Director Financial Control

Job Title: Director Financial Control

Location: Chennai, India

Perm/Contract/ Full-time/Part-time: Permanent

On-site/Hybrid/Remote: Hybrid

Who We Are

Robert Walters is the world’s most trusted talent solutions business. Across the globe, we deliver recruitment, outsourcing, and talent advisory services for businesses of all sizes, opening doors for people with diverse skills, ambitions, and backgrounds.

Our Outsourcing service delivers recruitment for some of the world’s top employers, and we are currently recruiting on behalf of one of our clients, a leading global bank with a strong presence across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. They support individuals, businesses, and institutions with banking, wealth, and financial solutions. With over 150 years of heritage, they connect people and markets to drive trade and growth. Their purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through their global network and expertise.

The Role

Our client is seeking a Director Financial Control in the Banking division.

Job Description:

Job Summary

FC Governance lead will be responsible to lead FC control governance framework for centralised financial controllership function and will support designing controls in accordance with ERMF principles and ensure compliance of same. Role will be responsible for rolling out UK ACG framework and ensure there are no major gaps / weakness in compliance of key controls This role will be key member of FC India leadership team and required in-depth understanding of how various functions contribute to achieving the organization goals and the commercial objectives. The role will be accountable for keeping FC control documentation updated and oversee Balance Sheet Substantiation controls for the firm. Additionally, it will be responsible for periodic reviews of all key controls impacting Financial Reporting and designing effective KRI / KPIs for those controls and present in key governance forums. This role provides extensive exposure across the Business and diverse network of markets with opportunity to enhance control framework around Financial Reporting.

The role will also have responsibility formulate and support right-shoring strategy for controller function under our Fit for Growth (FFG) program. In addition to oversight across the breadth of day-to-day delivery, the broad areas covered within this role include:

• Designing & Overseeing Financial control framework working closely Finance risk gov & Ops risk teams.
• Strategic direction and oversight of designing controls & processes that will leverage and enhance financial control function’s outcomes.
• Creating the strategy for change in operating model design and optimising processes and controls with Product Control and other Business Finance teams.
• Support designing and execution of Finance Tech transformation journey.

Key Responsibilities:

Operating Model Strategy

• Accountable & ownership for Policies and Standards impacting Financial Control functions e.g. BSS, Manual Journal etc.
• Collaborate with FRG, Product Control, Country Finance, and Finance leadership team to embed new controller Op Model, Control framework and process design.
• Accountable for FCA (BSS tool) and KRI / KPI platform with help from Change & tech teams.
• Partner with the India Finance Leadership team to deliver a robust strategy to invest and grow talent / people Financial Control teams to enable delivery of operating model requirements.

Business and Processes (Global Process Ownership)

Control Governance

• Responsible for FRCF - UK ACG framework for Financial Controller function.
• Implement and oversee strong control framework for the Finance controller function in India. Enhance monitoring and lead remediation of any material control gaps.
• Run periodic training and communication around technical accounting and control governance.
• Oversee the production and review of all KRI / KPIs for the function and run / manage all key governance forums.
• Oversee Balance Sheet substantiation control and process for the firm. Ensure there are no material gaps in the process.
• Manage all key policies impacting Financial Control function and ensure periodic refreshes / updates of same.
• Design effective risk management framework between Country Finance, Group and India Financial Control teams to ensure and evidence remit of accountabilities under right shoring of controllership.
• Drive standardisation and optimisation in key processes and controls.
• Oversee transition of responsibility and accountability from country & group finance teams to India.
• Support coordination with central teams, risk and compliance teams for necessary compliance of right-shoring documentation and requirements.
• Perform periodic deep dives on key finance control processes to ensure there are no major control gaps.

Change Management

• Represent the function at the governance forums in place for change initiatives and influence decisions in respect of the change backlog, prioritisation, and choice of technology tools.
• Lead design as SME in relevant change initiatives and ensure seamless execution of requirements.

People & Talent

• To lead, inspire and motivate the teams ensuring that everyone achieves their potential and that the team delivers its collective agenda.
• Lead through example and build the appropriate culture and values. Set appropriate tone and expectations from their team and work in collaboration with risk and control partners.
• Ensure the provision of ongoing training and development of people and ensure that holders of all critical functions are suitably skilled and qualified for their roles ensuring that they have effective supervision in place to mitigate any risks.
• Employ, engage, and retain high-quality people, with succession planning for critical roles.
• Responsibility to review team structure/capacity plans.
• Set and monitor job descriptions and objectives for direct reports and provide feedback and rewards in line with their performance against those responsibilities and objectives.

Risk Management

• Responsible for identifying, assessing, monitoring, controlling and mitigating risks to the Group relevant to Finance Control process.

Governance

• Awareness and understanding of the regulatory framework in which the Group operates, and the regulatory requirements and expectations relevant to the role.
• Responsible for delivering ‘effective governance’ in Finance Control; capability to challenge fellow executives effectively.

Regulatory & Business Conduct

• Display exemplary conduct and live by the Group’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Take personal responsibility for embedding the highest standards of ethics, including regulatory and business conduct, across our client's. This includes understanding and ensuring compliance with, in letter and spirit, all applicable laws, regulations, guidelines and the Group Code of Conduct.
• Lead Finance Control team to achieve the outcomes set out in the Bank’s Conduct Principles: Fair Outcomes for Clients; Effective Financial Markets; Financial Crime Compliance; The Right Environment.
• Effectively and collaboratively identify, escalate, mitigate and resolve risk, conduct and compliance matters.

Key stakeholders

• GPO – Financial Control India
• Group Finance Operational Risk.
• Finance GPOs & GPMs
• Internal & External Audit
• Global product and segment CFOs
• Regional and Country CFOs
• Aspire Program Leadership team.
• Group Information Technology and Operations (ITO)

Other Responsibilities

• Embed Here for good and Group’s brand and values in Finance Control team;
• Perform other responsibilities assigned under Group, Country, Business or Functional policies and procedures.

Skills and Experience:

• Financial accounting and reporting - IFRS
• Business process design & Improvement
• Control Governance Framework
• Process management
• Emerging technologies
• Problem Management Process
• Effective communication

Qualifications:

• Qualified Chartered Accountant with 20+ years’ work experience in leading & managing Finance Ops risk / Control & Gov function/s.
• Strong understanding GCC Banking - Finance control function.
• Ability to work well under pressure, strong problem-solving skills and some hands-on operational experience.
• Strategic mindset with strong experience in implementation of strategic changes as well as knowledge of IFRS and standard accounting practices etc.
• Excellent business judgment, operational control management and risk assessment.
• Should have strong knowledge and understanding of data management, data quality and its linkage in driving business performance management.
• Good eye for detail and with a strong focus on controls and compliance to policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience of influencing decisions at senior leadership level. Strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to work with cross cultural teams.
• Experience of working in a global organisation in a matrix environment.

This position is being recruited on behalf of our client through our Outsourcing service line. Resource Solutions Limited, trading as Robert Walters, acts as an employment business and agency, partnering with top organisations to help them find the best talent. We welcome applications from all candidates and are committed to providing equal opportunities.

Client promotes collaboration and aims to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximize their full potential.

As we are continuously hiring for all our clients in the region, we will retain your CV in our database for any other positions that may fit your profile. Therefore, please let us know if you are not agreeable to that.