Legal Entity Controller (LEC) | EMEA Merchant Services

Legal Entity Control (LEC) is responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and governance of a legal entity’s financial statements and books and records. The team operates as an independent control function, with a core focus on the month-end and quarter-end close processes to ensure both Income Statement and Balance Sheet are closed appropriately and supported by robust controls and evidence.

This role sits within the EMEA Merchant Services Finance team, supporting the EMEA Merchant Services CFO in discharging regulatory responsibilities. Merchant Services is the payment processing and acquiring business within Global Payments. The role will have day-to-day responsibility for financial reporting and governance oversight for two Dublin-based legal entities, supporting a growing and evolving regulatory and business environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Month-end close ownership: Ensure timely and complete month-end close for Income Statement and Balance Sheet, with appropriate substantiation and governance.

• P&L / Balance Sheet reconciliation: Partner with Product Control to reconcile key P&L lines monthly and maintain ongoing supporting evidence for legal entity P&L and Balance Sheet.

• Statutory accounts support: Assist in the preparation of accurate and timely statutory financial statements.

• External audit management: Liaise with external auditors at interim and year-end, provide audit evidence promptly, and manage follow-up queries through to resolution.

• Regulatory reporting (CBI): Prepare Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) Payment Institution Quarterly and Annual Returns for review by the Legal Entity Controller.

• Management and board reporting: Prepare monthly financial reporting decks for senior management and board-level reporting.

• Controls and audit readiness: Manage and support internal audit requirements and ensure internal controls are designed and operating effectively.

• Expense management: Own expense reporting and partner with stakeholders on cost transparency and cost improvement opportunities.

• Tax coordination: Liaise with tax partners to ensure accurate and timely tax reporting and payments to revenue authorities.

• Budgeting and forecasting: Support the budget process, partnering with business managers to ensure costs and revenues are accurately captured and reflected.

• Capital and recovery planning support: Assist with capital adequacy planning, wind-down plans, and going concern calculations/analysis.

• Cross-functional partnership: Work closely with Finance & Business Management partners (Business Management, Financial Control, Product Control, and regional stakeholders) to maintain a strong control environment and enable business growth.

Required Qualifications, Capabilities, and Skills

• Proven experience in financial control, legal entity control, product control, or comparable finance/control roles within a regulated financial services environment.

• Strong understanding of close processes, balance sheet substantiation, and control frameworks.

• Experience supporting audits and producing clear, timely audit evidence.

• Ability to deliver accurate reporting under tight deadlines, with strong attention to detail and ownership mindset.

• Effective stakeholder management skills, including ability to communicate clearly with senior management and cross-functional partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CBI reporting and/or Payment Institution regulatory returns.

• Exposure to statutory accounts preparation and multi-entity governance oversight.

• Experience in payments/acquiring, Merchant Services, or transaction banking environments