Financial Controller

Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU)

Role Purpose

Reporting to the CEO, the Financial Controller will sit on the Leadership Team and hold responsibility for oversight of the finance function ensuring efficient and effective financial operations within the ILCU group. This includes the management of all financial systems and procedures the preparation of consolidated financial statements for ILCU, and advising the CEO, the Board and its Committees on all financial matters. The role has specific responsibility for financial management, reporting and control for ILCU and its subsidiary companies and related investments, and for the financial dimension of ILCU's strategic plan.

The Financial Controller will act as financial controller for the ILCU Group, including the General Fund, the SPS Fund, ILCU Development Foundation and ILCU Internal Audit Services Limited.


Role Responsibilities

1. Strategic & Financial Planning

  • Act as financial controller for the ILCU Group, including the General Fund, the SPS Fund, ILCU Development Foundation and ILCU Internal Audit Services Limited.

  • Lead preparation of the annual budget for the ILCU, working closely with the CEO and fellow Leadership Team colleagues, and present it to the Board of Directors for approval.

  • Responsibility for budget development, monitoring and control across all areas of ILCU, in collaboration with Leadership colleagues, ensuring robust tracking and reporting systems are in place to measure performance against budget, explain variances and drive corrective action.

  • Provide financial leadership for ILCU's strategic plan: build the multi-year financial models, in conjunction with Leadership Team colleagues, and investment appraisals that underpin strategic initiatives, and track their financial delivery against plan.

  • Partner with the CEO and Leadership Team to translate strategic plan priorities into costed, phased financial plans, flagging funding implications and trade-offs to the Board as initiatives evolve.

  • Support the financial evaluation of new initiatives, services and strategic projects.

  • Represent ILCU, as agreed with the CEO, in its contacts with credit unions, suppliers and other external bodies.

    2. Financial Reporting & Control

  • Oversee financial management, reporting and control for ILCU and its subsidiary companies and related investments.

  • Lead the preparation of consolidated financial statements for the ILCU Group and all management information required to support the Board and its Committees.

  • Ensure an appropriate internal control framework is in place across all financial accounting cycles for ILCU and subsidiary operations including revenue and receipts, payables and creditors, payroll, bank and cash management, debtors, and general ledger/financial reporting with appropriate segregation of duties and clear preparer/reviewer controls throughout.

  • Hold responsibility for all financial and regulatory reporting for the ILCU subsidiary and group, and for delivery of financial shared services to subsidiary companies in accordance with agreed service level agreements.

  • Liaise with the finance team of ECCU (the ILCU Group's insurance subsidiary, which maintains its own finance function) on the consolidation of ECCU results into the ILCU Group accounts.

  • Prepare the financial accounts of ILCU and subsidiary operations for inclusion in the ILCU Annual Report, in cooperation with the ILCU Auditor.

  • Act as the relationship owner for external and internal auditors across ILCU and all subsidiary operations ensuring timely completion of agreed actions.

    3. Governance, Risk & Compliance

  • Ensure implementation of ILCU Board policy across all areas of financial management for ILCU.

  • Ensure the financial records and accounting policies of ILCU and subsidiary companies comply with statutory, regulatory and professional requirements, including relevant accounting standards.

  • Ensure ILCU Group compliance with all applicable tax obligations, including but not limited to preparation and review of bi-monthly VAT returns, compliance with Revenue Regulations on payroll and all other taxes.

  • Maintain effective financial controls to safeguard assets of the ILCU and all subsidiary companies, including delegated authorities, payment approvals and fraud prevention measures, and promptly escalate material control weaknesses or suspected financial irregularities through the appropriate governance channels. Work closely with the Risk Officer to ensure financial risks are identified, assessed and reflected in financial planning, reporting and controls.

  • Review, maintain and develop ILCU's financial policies and procedures in line with the Board's overall strategy and policies.

  • Report to the Board of Directors and the Audit & Risk Committee, providing clear, accurate and timely financial information.

    4. Treasury & Liquidity Management

  • Ensure appropriate cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning reporting is in place for ILCU including identifying funding requirements and reporting emerging pressures.

  • Oversight of the liquidity of the SPS Fund and the corresponding returns of the SPS Fund ensuring surplus funds are appropriately invested.

  • Maintain oversight of ILCU's investment policy and counterparty exposures, reporting regularly to the CEO and Board on treasury performance and risk. 

    5. Leadership, Advisory & Stakeholder Management

  • Work with the CEO to build strong working relationships across the Leadership Team and management, encouraging collaboration towards ILCU's financial objectives.

  • Act as a trusted financial adviser to the CEO, Leadership Team and Board, providing expert insight and guidance to optimise the organisation's financial performance.

  • Lead the Finance team, in setting clear departmental goals and effectively managing the performance of the team and delivery of the function in conjunction with the Finance Manager.

  • Own workforce and succession planning within the Finance team, building technical and leadership capability to support continuity. 

  • Ensure effective continuity arrangements for critical finance activities, including payroll, payments, financial reporting and access to financial systems.

  • Champion a customer-focused approach and attitude across internal and external interactions, and in the design and implementation of working procedures and processes.

  • Champion ongoing improvement of finance systems and processes to improve efficiency, control and reporting capability.

  • Represent ILCU at key finance forums, groups, events and conferences.

  • Undertake special projects as directed by the CEO from time to time.

  • Carry out any other duties reasonably required, commensurate with this role.

    Role Requirements

    Qualifications

  • Third-level degree in business, management, economics or a related discipline is desirable.

  • A relevant professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CFA) is essential.

  • Relevant financial services and/or credit union governance qualifications are desirable.


    Experience

  • Minimum 7 years' post-qualification finance experience, gained in an accountancy practice or in a commercial and/or financial services environment.

  • Strong technical proficiency and proven experience managing and delivering financial, management and budgetary processes, meeting all regulatory and compliance requirements.

  • Strong analytical and numeracy skills to understand and interrogate financial data and deliver effective commercial advice and recommendations.

Excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enabling effective and timely decision-making.

Personal Qualities

  • Proven commercial acumen, with strong analytical and numeracy skills to understand and interrogate complex financial data and make effective commercial decisions.

  • Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills; a clear communicator (written and verbal) with personal impact and the ability to adapt.

  • Strong relationship-management capability, with the ability to develop and maintain internal and external relationships up to Board level.

  • Adaptable and highly organised, with the ability to multi-task and prioritise.

  • Strong teamwork ethic as part of a small, hard-working Leadership Team, and a willingness to actively support colleagues and projects across the organisation.

  • An open management style that engages and empowers employees to perform and develop in a professional environment, fostering a collaborative team culture.

Key Relationships

  • CEO

  • Fellow Leadership Team colleagues

  • Finance Team

  • Risk Officer

  • Board

  • Audit & Risk Committee

  • External Consultants / Advisors

  • External & Internal Auditors, etc.

  • ECCU Finance Team

  • Relevant ILCU subsidiary staff, Boards and committees

  • Other relevant stakeholder and finance connections

  • Affiliated Credit Unions

To apply please submit CV together with Cover letter using the link below:

https://irish-league-of-credit-unions.hirehive.com/financial-controller-dublin-cAX9Jo

Closing date for applications is 30th September 2026

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