Deputy CFO

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 early 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.
• 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 are the organisation 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.

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
• 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
• Contribute actively to the FP&A roadmap and supported Valentin’s development as FP&A lead
• Participation 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 participated 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
• AXA health insurance
• RTT (extra paid days off)
• Gym‑lib subscription
• Company‑wide events, team offsites, and social activities
• 13th month + 92% of June salary (double holiday pay)
• 100% public transport reimbursement
• Pension plan
• Phone subscription
• Monthly allowance

Recruitment Process

• Screening call with Malorie Petitjean (Talent Acquisition Specialist) — 30 minutes – remote (video)— Purpose: General fit, motivation, compensation expectations, availability
• 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
• 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
• Team fit – Valentin (FP&A Manager) + Thibault (Head of Treasury & ALM) — 45 minutes – in‑person or remote— Purpose: Team integration, collaboration style, informal fit
• Reference checks