Finance Director - BPL

About Financial Controller Department

• The Financial Director will be responsible for leading the Controller activities for the new standalone company (BPL New Co), including accounting and internal controls (incl. SOX), consolidation and external financial reporting, stress models and wind-down plans

• In addition the department will own all finance related policy documentation, statutory compliance, Procurement, Tax and accounting operations teams    

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Overall purpose of role

• This is senior management role playing a crucial part in driving the strategic and operational stand-up of the finance team to support BPL (New Co).

• The role holder will be responsible for the end-to-end financial reporting and management of the company from month end close to statutory and regulatory reporting, in addition to managing the procurement, tax and accounting operations teams

Key Accountabilities

• Management of the preparation and presentation of accurate and timely financial statements, and other accounting records in accordance with the relevant accounting standards, rules and regulations.

• Support in identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial risks, and report on these financial risks to senior colleagues.

• Development and maintenance of a robust system of internal controls to safeguard assets, ensure that there is no fraudulent misreporting, and ensure the accuracy of financial data, including regular assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls addressing any weaknesses or gaps.  .

• Development and implementation of up-to-date financial policies and procedures to ensure consistent and effective financial practices across the organisation.

• Management of the selection, implementation, and maintenance of financial systems and software applications, including collaboration with IT colleagues to integrate financial systems with other enterprise systems.

• Preparation and submission of statutory and regulatory reports to authorities, and provision of support to other departments in their preparation and review of regulatory reports.

• Coordination with external auditors and regulatory authorities in support of audits and examinations.

Barclays’ payments acceptance business provides critical infrastructure to the UK economy, processing billions of pounds of payments annually for both small businesses and domestic and international corporate clients.

In April 2025, we announced a long-term partnership with Brookfield Asset Management to grow and transform the payments acceptance business by broadening the range of services offered, enhancing the experience for both existing and prospective clients. Leveraging extensive client relationships and deep experience of UK payments, we will create an environment of continuous innovation - activated by Brookfield’s global private equity expertise in payments, technology, operational transformation and corporate carve-outs - to ensure the business is strategically positioned for long-term growth.

Barclays will invest approximately £400m in the new business, the majority of which will be incurred during the first three years. Performance-linked incentives will drive greater alignment between the partners, underpinning the long-term commitment to the transformation. Barclays and Brookfield will work to create a standalone entity over time, continuing to use the Barclaycard Payments (BPL) brand and acting as the sole payments acceptance services provider to Barclays’ clients for a minimum of ten years. 

For more information on our partnership with Brookfield, please visit Barclays.com.

Purpose of the role

To manage the financial operations of the organisation, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of financial reporting. 

Accountabilities

• Management of the preparation and presentation of accurate and timely financial statements, and other accounting records in accordance with the relevant accounting standards, rules and regulations.
• Support in identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial risks, and report on these financial risks to senior colleagues.
• Development and maintenance of a robust system of internal controls to safeguard assets, ensure that there is no fraudulent misreporting, and ensure the accuracy of financial data, including regular assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls addressing any weaknesses or gaps.  .
• Development and implementation of up-to-date financial policies and procedures to ensure consistent and effective financial practices across the organisation.
• Management of the selection, implementation, and maintenance of financial systems and software applications, including collaboration with IT colleagues to integrate financial systems with other enterprise systems.
• Preparation and submission of statutory and regulatory reports to authorities, and provision of support to other departments in their preparation and review of regulatory reports.
• Coordination with external auditors and regulatory authorities in support of audits and examinations.

Director Expectations

• To manage a business function, providing significant input to function wide strategic initiatives. Contribute to and influence policy and procedures for the function and plan, manage and consult on multiple complex and critical strategic projects, which may be business wide..
• They manage the direction of a large team or sub-function, leading other people managers and embedding a performance culture aligned to the values of the business. Or for an individual contributor, they lead organisation wide projects and act as deep technical expert and thought leader, identifying new ways of working and collaborating cross functionally. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Provide expert advice to senior functional management and committees to influence decisions made outside of own function, offering significant input to function wide strategic initiatives.
• Manage, coordinate and enable resourcing, budgeting and policy creation for a significant sub-function.
• Escalates breaches of policies / procedure appropriately.
• Foster and guide compliance, ensure regulations are observed that relevant processes in place to facilitate adherence.
• Focus on the external environment, regulators, or advocacy groups to both monitor and influence on behalf of Barclays, when appropriate.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge of how the function integrates with the business division / Group to achieve the overall business objectives.
• Maintain broad and comprehensive knowledge of industry theories and practices within own discipline alongside up-to-date relevant sector / functional knowledge, and insight into external market developments / initiatives.
• Use interpretative thinking and advanced analytical skills to solve problems and design solutions in often complex/ sensitive situations.
• Exercise management authority to make significant decisions and certain strategic decisions or recommendations within own area.
• Negotiate with and influence stakeholders at a senior level both internally and externally.
• Act as principal contact point for key clients and counterparts in other functions/ businesses divisions.
• Mandated as a spokesperson for the function and business division.

All Senior Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.