Finance & People Lead

We are seeking a highly organised and commercially minded Finance & HR Executive to support the effective running of our Malta entity. This role is central to ensuring strong financial governance, accurate reporting, and compliant HR operations.

The successful candidate will work closely with the ESAO Managing Director, ESAO Head of Operations, the UK based Group Finance Controller, and the Group Head of People to deliver high quality local Finance and HR support aligned with group standards.

The ideal candidate will be proactive, analytical, and detail oriented, with strong communication skills and the ability to operate confidently within an international business environment.

Key duties & responsibilities:

Finance (Primary Focus)
You will play a key role in maintaining robust financial processes and supporting commercial decision making. This includes:
• Supporting the processing of local supplier invoices, customer billing and prepare associated financial reports
• Timely and accurate completion for Maltese and EU VAT processes
• Supporting month end and year end close activities, including reconciliations, stock counts and internal control checks in collaboration with the Group Finance team
• Acting as the primary point of contact for the local statutory audit and prepare required audit documentation
• Managing Malta Enterprise grant data capture, reporting and submission
• Supporting and administering local banking activities, including reconciliations and reporting
• Ensuring compliance with the Group Delegated Authorities Matrix and internal control frameworks
• Assisting with budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and adhoc financial analysis
• Providing commercial insight to support local operations, supplier negotiations, and cost management initiatives
• Liaising with Insurance Brokers for ad-hoc queries through to annual policy renewals

Human Resources
Working closely with the Group Head of People, you will support the delivery of compliant and effective HR processes including;
• Coordinating group HR administration and policy implementation
• Managing local HR and welfare related tasks, including onboarding, documentation and employee queries
• Liaising with Maltese authorities and agencies such as JobsPlus, Identity Malta, and payroll service providers

Office & Administrative Support
While the role is primarily Finance and HR focused, you will also ensure the smooth running of the office environment, including:
• Coordinating with suppliers and service providers for office and staff administration
• Overseeing general office up keep to maintain a safe and efficient working environment
• Supporting the organization of internal events and business activities
• Acting as a point of contact for visitors and occasional incoming calls (minimal focus)