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. It's a chance to make a real and visible impact on the governance of an ambitious European fintech.
The Role
Recruitment Context
We are opening this position as part of our continued commitment to strengthening iBanFirst's internal control environment and governance framework. As we scale internationally across 11 European countries and operate under the supervision of the National Bank of Belgium, maintaining a robust and independent internal audit function is a core priority.
The incoming Head of Internal Audit will join a well-established framework — with an existing audit plan and control environment in place — and will have the opportunity to build on these foundations, bring their own expertise, and grow with the function.
Manager & Team
You will report to Arnaud de la Porte (CFO/Deputy CEO/Board Member), with a dotted line to senior governance bodies including the ExCo and the Board.
You will further establish and lead the Internal Audit function — a setup that comes with a lot of autonomy and direct ownership over the full audit scope. As iBanFirst continues to grow, the internal audit function would naturally follow. You will have direct, regular access to iBanFirst's Executive Committee and the opportunity to present directly to the Board of Directors.
You will also work closely with:
- External auditors
- The National Bank of Belgium (regulator)
- All business functions across iBanFirst's 11 European offices
The role is based in Brussels or in Paris.
What will you do?
As Head of Internal Audit, you will lead the Internal Audit function and act as the Third Line of Defence, providing independent assurance to senior management and governance bodies on the effectiveness of iBanFirst’s governance, risk management, internal control, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
Key responsibilities:
Audit Planning & Execution
- Develop and annually review the risk-based internal audit plan across the group, incorporating input from key internal and external stakeholders
- Execute internal audit engagements for the non-IT scope in line with the approved audit plan and internal audit standards
- Produce high-quality audit reports with clear findings and actionable recommendations
Oversight & Monitoring
- Oversee and monitor the performance of outsourced IT internal audits
- Track and monitor the implementation of audit recommendations across the organization
- Ensure audit activities are aligned with regulatory expectations, particularly those of the National Bank of Belgium
Stakeholder Engagement
- Periodically present audit results, key risks, and remediation progress to senior management, ExCo and the Board of Directors
- Coordinate and collaborate with external auditors and the NBB when required
- Build trusted relationships across all business functions — acting as a constructive and credible voice on governance and control matters
Role Objectives
First 3 months:
- Get fully up to speed with iBanFirst's business, regulatory environment, and existing audit framework
- Build strong working relationships with key internal stakeholders, across ExCo and business functions, as well as with the outsourced IT internal auditors
- Take full ownership of the audit plan and ongoing engagements
First 6 months:
- Operate fully independently — ExCo members understand and value the function's output
- Deliver first audit reports and present findings confidently to senior governance bodies
- Establish a smooth working rhythm with external auditors and the NBB
First 12 months:
- Contribute to the internal audit function being recognized as trusted, credible and autonomous
- Deliver high-quality internal audit reports in line with the internal audit plan
- Potentially contribute to expanding the team
What do you bring?
Experience:
- 5+ years of experience in internal or external audit
- Background in financial services, banking, or a regulated fintech environment — experience with AML and financial crime topics is a strong asset
- Demonstrated experience as the responsible for the internal audit function is a plus
Must-have skills:
- Fully autonomous and self-directed — you don't need a mentor or a team to deliver; you take ownership and drive your own agenda
- Comfortable working independently — you enjoy the depth and focus that comes with being a one-person function
- Excellent written communication — you write clear, structured, impactful audit reports in English
- Confident presenter — you confidently and clearly present findings to ExCo and Board members; credible and composed in high-stakes settings
- Proactive and transparent — you flag issues early, communicate openly, and don't hold back
- Highly organized and rigorous — you follow through on commitments, track recommendations, and manage your own planning with discipline
- Critical and analytical mindset — you dig into documents and data, ask the rightttr questions, and form well-grounded conclusions
- Fluent in English (required); French or Dutch strongly preferred
Nice to have:
- CIA certification (Certified Internal Auditor) — or genuine willingness to obtain it
- Experience in a fast-growing start-up/scale-up environment
- Familiarity with the National Bank of Belgium's regulatory expectations
What do we offer?
- Permanent contract
- Compensation: €70,000 - €80,000 gross annual (fix + performance bonus)
- Office location: Brussels or Paris
- Hybrid work policy: Flexible, possibility to work from home two days per week
Benefits & perks:
- Net allowances
- Meal vouchers — €8 per working day
- Phone subscription
- Company car with fuel card
- Health insurance
Why this is a great opportunity:
- Direct access to ExCo and Board — a rare opportunity to learn, raise awareness and drive the importance of internal audit in the company
- Fast learning environment — you'll be exposed to a broad range of business topics, geographies, and regulatory frameworks
- Travel opportunities — occasional visits to iBanFirst's 14 offices across Europe
- Certification support — iBanFirst supports you in your development and in obtaining the CIA certification
This role offers a unique combination of autonomy, senior exposure, and real impact — in a profitable, fast-growing European fintech.
Recruitment Process
1. Screening call with Malorie Petitjean (Talent Acquisition Specialist)
— 30 minutes – remote (video)
2. In-depth interview with Arnaud de la Porte (N+1)
— 1 hour – in-person (Bruxelles) or remote
3. Final round with one or two ExCo member(s)
— 45 minutes – in-person (Paris) or remote
