Financial Controller

LHV Bank Limited is a UK-licensed bank operating across three core business segments: Retail Banking, SME Lending, and Banking Services (BaaS). The bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of LHV Group, a listed financial services provider headquartered in Estonia. LHV Bank operates under a full UK banking licence granted in May 2023.

The Bank supports over 200 fintech clients with embedded financial infrastructure, provides retail savings products via digital channels, and offers SME credit solutions across the UK. In line with its regulatory responsibilities and growth ambitions, LHV Bank is committed to maintaining a robust and proportionate financial crime control environment.

Expanding our services, LHV Bank now provides personal banking solutions. Our offerings include current accounts with competitive interest rates, fixed-rate bonds for long-term savings, and debit cards.  Customers can conveniently access these services through the LHV App, enabling secure account opening and management.

Role Overview:

We are looking for a proactive, detail-oriented Financial Controller to join our dynamic UK finance team and help shape the future stage of growth at LHV Bank UK. The Financial Controller is a key member of the Finance leadership team, responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and control of the Bank's financial reporting and accounting processes. This role will lead the financial controllership agenda, spanning finance operations, technical accounting, tax, reporting, and controls, and will serve as the guardian of the Bank's financial integrity. 

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise in IFRS and UK tax with a pragmatic, control-focused mindset and the ability to drive process improvement in a high-growth, regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Controllership & Reporting

• Full ownership of financial controllership, encompassing finance operations, technical accounting, reporting, and tax.
• Lead the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with IFRS and regulatory standards.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts, ensuring reconciliations are completed and reviewed across all key balance sheet and P&L accounts.
• Prepare and deliver timely, accurate financial statements, including statutory accounts and disclosures, in line with IFRS.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders on the strategic report and directors' report for inclusion in the annual report.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of, and maintain, financial reporting models required under key IFRS standards for a scaling bank, including IFRS 2 (Share-Based Payments), IFRS 9 (Effective Interest Rate (EIR) and Expected Credit Losses (ECL)), and IFRS 16 (Leases).
• Lead the external audit process, acting as the primary liaison with auditors, and ensure audit deliverables are met on time and to a high standard.
• Support internal audit activities, ensuring prompt and effective responses to recommendations.

Finance Operations & Tax

• Oversee day-to-day finance operations, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and cash settlements.
• Partner with external advisors on the management of tax compliance and reporting, including corporation tax, VAT partial exemption, R&D tax credits, and PAYE Settlement Agreements (PSA).
• Ensure all financial operations adhere to the Bank's governance, risk, and control framework, maintaining strong oversight of financial data and reconciliations.

Controls, Process Optimisation & Governance

• Design, implement, and continuously improve internal controls to strengthen financial governance and mitigate risk.
• Identify and deliver process improvements and automation opportunities to enhance efficiency and reporting accuracy.
• Maintain and evolve financial policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with internal governance frameworks and regulatory expectations.
• Collaborate with Treasury, Risk, Operations, Product, and Technology teams to support cost control, asset capitalisation, and other finance-related processes.

Leadership & Culture

• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to junior members of the finance team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement across all financial control processes.
• Promote a mindset of innovation, leveraging modern tools (e.g., ChatGPT and AI-driven automation) to enhance accuracy and efficiency in financial reporting.

Requirements:

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business or a related degree is desirable.
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ICAS, CPA, ACCA, or CIMA) with a minimum of 5 years post-qualification experience in banking or financial services.

Technical & Professional Skills

• Strong, practical knowledge of IFRS, particularly IFRS 2, IFRS 9, IFRS 15, and IFRS 16.
• Proven experience in financial control, accounting policy, and audit management within a regulated financial institution.
• Broad understanding of UK tax, including VAT partial exemption and R&D credits.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics / Business Central / Navision preferred.
• Experience leveraging ChatGPT or other AI tools to enhance finance operations or reporting efficiency. Experience with Atlassian tools and MS Power Apps would be a strong advantage.
• High level of digital-fluency, accuracy, analytical capability, and problem-solving skills. Strong Microsoft Excel skills are a must.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to operate independently and decisively in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

Some of our benefits

•    Competitive salary & progression

•    Open and inclusive culture 

•    Hybrid working 

•    Fantastic offices and great working environment

•    Vitality Health Plan (includes private health insurance, travel insurance, gym discounts)

•    Medicash health plan (Level 3)

•    5% employer pension contribution

•    Life assurance

•    Income protection insurance

•    28 days holiday plus 3 additional days, bank holidays & further days for various key life events

•    Team socials