Product Director - Finance in Bristol

Product Director - Finance in Bristol

Bristol Full-Time 145000 - 185000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Wise

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the Finance Product team to build a foundational financial platform for global transactions.
  • Company: Join Wise, a global tech company revolutionising money management.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, RSUs, and a diverse, inclusive work environment.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and excellence.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on financial integrity and compliance in a hyper-growth company.
  • Qualifications: Experience in finance systems and product management; analytical problem-solving skills.

The predicted salary is between 145000 - 185000 £ per year.

hackajob is collaborating with Wise to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.

Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world's money. Min fees. Max ease. Full speed. Whether people and businesses are sending money to another country, spending abroad, or making and receiving international payments, Wise is on a mission to make their lives easier and save them money. As part of our team, you will be helping us create an entirely new network for the world's money. For everyone, everywhere.

Your mission: Your mandate is to build and maintain the foundational financial platform that guarantees the integrity and compliance of every transaction across Wise's global ecosystem. The systems you own secure the integrity of over £40bn in monthly financial flow across all of Wise.

Your impact: Within the Finance Product team, you will lead the Accounting and Operations workstream. This workstream is the architect of financial truth at Wise. You will operate as the foundational service provider that guarantees the integrity of every record of movement of money across the Wise ecosystem.

Organisational Role: Your team's systems are the single source of consumable financial data (the ledger of record) that underpins all critical downstream functions, including regulatory reporting, tax filing, as well as strategic decision-making by executive leadership.

The Scale: You will be leading the vision for a ledgering system currently processing over 1bn+ journal entries a month and supporting a sustained throughput of 200k events per minute. You will also be owning the Finance processes around:

  • Accounting business processes
  • Master data management
  • AR/AP and Payouts

The core questions that you will answer in your role are - How do you build systems and controls that ensure completeness and accuracy of financial flows? How do you eliminate operational risks from financial processes? You will define and execute the product strategy to achieve real-time reconciliation and assurance at global scale, providing functional finance teams with systems they need to operate effectively, compliantly, and efficiently in 50+ countries.

You are joining the Finance Product team at a pivotal, hyper-growth stage as Wise prepares to list in the US. The Finance team is strategically expanding its footprint to raise the bar on global regulatory maturity and provide a robust financial foundation for Wise's sustained, rapid growth. This expansion is directly driven by the need to proactively mature our global financial controls and infrastructure to meet the highest standards required of a US-listed, global financial technology company.

Qualifications

Domain Understanding

  • Understanding of finance systems in either an engineering, data or product role
  • Understanding of operating in Finance organisations including financial reporting, commercials, and risk and controls

Product Management Excellence

  • Multiple years of product building experience, either as a product, engineering or operations leader in a hands-on role
  • Strong individual contributor, willing to get your hands dirty and build product yourself. Typically will have a background that shows they have a superpower (engineer, analyst, consultant, financial, serial entrepreneur, etc).
  • Held multiple product roles, and can draw on different experiences and roles when forming opinions and executing.
  • A willingness and capability to dive into the technical architecture, engaging directly with engineers to influence ledger design, data models, and event-sourcing patterns.
  • Have defined and moved KPIs with features shipped
  • Have built roadmaps for teams finding a path from uncertainty/chaos to clarity

Leadership

  • Enthusiasm for the Wise mission is essential - empathy for the problem we are solving and the fire to build something with no precedent
  • Flexible in approach - not stuck to a 'by the book' product role definition. Understands how to grow existing team members as well as hiring and onboarding team members.
  • Enthusiastic about learning new skills to unblock yourself and your team.

Problem Solving

  • Analytically-minded, can clearly frame problems, articulate hypotheses and solutions, measure them and has used the tools to be able to do this without an analyst
  • Showcases system-level thinking, a proven ability to look beyond the scope of a single product to design interconnected systems

Nice-to-haves:

  • Finance, Payments or Treasury experience particularly in Ledgers, Controls or Accounting
  • Experience with SOx Controls or Audits
  • Experience of third party finance systems

Additional Information

Base salary: £145,000 to £185,000 + RSUs

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs): For everyone, everywhere. We're people building money without borders — without judgement or prejudice, too. We believe teams are strongest when they are diverse, equitable and inclusive. We're proud to have a truly international team, and we celebrate our differences. Inclusive teams help us live our values and make sure every Wiser feels respected, empowered to contribute towards our mission and able to progress in their careers.

If you want to find out more about what it's like to work at Wise visit Wise.Jobs.

Wise

Contact Details:

Wise Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Product Director - Finance in Bristol

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 Wise. 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 Product Director - Finance in Bristol

Financial Systems Understanding
Product Management
Data Analysis
Technical Architecture Engagement
KPI Definition and Tracking
Roadmap Development
Problem-Solving Skills

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 Wise.

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 Wise'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 Wise

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 Wise.

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 Wise 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 Wise 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.