Deputy CFO

Who are we? 

iBanFirst is a fast-growing European fintech that is revolutionizing international payments for SMEs. Founded in 2016, our platform empowers Small & Medium Multinationals (SMMs) to regain control over their payment operations: currency conversion (FX), international transactions, and foreign exchange risk management across 140 countries — quickly, transparently, and securely. 

We make life easier for SMEs through an advanced technology platform (automation, APIs, AI…) combined with dedicated expertise, offering the best of both worlds: the agility of a SaaS solution and the reliability of a trusted partner. 

By simplifying complexity, iBanFirst helps thousands of bold companies seize global business opportunities with peace of mind — delivering simplicity, transparency, and security. 

Key figures 

• 350+ employees across 14 offices in 11 European countries 
• 30+ nationalities represented, average age: 32 
• 10,000 corporate clients trust us 
• €80M in revenue in 2025, with a target of around €100M in 2026 
• Profitable for nearly two years 
• Ranked for 7 consecutive years in the Financial Times FT1000, among the fastest-growing European companies 
• An NPS of 87.5 — an exceptional score in our industry that reflects enthusiastic client feedback on the simplicity, speed, and quality of our service 

A strong culture built around 4 core values 

• Team First: The complexity of our industry demands collective intelligence. We prioritize cooperation, transparency, and knowledge sharing. Success is a team effort, and decisions are made together. 
• Tenacity: We're transforming a challenging and highly regulated market. It requires endurance, fast learning, and resilience — qualities rooted in our entrepreneurial DNA. 
• Transformation: Innovation is not a buzzword; it's a necessity in a constantly shifting and strategic sector. We innovate with intent: every technical, product, or organizational improvement is designed for real impact. 
• Trust: Trust is the foundation of everything we build — with our clients and, above all, internally. It's driven by ownership, autonomy, and a shared commitment to transparency, rigor, and reliability. 

Why join us? 

• We operate at the heart of a strategic and fast-evolving sector: international payments for SMEs — a complex, high-potential market. 
• We're driven by a meaningful mission: helping bold "Small & Medium Multinationals" succeed globally. 
• Our platform integrates cutting-edge technologies (AI, automation…), making it an ideal playground to test, learn, and innovate continuously. 
• You'll join an agile environment where your expertise has tangible impact, working alongside talent from top financial institutions. 
• iBanFirst is profitable and backed by long-term investors:  
• Xavier Niel and Bpifrance, historical shareholders, have supported and trusted us from the beginning 
• In 2021, the entry of Marlin Equity Partners marked a new chapter in our international ambitions 

Joining iBanFirst means joining a profitable, international, fast-growing tech company — at a pivotal moment where financial rigour and strategic ambition go hand in hand. 

 

Recruitment Context 

Following a reorganisation of the Finance leadership, iBanFirst is creating a Deputy CFO role designed to give Arnaud De la Porte (CFO & Deputy CEO) the operational bandwidth to focus on broader executive responsibilities. As iBanFirst transitions from rapid growth to sustainable, disciplined profitability at scale, the Finance function needs strong leadership across all its pillars — Controlling & Accounting, FP&A, Tax, and Treasury. 

This is a pivotal leadership opportunity at a critical inflection point for the company. 

 

Manager & Team 

You will report to Arnaud De la Porte, CFO & Deputy CEO. 

You will directly manage a team of experienced finance professionals across Paris, Brussels and London. 

You will work alongside Arnaud as a genuine finance leadership partner — participating in strategic discussions, Board presentations, and executive reviews. 

 

What will you do? 

The Deputy CFO role sits across four pillars, with a primary emphasis on Controlling & Accounting and an important FP&A dimension to support team development and strategic decision-making.

Controlling & Accounting

• Oversee all accounting operations, month-end and year-end closings, and statutory reporting across all entities 
• Ensure compliance with IFRS and local GAAP standards, as well as regulatory and audit requirements 
• Manage relationships with external auditors and ensure timely, accurate financial statements 
• Drive continuous improvement of financial processes, controls, and systems to support scalability and accuracy 
• Supervise tax compliance and optimisation strategies in collaboration with the Group Tax Manager

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

• Provide strategic support to the FP&A team — act as a senior business partner and help develop Valentin's leadership 
• Contribute to budget planning, forecasting, and variance analysis aligned with strategic objectives 
• Enhance profitability tracking at a granular level — by country, client segment, and product line 
• Define and monitor key financial KPIs; develop executive dashboards for the Board and Leadership Team 
• Partner with business leaders to develop business plans, investment cases, and ROI analyses

Cost Management & Investment Discipline

• Lead cost allocation methodologies and cost-to-serve models to drive accountability and transparency 
• Ensure disciplined capital allocation and track ROI on strategic initiatives and technology investments 
• Work closely with operational teams to optimise efficiency and profitability without compromising growth

Strategic Finance & Fundraising

• Actively participate in fundraising processes, investor relations, and Board presentations alongside Arnaud 
• Prepare financial models, business cases, and investor materials for fundraising and strategic partnerships 
• Support evaluation of potential acquisitions or strategic investments

