Head of Finance And Administration in London

AEMI UK Applicant is a well-funded Middle Eastern unicorn EMI with ambitious international growth plans. As the applicant prepares for FCA authorisation as an AEMI, the Head of Operations & Finance will build and run sound UK operations and finance, working closely with Group teams and external providers.

Key responsibilities

• Build and run controlled UK operations and finance, supporting the AEMI application with processes, evidence, forecasts and Board reporting.
• Own banking and settlement operations, including funds flows, safeguarding records, account reconciliation, ledger balancing, reserves, exceptions and shortfall escalation.
• Ensure payment instructions follow completed reconciliations, dual control and separate preparation, approval and release.
• Coordinate customer onboarding with Compliance and the Managing Director; support monitoring of customer data, chargebacks, fraud, declines and exceptions.
• Monitor cash, liquidity, settlement, counterparty, market and foreign exchange exposure; escalte issues promptly.
• Oversee banking, scheme, processing, technology and other vendors: service performance, incidents, resilience, remediation and exit readiness. Coordinate commercial matters with the accountable relationship owner.
• Maintain continuity, incident and recovery arrangements, access and sensitive-data controls, and applicable PCI DSS responsibilities with designated owners.
• Support Consumer Duty through clear communications, accessible service, effective complaints handling and support for vulnerable customers; track outcomes and elevate harm.

Experience and capabilities

• Senior operations and finance experience in UK EMI, payments or card acquiring or issuing businesses, including budgeting, forecasting and management reporting.
• Demonstrated payments operations, settlement, safeguarding or client-money experience is essential, including reconciliation, exceptions and escalation.
• Experience overseeing vendors or outsourced services, operational resilience and financial controls. Accounting qualifications are desirable.

Working arrangements

• Full-time executive role based at the applicant’s Canary Wharf office, with attendance expected five days per week, subject to reasonable adjustments. The role will work closely with UK leadership and Group teams.