Financial Controller

Monese; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

30 days work abroad per year

25 days annual leave

Gym membership discount

Private healthcare

Sick days

Learning & development budget

Share options

Social events

Job summary

Monese is seeking an exceptional Financial Controller to lead its financial accounting, control and reporting function. Reporting to the CFO, this senior role owns month-end close, statutory accounts, regulatory reporting and audit processes with a relentless focus on delivery.

You will build and develop the financial control team, strengthen policy and controls, drive automation and improve close timelines while maintaining audit readiness and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge across IFRS and UK GAAP.
• Experience leading finance teams in a regulated fintech environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly, quarterly and annual close with high accuracy and timeliness.
• Own statutory accounts, regulatory reporting and audit processes.
• Strengthen financial controls and governance across the function.
• Drive automation and process improvements to speed up close.
• Provide leadership and escalation management for financial reporting risks.

Skills

Financial reporting

Month-end close

IFRS/UK GAAP

Audit coordination

Team leadership

Education

ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Job description

• 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 elevate 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

Benefits

• Hybrid working and 30 days work abroad per year
• 25 days annual leave, plus public holidays, plus an extra day every year worked
• Sports compensation with Stebby or direct discount from a gym
• Bupa personal private healthcare
• 10 paid sick days per year
• Learning & development budget and 10 paid learning days per annum
• VIP Pockit & Monese accounts
• Share options (exact details depending on your role and level)
• Social events throughout the year
• Private medical with Confido

Experience strengthening financial control frameworks and improving the quality and reliability of financial reportingConfidence and credibility when engaging with senior management, external auditors and other key stakeholdersStrong organisational skills, sound judgement and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities without compromising deliveryFully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experienceDemonstrated track record of owning and consistently delivering month-end close, statutory reporting and audit processes to demanding deadlinesDemonstrated ability to leverage AI, automation and emerging technologies to streamline finance processes, accelerate financial close, enhance reporting accuracy and drive operational efficiencyDemonstrable success improving close processes, accelerating reporting timelines and implementing finance automationExperience within fintech, payments, banking, electronic money or another regulated financial services environmentStrong technical accounting expertise, including IFRS, UK GAAP and financial reporting requirements5+ years of proven experience as a Financial Controller, Head of Financial Control, Head of Accounting or equivalent senior finance leaderProven ability to lead and develop high-performing finance teams, setting clear expectations and driving accountabilityAbility to operate effectively in a fast-paced, changing environment with a high degree of ownership and independenceBackground in a Big Four accounting firm combined with subsequent industry experienceExperience leading finance systems transformation and automation initiativesExperience managing accounting and reporting for complex, high-volume financial transactionsExposure to multi-entity reporting, group consolidation or international finance operationsKnowledge of regulatory financial reporting requirements applicable to fintech and payments businessesExperience within an FCA-regulated electronic money or payments institution