Financial Controller

Salmon – Who We Are and What We Do

Salmon is a rapidly growing consumer FinTech group, founded in July 2022 with the mission of building the best credit-led, technology-centric bank in Southeast Asia. We selected the Philippines as our first market and are now a licensed bank (Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa, Laguna – “RBSL”) and a consumer-lending group.

The company was founded by three co-founders who previously held senior leadership roles at Tinkoff, a successful tech-enabled bank that achieved a market capitalization of over US$20bn.

Salmon has assembled a highly qualified, global team of finance and technology professionals, backed by world-class investors, including the International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Bank Group), Lunate (an investment management vehicle affiliated with the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi), and other prominent fintech investors.

We are building a financial technology business that operates flawlessly 24/7, creating thousands of jobs, and providing high-quality access to finance for millions of Filipinos. Join us on this exciting journey as we discover new opportunities together.

About the Role – Financial Controller, RBSL

We are looking for a results-driven Financial Controller to lead and direct RBSL’s finance and accounting operations, while driving improvements in our financial processes, compliance, and control procedures.

The Group consists of a holding company in Abu Dhabi Global Market, along with four operating subsidiaries in the Philippines, one of which is RBSL.

This will be a senior role, directly reporting to the President of RBSL, with functional reporting to the Group CFO.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in finance and accounting leadership, with a proven track record of optimizing financial processes and procedures in a licensed bank. Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and oversee the Bank’s financial operations, including accounting (from entry booking to generating accurate financial reports), regulatory reporting, engagement with regulators, basic treasury and cash management, transaction processing, banking relationships, tax, and policy and controls creation.
• Lead complex, cross-functional projects, such as accounting system migrations, write-off policies, transfer pricing, related party transactions, and other finance-related initiatives.
• Manage the finance and accounting team, contributing to staff development and career progression.
• Ensure the preparation of accurate and timely financial statements in line with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard the Bank’s interests.
• Analyze financial data and provide insights to guide business decisions.
• Manage cash flow, working capital, and financial risks effectively.
• Collaborate with different departments and entities within the Bank and, when relevant, across the Group to provide finance/accounting input for corporate actions, new products, services, and special projects.
• Monitor financial performance, conduct variance analysis, and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
• Manage relationships with auditors, tax authorities, and other external financial partners.
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices to ensure the Bank is compliant with all relevant regulations.
• Act as a subject matter expert on matters related to regulations, accounting, and finance to support ongoing and future business initiatives.
• Prepare and present financial reports to senior management and stakeholders.
• Perform other duties as required, commensurate with the responsibilities of a Financial Controller.

Qualifications

MUST HAVE:

• At least 12 years of experience in Finance/Accounting.
• At least 5 years in a senior management position (Financial Controller / VP of Finance / Head of Accounting or equivalent) at a licensed bank (Thrift bank or above) in the Philippines.
• Must be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a degree in Accounting from a reputable university.
• Strong expertise in IFRS and relevant banking regulations.
• Fluency in English and the ability to communicate effectively in an international environment.
• Exceptional critical thinking skills and high intellect to perform according to international standards.
• Ability to lead and manage cross-functional projects from initiation to completion.
• Ability to thrive under high-intensity, high-pressure work environments. Candidates who have limited experience managing stress may find this environment challenging.
• Willingness to embrace and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment, being hands-on and having a creative, solutions-driven approach to problem-solving.

Preferred but not mandatory:

• 3-5 years of audit experience auditing banks (preferred).
• Some experience working in a startup environment.
• Exposure to both manual and automated accounting processes. Experience in implementing a computerized accounting system is a plus.