Head of Finance - Ballinger Group Europe

Location - Birkirkara, Malta

Employment type - Full-time, office-based

Reporting line - CEO

About Ballinger Group

Ballinger Group is an independent provider of foreign exchange trading, risk management, alternative banking and payment services to financial institutions and corporate clients worldwide. The group provides simple, flexible solutions for clients with complex FX and treasury requirements, supported by specialist expertise, strong regulatory permissions across multiple jurisdictions and a focus on high-quality client service.

Role Overview

Ballinger Group - Europe is seeking an experienced Head of Finance to lead its finance function across operational, regulatory and strategic activities. This is a senior role responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong financial controls, effective cash management and full compliance with applicable accounting, tax, audit and regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate will work closely with Boards, senior management, auditors, regulators and group stakeholders, providing clear financial insight and maintaining high standards of governance, integrity and control.

The role requires strong technical knowledge of IFRS, regulated financial services and foreign exchange derivative products, including their recognition, valuation, disclosure and reporting treatment.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting, Audit and Regulatory Returns

Lead the preparation and review of management accounts, statutory financial statements and Board reporting packs
Ensure financial reporting is accurate, timely and compliant with IFRS and applicable regulatory requirements
Oversee month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring strong documentation, reconciliations and controls
Manage annual and interim audits through to completion, acting as the primary finance contact for external auditors
Oversee regulatory financial submissions, including Central Bank of Malta BR06 returns, FI returns and MiFID II reporting obligations
Ensure appropriate accounting treatment for FX products, treasury activities and foreign currency transactions. Develop and maintain robust accounting policies for the Groups FX products and provide technical guidance

Cash Management, Payments and Payroll

Oversee accounts payable, supplier payments, intercompany transfers and cash management processes
Monitor bank balances and liquidity to support operational, payroll, tax and regulatory obligations
Maintain effective cash flow forecasting and payment execution controls
Coordinate with payroll providers on monthly payroll, employee reimbursements, new joiners, leavers and related employment matters
Review payroll inputs and documentation for accuracy, completeness and compliance

Tax, Compliance and Controls

Oversee tax compliance, including corporate income tax, VAT, payroll taxes and other applicable obligations
Review tax returns, supporting computations and related submissions for accuracy and timely filing
Maintain and enhance financial control frameworks, policies, procedures and reconciliations
Ensure robust governance over financial reporting, treasury operations, FX activities and regulatory submissions
Keep up to date with IFRS, tax legislation and regulatory developments relevant to the business

Leadership and Stakeholder Management

Lead, manage and develop the finance team, promoting accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement
Provide financial insight and commercial analysis to support strategic and operational decision-making
Engage confidently with Boards, senior management, auditors, regulators, tax advisors, banking partners and group stakeholders
Support internal audit, compliance and risk management functions by providing timely and accurate financial information

Requirements

Requirements

Essential Qualifications And Experience

Qualified accountant, such as MIA, CPA, ACA, ACCA or an equivalent recognised qualification
Minimum of 8 years' post-qualification experience
Minimum of 5 years' experience in a senior finance leadership role
Experience in a regulated financial services environment, being well-versed in preparing regulatory financial returns
Experience managing external audits and preparing statutory financial statements under IFRS
Extensive experience in the accounting, valuation and financial reporting of complex financial instruments, including OTC foreign exchange products, derivatives, structured products, with expert knowledge of IFRS 9 (Financial Instruments), IFRS 13 (Fair Value Measurement), IAS 21 (Foreign Exchange) and related IFRS disclosure requirements
Experience in delivering finance transformation projects, including ERP implementations, process automation and financial control enhancements, would be considered an advantage

Sector Experience

Experience in one or more of the following sectors: Electronic Money Institutions, Payment Institutions, Investment Firms, banks, foreign exchange providers or FinTech businesses
Direct experience dealing with regulators is highly desirable
Group finance, multi-entity or international operations experience would be advantageous

Desirable Qualifications

Master's degree, MBA, MSc Finance or similar
IFRS Diploma or equivalent advanced financial reporting qualification
Treasury, financial risk or investment-related qualification

Candidate Profile

Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders across the organisation
High levels of integrity, independence and professional judgement
Clear and confident communicator, able to explain complex financial matters to senior audiences
Practical problem-solver with strong attention to detail and a delivery-focused approach
Comfortable operating in a highly regulated environment while balancing commercial, prudential and governance requirements

Benefits

Benefits

Competitive base salary of €75,000 to €85,000, depending on experience
Performance-related bonus
Private medical insurance
Life cover
Excellent opportunity to progress in a fast-growing company

Ballinger Group

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