At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic financial planning and drive impactful initiatives across the company.
- Company: Join Airwallex, a global leader in payments and financial solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, bonuses, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for career growth and mentorship.
- Why this job: Shape the future of finance while working with top-tier talent in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in strategic finance or consulting, strong analytical and leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
About Airwallex
Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 250,000 businesses worldwide with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.
Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,300 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 27 offices around the globe. Valued at US$11 billion and backed by world-leading investors, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future.
Attributes We Value
We hire successful builders with founder-like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role-related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor. You're humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end-to-end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking.
About the team
The Finance & Corporate Development team at Airwallex drives the company's financial strategy and growth. Our team focuses on financial planning, analysis, and corporate transactions to ensure Airwallex's long-term success. We collaborate across departments to identify opportunities, manage risks, and execute strategic initiatives.
What you'll do
Reporting to the Head of Strategic Finance, you will operate as a senior leader within the team, owning critical parts of Airwallex’s financial strategy and influencing company-wide decision-making. This is a highly visible role with direct exposure to executive leadership, where you will shape strategic direction, drive financial rigor, and ensure alignment between long-term vision and near-term execution.
You will lead complex, high-impact initiatives across planning, performance management, and corporate strategy—bringing structure to ambiguity and driving clarity in decision-making. Beyond analysis, you will play a key role in influencing outcomes, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring disciplined execution across the organization.
You are both a strategic thinker and an operator: equally comfortable building detailed financial models, crafting executive narratives, and leading cross-functional initiatives. You bring strong business judgment, a bias for action, and the ability to scale impact through others.
This role can be based in San Francisco or London (UK).
Responsibilities:
- Own and lead strategic financial planning processes, including long-range planning, annual budgeting, and forecasting across business units.
- Drive company-level financial insights and narratives, shaping materials for board meetings, investor communications, and executive decision-making.
- Lead capital strategy and capital allocation decisions, ensuring resources are deployed effectively against the company’s highest priorities.
- Partner with senior leadership (Product, GTM, Operations) to evaluate and influence major strategic initiatives such as new market entry, product investments, pricing strategies, and partnerships.
- Oversee business performance analysis, identifying key drivers, risks, and opportunities while ensuring accountability against targets.
- Build, mentor, and scale talent within the Strategic Finance function, raising the bar on analytical rigor, strategic thinking, and execution.
- Drive cross-functional initiatives that improve financial visibility, operational efficiency, and decision-making frameworks across the company.
- Enhance finance infrastructure, including reporting systems, tools, and processes to support a global, scaling organization.
Who you are
We’re looking for individuals with strong analytical foundations, sharp business judgment, and the ability to turn insight into action. The minimum qualifications are essential to succeed in this role. Preferred qualifications help you stand out, but are not mandatory.
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, or a related field.
- 8+ years of experience across strategic finance, management consulting, investment banking, or private equity.
- Proven experience operating at a senior level, influencing executives and driving company-wide initiatives.
- Advanced financial modeling skills with the ability to design and own complex models that inform critical decisions.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving ability, with a track record of navigating ambiguity and delivering outcomes.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership or boards.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring team members and leading cross-functional workstreams.
- Strong commercial acumen and deep understanding of business performance drivers in a scaling company.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience in high-growth environments, ideally within the Technology space.
- Have worked in top-tier management consulting, investment banking, or private equity firms.
- Experience with capital markets, fundraising, or IPO readiness.
- Familiarity with SQL, business intelligence tools (e.g. Tableau), and/or working with large, complex datasets across functions and regions.
Applicant Safety Policy: Fraud and Third-Party Recruiters
To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page.
Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.
Equal opportunity
Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
Compensation Range: $165K - $225K
Location: US - San Francisco; UK - London
Employment Type: Full time
Location Type: Hybrid
Department: Finance & Corporate Development
Finance & Strategy
Compensation: Base $165K – $225K • Offers Equity • Offers Bonus
Airwallex promotes fair compensation practices in accordance with applicable national, federal, state, and local law. These expected base pay ranges are based on information at the time this post was generated and represent the company’s good faith minimum and maximum ranges for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon multiple factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, skills and other qualifications, geographic location as noted, internal equity, and other external market factors. Certain roles may be eligible for other compensation including, but not limited to, annual bonuses, commissions, RSUs, or other forms of compensation in addition to the established salary range. Benefits vary by country and employment type in accordance with local statutory requirements. All employees receive at least the statutory minimum for paid annual leave and public holidays, with many of our locations offering additional company-provided vacation days. For example, for US-based employees, they are eligible to participate in medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, short-term and long-term disability, basic life insurance, and well-being benefits. US-based employees also receive 20 paid days of vacation and 12 paid days of company holidays in a calendar year. Further details about our compensation and benefits package are available upon request by contacting our Talent Acquisition team.
Associate Director, Strategic Finance in London employer: Airwallex
Airwallex is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, empowering employees to tackle complex challenges in the dynamic fintech landscape. With a strong focus on professional growth, employees benefit from opportunities to lead impactful projects while working alongside diverse teams across the globe. The company's commitment to a risk-aware culture and its emphasis on employee well-being make it an attractive place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in the US and EMEA.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director, Strategic Finance in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Airwallex. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director, Strategic Finance in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Airwallex.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Airwallex's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Airwallex
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Airwallex.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Airwallex will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Airwallex employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
