Senior Finance Manager

Hello, we’re Starling. We built a new kind of bank because we knew technology had the power to help people save, spend and manage their money in a new and transformative way. We’re a fully licensed UK bank with the culture and spirit of a fast-moving, disruptive tech company. We’re a bank, but better: fairer, easier to use and designed to demystify money for everyone. We employ more than 4,000 people across our London, Southampton, Cardiff and Manchester offices.

We are looking for a high-impact Senior Finance Manager to lead our Group month-end close and support our transformation roadmap. This is a dual-focus role: ensuring the month-end close is done accurately and on-time today, while helping with the AI-augmented, automated finance function of tomorrow.

This is a senior position and would suit someone with significant post qualification experience (PQE) who is looking for a unique challenge to drive further performance from an already high performing and talented team while shaping the design and the future ways of working for the Management Reporting function away from just reporting towards being a strategic partner for the Group.

We are looking for a candidate with financial close experience and strong technical knowledge of IFRS 15, IFRS 2 and IFRS 10 gained through extensive experience in international fintech or banking groups. Further to this, experience of leading a high performing team is also a necessary requirement.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate a ‘risk-first’ mindset, proactively identifying control gaps in our IFRS accounting and designing and implementing appropriate controls and automated solutions to mitigate those risks before they impact the month-end close. In addition the candidate will partner with Tax to oversee the operational execution of the Group’s Transfer Pricing policy, ensuring intercompany recharges and margins are accurately reflected in management accounts.

The ideal candidate will have an analytical mindset, be someone who is able to communicate clearly, ask thoughtful questions, and look to identify opportunities for improvement as they arise.

Responsibilities

• Lead Month-End Close: Own the timely and accurate reporting of the Group’s financial performance as part of the month-end close process. This includes ensuring key deadlines are met and driving ongoing improvement in the process while ensuring accuracy. In addition, the ideal candidate will oversee the operation of the Group Transfer Pricing model and own the automation and streamlining of the Balance Sheet Reconciliation process.
• Technical Leadership: Ensure the accurate application of IFRS 15 and IFRS 2 accounting standards across the Group’s Management Reporting responsibilities whilst also providing support and guidance to the team in building their expertise in these areas.
• Group Consolidation: Working directly with the Group Statutory reporting team to ensure appropriate consolidation of the Group entities including correct accounting within the Group’s international subsidiaries and branches in line with IFRS 10.
• Control Environment: Ensuring the control environment around Management Reporting remains robust, identifying any weaknesses as they become apparent through applying a risk-mindset to all of the team’s activities.
• Drive Efficiencies: Proactively identify and implement improvements to the month-end and other financial control processes. This will be through new system implementations, current system improvements or general process efficiencies.
• Stakeholder Management: Take responsibility for representing the Management Reporting team internally within the wider organisation and externally with key stakeholders such as external auditors and third party advisors.
• Team Culture: Working with the Head of Management Reporting to embed a culture of continuous improvement within the team, helping to identify areas of efficiency in all areas of the team’s reporting responsibilities and empowering the team to drive this change themselves.

Requirements

• A qualified chartered accountant with at least 10 years PQE with part of this in a listed, multinational firm in a similar role.
• Expertise in the application of complex accounting standards, including IFRS 15 (SaaS revenue models preferred), IFRS2 Share Based Payments and IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements.
• Experience understanding, developing and applying complex international transfer pricing models would be preferred.
• Evidence of actively applying a risk-mindset through your work is necessary for this role.
• Advanced proficiency with financial tools, including Microsoft Excel, Oracle NetSuite and BI tools such as Looker or Power BI.
• Experience writing papers for Executive Committees. Experience presenting at Executive Committees would be desirable.
• Excellent presentation and interpersonal skills, capable of influence at senior levels, and being able to hold technical challenges from the auditors
• A can-do attitude, belief in our vision, and a willingness to roll-up your sleeves and get stuck in wherever required

Interview Process

Interviewing is a two way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious.

In general you can expect the below, following a chat with one of our Talent Team:

• Step 1 – In person interview with the Head of Management Reporting
• Step 2 – In person interview with the Group Financial Controller
• Step 3 – In person interview with the Group Chief Financial Officer

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
• An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
• Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
• 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
• Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
• Life insurance at 4x your salary
• Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
• Generous family-friendly policies
• Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
• Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work and Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships

About Us

You may be put off applying for a role because you don’t tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’re always open to discussion. So, if you’re excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you’re 100% there yet, get in touch anyway.

We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we’re proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems.

Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

By submitting your application, you agree that Starling Bank may collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes. Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we may process, where we may process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.

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