Finance Director, EMEA

At Aspire, we’re more than just a FinTech company—we’re the leading all-in-one financial operating system built to empower the world’s innovators and entrepreneurs. We are on a mission to reinvent business finance, empowering startups and businesses to realise their full potential.

Founded in 2018, Aspire has raised over USD 300M+ across equity and debt from world-class investors. In 2023, we successfully closed an oversubscribed USD 100 million Series C equity round led by Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Ventures with participation of Tencent, Paypal Ventures, LGT Capital Partners, Picus Capital and MassMutual Ventures. To power our solutions, we have partnered with some of the best companies in the world such as Visa and Wise and empowered more than 50,000 businesses using our suite of products.

Aspire has consistently been recognized for excellence, earning Best Employer and Startup of the Year by the Asia FinTech Awards in 2022 and 2023, ranked as LinkedIn’s Top Startup in Singapore, and listed on CB Insights’ Top 100 Global Fintech in 2023 and 2024.

You will be amazed by the energy and experience of our team! Aspire serves as an environment for you to innovate and drive change with our team of ex-entrepreneurs, ex-founders, and high-achievers with international and diverse backgrounds.

Are you a top talent who is passionate about entrepreneurship? Join our rapidly growing team to make an impact in the fintech space! 

About the team

At Aspire, Finance plays a strategic role in driving our business forward. Our Finance team consists of a wide range of crucial functions across 3 verticals: (i) Financial Controlling with Financial reporting, Audit support, Cost Management, Compliance and Risk Management and Tax planning, Reporting, (ii) Treasury, which is a core function for a Fintech with Cash flow and Liquidity Risk, Treasury Product, FX Risk Management, Treasury Operation and Treasury Risk Management, (iii) Strategy & Planning, which covers strategic road map, long term planning, fundraising and FP&A. Our Finance team engages in frequent strategic data analysis, research, and modeling to provide the best financial insights for critical business decisions, helping Aspire navigate the competitive landscape and capitalize on emerging opportunities. The team also plays a key part as the first user of our Aspire software, pioneer in Finance transformation, reengineering our internal process to stay agile while maintaining the internal control in a hyper fast growing environment.

About the role

We're looking for a Finance Director to be based in the UK. You will be responsible for making key financial, business related decisions and ensuring that budgets are met for Aspire’s business operations in EMEA. You will also be responsible for all regional financial matters & financial performance and includes all aspects of safeguarding. You will be working in a new business environment as you establish Aspire in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the broader European Union.

What will you be doing?

• Collaborating on the setting of the regional finance strategy including in relation to financial performance.
• Daily oversight of all safeguarding matters including the review and approval of daily safeguarding calculations and reconciliations.
• Prepare Aspire Group consolidation across UK/ EU markets, liaising with local and global finance teams.
• Prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
• Builds and manages monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts.
• Develops strategies to increase return on investment and profitability.
• Oversees and reviews accounting tasks, including payroll, taxes, and compliance.
• Presents financial reports to executives, board members, investors, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborates with the executives and directors to create budgets and track key performance indicators.
• Knows and adheres to local generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and Securities and/or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).
• Contribute to the company’s overall business objectives and guide on financial strategy.
• Develop and monitor the operating budget to ensure financial targets are met and predict future financial trends
• Implement an internal audit programme to ensure that the company complies with all financial and statutory regulations.
• Monitor external contracts and suppliers to ensure these are effective and deliver on service agreements.
• Develop all necessary policies to ensure sound financial management and control of the business.
• Produce financial reports related to budget, account payables, account receivable and expenses.
• Analyse market trends and competitors. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor Degree, qualified as an accountant
• Minimum of 6 to 8 years experience, preferably in the financial services industry and in particular banking and/or payments sectors
• Experience with EMEA Electronic Money Institution (EMI)
• Experience with CASS and/or safeguarding requirements
• Experience in leading Finance and Accounting team/ department successfully at an evolving business

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Passion to establish & scale a startup in the fintech industry
• Flexible mindset and attitude to support a new business and its establishment in the market
• Strategic thinking with excellent communication & negotiation skills
• Project management & IT skills with a keen eye for detail & time conscious

What we offer

• Uncapped flexible annual leave.
• Hybrid work arrangement. 
• Training subsidy for your professional growth.
• Wellness benefit.
• Team bonding budget to foster collaboration and sense of belonging.
• Flexibility to work from anywhere (for up to 90 days per annum).
• Culture is Key: We always strive to cultivate a special culture that brings special talents together - You can learn more about our culture on our careers site and LinkedIn Life page.
  

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Aspire is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by applicable laws. 

Please note: by submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read and understood Aspire’s Data Protection Policy for Employees, Freelancers, Contractors and Job Applicants (the “Policy”), and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal data by Aspire for the purposes set out in the Policy. You may withdraw consent for such collection, use and disclosure, and make an access or correction request in respect of your personal data, in accordance with the Policy by emailing people@aspireapp.com.