Finance Director

Close Brothers; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Close Brothers DAC, a retail credit firm regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, is seeking a Finance Director to lead the finance function, partner with the CEO and Board, and provide commercial insight at the highest level.

You will develop and inspire a high-performing finance team, oversee budgeting, governance, statutory reporting, ICAAP deliveries, and maintain strong controls while shaping long-term strategy and funding strategy.

Qualifications

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent with strong technical appreciation of financial reporting, controls and governance.
• Experience operating at Board/Executive Committee level within financial services, building credibility with senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen with ability to balance strategic thinking and operational delivery, with deep financial control knowledge.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management, able to explain complex financials clearly to varied audiences.
• Desirable: PCF-11 or equivalent regulated finance leadership role; experience in automotive/asset finance or lending; experience in listed and highly regulated organisations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO, Executive Committee and Board to shape and deliver the business strategy, financial objectives and five-year plan.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting processes with robust challenge and commercial insight.
• Develop business cases for new opportunities and promote key strategic decision-making across the organisation.
• Maintain a strong financial control environment, ensuring completeness and accuracy of the general ledger and governance across standards.
• Oversee monthly P&L reviews, balance sheet reconciliations and daily financial reconciliations, ensuring issues are identified and resolved.
• Ensure appropriate accounting policies, controls, process documentation and governance frameworks are maintained.
• Lead delivery of statutory accounts, regulatory returns, tax returns and financial reporting with accuracy and timeliness.
• Support key finance projects including statutory reporting enhancements and integration activities.
• Act as a key relationship owner for external auditors, regulators and internal stakeholders.
• Oversee ICAAP delivery and engagement with Risk & Compliance Committee.
• Ensure Forward Flow securitisation and investor reporting are delivered accurately and on time with Treasury cooperation.
• Provide insightful financial analysis and performance reporting to the Executive Committee to identify risks and opportunities.
• Ensure products, pricing and initiatives deliver returns and sustainable growth.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing finance team.

Skills

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

Board experience

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder mgmt

Communication skills

Job description

Overall Summary

At Close Brothers we look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity and are open to discuss flexible work options to help you balance your work and home life.

Overall Summary

At Close Brothers we look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick every box. We celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity and are open to discuss flexible work options to help you balance your work and home life.

This role is accountable for leading the finance function for Close Brothers DAC (“the Firm”), a retail credit firm authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland. The role has duty for the Motor Finance Ireland finance team and finance activity supporting regulated Asset Finance lending and the Motor Finance / Asset Finance back books. While certain activities are delivered through separate operational teams, this role retains appropriate senior finance oversight and accountability, including in its capacity as PCF 11 and PCF 1 holder.

As Finance Director, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future success of the business. Partnering closely with the CEO, Executive Committee and Board, you will help drive the delivery of the business strategy and financial objectives, providing commercial insight and management at the highest level.

This is also a highly visible people leadership role. You will guide, develop and inspire a talented team of finance professionals, boosting colleagues at all stages of their careers.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO, Executive Committee and Board to shape and deliver the business strategy, financial objectives and five-year plan.
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting and reforecasting processes, providing robust challenge and commercial insight to drive business performance.
• Develop business cases for new opportunities and promote key strategic decision-making across the organisation.
• Maintain a strong financial control environment, ensuring the completeness and accuracy of the general ledger and compliance with Group accounting policies and standards.
• Oversee monthly reviews of profit and loss statements, balance sheet reconciliations and daily financial reconciliations, ensuring issues are identified and resolved promptly.
• Ensure appropriate accounting policies, controls, process documentation and governance frameworks are maintained across the finance function.
• Lead the delivery of statutory accounts, regulatory returns, tax returns and financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely submission.
• Support key finance projects, including statutory reporting enhancements and business integration activities.
• Act as a key relationship owner for external auditors, regulators and internal stakeholders across Finance, Risk, Treasury, Tax and Funding teams.
• Oversee ICAAP delivery and support effective engagement with the Risk & Compliance Committee.
• Ensure Forward Flow (SRT securitisation) and investor reporting requirements are delivered accurately and on time, working closely with Treasury colleagues to support the firm's funding strategy.
• Provide insightful financial analysis and performance reporting to the Executive Committee, helping to identify risks, opportunities and actions needed to achieve business objectives.
• Ensure products, pricing and commercial initiatives deliver appropriate returns and promote sustainable growth.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing finance team, creating an all-encompassing environment where colleagues are empowered to grow and succeed.

Developing Our People:

as a line manager, you will be accountable for inspiring and motivating your team, as well as developing performance through coaching. You will encourage your team to take duty for their own personal development and provide support through regular feedback.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE:

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent, with a strong technical appreciation of financial reporting, controls and governance.
• Previous experience operating at Board or Executive Committee level within a financial services environment, with the ability to build credibility and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to balance strategic thinking and operational delivery, alongside a deep comprehension of financial control, planning and analysis.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly to a variety of audiences.
• IT IS NOT ESSENTIAL BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU HAVE:
• Previous experience holding a PCF-11 designation or an equivalent regulated finance leadership role.
• Experience working within the automotive finance, asset finance or wider lending sector.
• Experience operating within a publicly listed and highly regulated organisation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting organisational growth, transformation or change programmes.

The Finance Director is expected to consistently demonstrate high standards of personal integrity and performance and make a substantial contribution to Boards and Committees. This is a Pre-approval Controlled Function role (PCF 11 and PCF 1) as defined by the Central Bank Reform Act Regulations 2011, and will comply with the Fitness and Probity, and Individual Accountability Framework obligations.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We recognise that candidates may have specific needs that require adjustments to ensure they have a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills and abilities. Candidates who require the job description or application form in an alternative format, or any other adjustments, are encouraged to email us at [e-mail] or request a call back.

About Us

At Close Brothers we support employees to balance their work life priorities and in this role you will be able to enjoy a mixture of hybrid working.

Close Brothers is a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking and securities trading. We employ approximately 3,000 people, principally in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Close Brothers Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250.

To find out more about Close Brothers, please visit our careers page: https://www.closebrothers.com/careers

To find out more about life at Close Brothers: https://www.closebrothers.com/life-close-brothers#374017299-899295541

To find out more about our benefits: https://www.closebrothers.com/employee-benefits

To find out more about our commitment to creating an inclusive environment:

Our Responsibility - Diversity and inclusion Close Brothers Group