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing, multicultural finance team across Paris and Brussels 
• Build a culture of rigour, transparency, and continuous improvement 
• Recruit, coach, and retain top finance talent to support the company's growth trajectory 
• Act as a trusted business partner to the Executive Committee 

 

Role Objectives 

First 3 months: 

• Get fully up to speed with the accounting close process, financial reporting framework, and team dynamics 

• Build strong working relationships with direct reports and key internal stakeholders 

• Identify the most pressing gaps and improvement opportunities in the Controlling & Accounting function 

First 6 months: 

• Take full ownership of the month-end and year-end close process 

• Be the go-to finance leader for business partners across the organisation 

• Deliver at least one measurable improvement to reporting accuracy, speed, or process efficiency 

First 12 months: 

• Be a recognised strategic finance leader at iBanFirst, fully trusted by Arnaud and the ExCo 

• Have materially improved the quality and reliability of financial reporting and controls 

• Contributed actively to the FP&A roadmap and supported Valentin's development as FP&A lead 

• Participated in at least one major strategic or fundraising initiative 

Key KPIs: 

• EBITDA and contribution margin by country, product, and client segment 

• Accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting and forecasts 

• Audit outcomes and compliance quality 

• Finance team engagement and performance 

 

What do you bring? 

Profile & Experience: 

• 12–15 years of progressive experience in finance leadership, ideally in fintech, financial services, SaaS, or high-growth tech companies 

• Proven dual expertise in both Accounting/Controlling and FP&A — you have genuinely operated across both disciplines 

• Big 4 background (4–5 years) — ideally in Audit or Transaction Services, followed by finance leadership roles in industry 

• Experience as a Deputy CFO, VP Finance, or CFO of a smaller/scaling company is highly desirable 

• Exposure to M&A, due diligence, and fundraising is a strong plus 

• Strong understanding of profitability analysis, cost allocation, and unit economics in complex, multi-product/multi-country environments 

• Management experience: you have led and developed teams of 5–10+ people, including hiring, performance management, and building high-performing cultures 

Must-Have: 

• Accounting dominant — you have deep hands-on experience with closing processes, statutory reporting, IFRS, and audit management 

• FP&A credibility — you can operate at strategic finance level and support team development 

• Strategic and analytical mindset — you translate financial data into actionable business insights and recommendations 

• Hands-on and execution-oriented — you roll up your sleeves while thinking strategically 

• Strong communication and stakeholder management — you can present clearly to Boards, investors, and non-finance executives 

• Leadership and people development — you know how to attract, develop, and retain talent 

• Familiarity with AI tools applied to finance workflows 

• Fluent in French and English — both required 

Nice to Have: 

• Experience in fintech, payments, FX, or regulated financial services 

• Knowledge of treasury, ALM, or risk management 

• Exposure to international/multi-entity finance operations 

 

What do we offer? 

• Permanent contract 

• Compensation: €130,000 – €140,000 gross annual package, including a ~€10,000 performance bonus 

• Future access to the Management Investment Plan (MIP), particularly in the context of upcoming strategic initiatives and fundraising 

• Location: Paris (Porte Maillot) or Brussels (Avenue Louise), with flexible hybrid working 

 

Why this is a great opportunity: 

• Board-level exposure from day one — you participate directly in executive and investor discussions alongside Arnaud 

• A pivotal strategic moment — iBanFirst is entering a new chapter focused on sustainable profitability; your work shapes the financial architecture of that transformation 

• Real leadership scope — you lead a team across two countries and own the entire Finance function operationally 

• International expansion — ambitions to expand beyond Europe (Asia, US) offer further growth potential 

• A profitable, ambitious company — not a startup burning cash; a structured, growing business with real financial discipline 

 

Benefits (Paris): 

• Swile meal card 
• AXA health insurance 
• 50% commuter benefit reimbursement 
• RTT (extra paid days off) 
• Gymlib subscription 
• Company-wide events, team offsites, and social activities 

Benefits (Brussels): 

• 13th month + 92% of June salary (double holiday pay) 
• 100% public transport reimbursement 
• Meal vouchers — €6.91 per working day 
• Eco-vouchers — €250/year 
• AXA group health insurance 
• Pension plan 
• Phone subscription 
• Monthly allowance 
• Gym pass 

 

Recruitment Process 

1. Screening call with Malorie Petitjean (Talent Acquisition Specialist)
   — 30 minutes – remote (video)
   — Purpose: General fit, motivation, compensation expectations, availability 
2. In-depth interview with Arnaud De la Porte (CFO & Deputy CEO)
   — 1 hour – in-person (Paris or Brussels)
   — Purpose: Technical expertise, leadership experience, strategic vision, team fit 
3. Live case study with Arnaud De la Porte
   — 30–45 minutes – in-person
   — Purpose: On-the-spot financial reasoning — how you think, structure a problem, and present conclusions 
4. Team fit — Valentin (FP&A Manager) + Thibault (Head of Treasury & ALM)
   — 45 minutes – in-person or remote
   — Purpose: Team integration, collaboration style, informal fit 
5. Reference checks

 

 

 

 

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