At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and mentor a high-performing finance team.
- Company: Join Wise, a global tech company revolutionising money management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape global strategy and influence key financial decisions.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in finance leadership and strategic partnering.
The predicted salary is between 112000 - 150000 £ per year.
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 a financial technology company moving billions of GBP of customer money in over 70 countries, Wise must have bulletproof financials. We need timely, accurate, and scalable financial data to be compliant with regulations and make strategic business decisions to support our hyper-growth and financial objectives.
Due to our continued expansion, we’re on the hunt for a seasoned, highly strategic Finance Business Partner Leader to join our FP&A team in London. In this role, you will be the primary lead for the financial oversight of our Core Functions, responsible for mentoring and developing a high-performing group of two Senior Finance Business Partners and an Analyst. Your core focus will be supervising team output and leaning into complex business challenges, while spearheading our global workforce financial strategy and collaborating cross-functionally with peer FBPs Leads.
Your Mission
You will be the ultimate strategic financial partner to our Chief People Officer (CPO), her People Leadership Team and the Senior Leadership Teams that lead our Core Functions (Finance, Legal, Treasury, Risk, Compliance, and People). In addition to managing costs within the Functions, your mission will be to help us centralise and actively optimise how we manage workforce costs by improving our internal processes, driving strategic location expansion and extending our planning horizon.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Team Management: Lead, mentor, and elevate two Senior Finance Business Partners and Analyst, ensuring cohesive delivery of financial planning, cost control, and analysis across all Functions.
- Executive Narrative & Communication: Translate complex financial data and variance analyses into high-impact strategic narratives for the leadership team, providing actionable insights that influence company-wide decision-making.
- KPI-driven Performance Management: Establish, track, and own the critical financial KPIs and metrics relating to organisational health, span of control, location concentration, and cost-per-head to drive accountability across departments.
- Global Headcount Governance: Oversee employee benefit expenses and headcount management framework for the entire business. You will collaborate closely with stakeholders and peer Senior FBPs across other departments to ensure a unified, standardised approach to headcount management.
- Automation & Process Evolution: Drive the automation of headcount tracking and employee benefit expenses reporting towards scalable, tool-driven architectures to maximise efficiency and data integrity.
- Strategic Workforce Management: Partner with the CPO and People Leadership Team to drive the long-term financial strategy behind global workforce location expansion, talent mapping, and organisation design to optimise our workforce costs sustainably.
This role will give you the opportunity to:
- Lead and Scale a Team: Act as a player-coach, mentoring senior talent within your team while building strong connections across the wider FP&A team and beyond.
- Shape Global Strategy: Play a defining role in how Wise scales its global footprint and optimises its largest investment our people through progressive, long-term workforce planning.
- Drive Executive Level Influence: Act as a trusted advisor to the leadership team, turning complex data into clear, actionable insights that guide our global investment decisions.
Qualifications
A bit about you:
- People Management & Collaboration: Proven track record of managing senior-level finance professionals and driving matrixed collaboration with peer finance partners to achieve company-wide objectives.
- Deep Strategic Partnering: Extensive proven experience partnering with senior leadership teams, specifically within People and Functions, becoming a deeply trusted advisor.
- Workforce & Scale Expertise: Demonstrated track record of managing complex, company-wide headcount structures, long-term workforce planning, international location strategies, and substantial operational expense budgets.
- Data & Automation Mindset: Passionate about leveraging technology and automation to eliminate manual processes; strong experience building KPI dashboards and predictive models.
- Financial Modelling Mastery: Advanced expertise in building, scaling, and owning complex financial frameworks and capacity models, with a strong preference for enterprise planning tools (e.g., Anaplan).
- Credentials: You hold a professional finance qualification (ACA / ACCA / CIMA) or equivalent (MBA / Masters in Finance) with extensive post-qualification experience, alongside a strong grasp of IFRS and corporate accounting.
Skills
- High-Level Influencer: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to articulate complex financial concepts clearly and strategically to influence the leadership team.
- Systemic Thinker: You love digging into data, but you naturally zoom out to see the macroeconomic and organisational interdependencies, applying a strict KPI-driven lens to problem-solving.
- Comfortable with Ambiguity: Highly adaptable, resilient, and thrives in a fast-paced, evolving tech environment. Firm and forceful on guardrails when required, yet collaborative.
- Project Leadership: Strong project management skills, capable of driving cross-functional alignment across multiple offices, time zones, and complex stakeholder groups.
- Humble Execution: While you operate at a leadership level, you aren't afraid to roll up your sleeves and validate the data yourself when needed.
Bonus points for:
- Experience in a hyper-growth FinTech or fast-paced global tech company.
- Direct experience working closely with Workday and Anaplan integrations.
- A background utilising AI to optimise financial processes, data pipelines, and headcount forecasting.
Additional Information
Salary range: £112K - £150K. 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. Keep up to date with life at Wise by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance Business Partnering - Functions & Workforce Strategy 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 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 Head of Finance Business Partnering - Functions & Workforce Strategy 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 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.
