UpSkill is a recruitment agency ready to go the extra mile in order to help candidates find the best possible job opportunity. Our team of experts is well-versed and experienced in consulting and providing long-term HR support. We believe that being friendly is the best policy, that’s why we are eager to help you through the whole lifecycle of recruitment. Our team comes with 15 years of recruitment experience behind its back. At any given moment, we can offer multiple opportunities from different companies in need of a wide variety of talent. If you are interested in starting a new job, we will present you with multiple opportunities, will be there to answer all your questions, help you prepare for interviews and tests, provide essential feedback and even guide and support you through the process of recruitment all the way up to the first day at your new job. Our current client is a Fin-Tech leader dedicated to providing innovative, affordable and smart payment solutions which empower businesses of any types and sizes to accept payments fast and securely. On their behalf, we are looking for an Internal Controls Manager to join their dedicated team.

What you will do:

• Operational Risk Management: To routinely review key activities, platforms, processes, and services to ensure operational risk assessments are up-to-date and accurate.
• Control Framework Implementation: To develop, implement, and document control measures to mitigate risks identified in daily activities, and ensure general operating procedures contain applicable controls and align with regulatory standards and Board-approved risk appetite.
• Monitoring Risks: To continually monitor risk exposures and escalate potential issues that could impact regulatory compliance or operational integrity.
• Monitoring Controls: To oversee controls are performing effectively and regularly, and operate within defined risk appetite, to escalate deviations promptly, and to manage issues and corrective action plans.
• Control Self-Assessment: To lead periodic self-assessments to evaluate the performance of internal controls and reporting findings for improvement.
• Key Control Indicators (KCIs): To monitor performance through KCIs to ensure that controls are operating effectively.
• Continuous Improvement: To identify gaps in current policies and controls and update processes as the business grows or as regulations evolve.
• Training and Awareness: To provide guidance and training to 1st line operational functions in relation to operational risk, control, and compliance responsibilities to ensure a strong control environment.
• Issue Detection: To monitor and identify operational incidents, breaches, or control failures, including data security, fraud, or transaction errors.
• Incident Management: From an Operations perspective, to support the first response to operational issues and coordinate across functions and with the 2nd line to ensure resolution and mitigation of risks.
• Escalation: Escalating issues to senior management and 2nd line as necessary.
• Collaboration with 2nd line: Working with the 2nd line Compliance and Risk teams to ensure a coordinated approach to regulatory compliance and risk management, e.g. liaising with 2nd line on Operations KRIs, AuditBoard (GRC system) actions, and point of contact for controls design and effectiveness reviews.
• Coordination with 3rd line: Supporting Internal Audit by providing data and reports on controls for independent review, ensuring that audit findings are addressed.
• Management Reporting: Providing regular reports on control effectiveness, operational risks, incidents, and compliance to senior management.

Your Profile:

• Minimum 5 years experience in internal controls, operational risk management, or internal audit within the financial services or payments / e-money sector.
• Proven track record in building and implementing control frameworks and managing operational risks within a 1st line of defense environment.
• Experience leading control self-assessments, corrective action plans, and KCI/KRI monitoring, and collaborating with 2nd and 3rd lines of defense.
• Solid understanding of operational risk frameworks, control methodologies, and regulatory expectations in licensed institutions supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority or other European regulatory regimes.
• Proficiency with risk and control assessment tools (e.g., AuditBoard, Archer, or similar GRC platforms).
• Knowledge of acquiring, issuing and e-money related financial products an advantage.
• Self-starter with a proven track record in operating effectively at senior stakeholder levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret risk metrics and identify control gaps.

Strong track record in the areas of solving problems, delivering quality results, and acting strategically.

• Disciplined professional with a proven ability to manage workload, prioritize and escalate issues, and meet reporting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to work both independently and collaboratively, with effective communication skills to engage with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills to drive a risk-aware culture.
• Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Risk Management, or a related field, with professional accreditations / certifications such as Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Operational Risk Manager (ORM) strongly preferred.

The company offers:

• Excellent compensation package
• 25 days annual paid leave (+1 day per year up to 30)
• Full Luxury package health insurance including dental care and optical glasses
• Meal vouchers of 200 BGN per month
• Fully covered Multisport card
• Free coffee, snacks and drinks at the office

If you meet the above-mentioned criteria, don’t hesitate to apply! We welcome the opportunity to learn more about you! Please send your CV in English. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. License No.2826. We will treat your application with full confidentiality!