act as a trusted adviser to the CFO on financial accounting, reporting, control and governance matters
• Demonstrate strong personal accountability, sound judgement and the ability to operate independently with minimal supervision
• You'll be measured on your ability to consistently deliver a reliable, efficient and well-controlled finance function
• Key measures of success will include:
• Month-end close: Consistent delivery of accurate monthly financial results within an agreed, progressively improving close timetable
• Deadline discipline: All critical finance deliverables completed on time, with proactive management of risks, dependencies and escalations
• Financial integrity: A reliable balance sheet, robust financial controls and high-quality financial reporting
• Audit and regulatory delivery: Timely completion of statutory accounts, external audits and finance-owned regulatory reporting, with no material avoidable findings
• Operational efficiency: Measurable improvements in close timelines, automation, process effectiveness and reporting quality
• Team performance: A capable, accountable and high-performing financial control team that consistently delivers