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.