Finance Director - Financial Reporting

Overview:

As a key member of the Controllership leadership team, executes the Company’s monthly financial close process and ensures the timely, accurate, and complete preparation and filing of the Company’s external financial reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K (earnings materials), and related disclosures. Leads a high-performing team through continuous improvement in disclosure quality and reporting controls to deliver best-in-class financial reporting outcomes. Partners with the Legal and Risk divisions, Lines of Business, and all areas of Finance including Treasury, Investor Relations and Financial Planning and Analysis to maintain strong governance over financial reporting. Works closely with the Company’s external auditors in support of their independent review of the Company’s consolidated financial results.  

Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee the end-to-end SEC reporting process and calendar, coordinating internal deliverables, managing review cycles, and enforcing governance milestones to ensure all filings are completed in a timely manner. Influences leaders across the Company to drive results needed to produce high-quality external reports.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and tie-out of the Company’s earnings materials and quarterly and annual financial statements, footnotes, and related supporting schedules in accordance with U.S. GAAP and SEC regulations.  Also responsible for issuing financial statements for certain subsidiaries of M&T and M&T Bank, including M&T Realty Capital Corporation and M&T Securities, Inc., as well as financial statements for the Company’s 401(k) plan, employee benefit plan and a foreign banking office.
• Lead an accounting operations and close reporting team responsible for ensuring the systematic processing of transactions from source systems to the general ledger, appropriate consolidation of results considering intercompany activity and related eliminations, and production of internal consolidated reports. Review complex accounting entries and major transactions affecting SEC disclosures as part of the Controllership close and governance process.
• Drive alignment of the close-to-report timeline by establishing expectations, monitoring progress against milestones, and escalating issues to ensure a timely and controlled month-end close that enables accurate earnings releases and SEC filings.
• Compile and synthesize month-end and quarter-end financial results, key drivers, and disclosure-related insights for an executive audience, ensuring consistency between internal reporting and external messaging. Produce executive summaries and financial reporting materials for submission to various Boards of Directors, including M&T Bank Corporation and its various subsidiaries, as well as the Company’s executive leadership team.
• Evaluate key aspects of the Company’s profitability and financial health, including net interest margin, other income and expense trends, capital and liquidity positions, unusual and notable transactions or events, earnings per share and other key financial metrics.  Evaluate performance in relation to the Company’s financial plan and forecasted results and summarize for presentation to the Controller, CFO and CEO in collaboration with peers in Finance.
• Direct drafting and review of narrative sections and disclosures (including MD&A and critical accounting policies) of earnings materials and Form 10-Q and 10-K and other external reports, ensuring consistency with internal results, business drivers, and enterprise messaging.
• Manage and develop a team of approximately 25 staff supporting accounting operations and SEC and monthly close reporting; set clear expectations, coach performance, and build a sustainable talent pipeline and succession plan.
• Lead external reporting and disclosure governance within Controllership, including monitoring emerging SEC rules and interpretive guidance and aligning disclosures to peer practices and regulator focus areas. Participate as a member of the Company’s Disclosure Committee, present earnings materials and quarterly/annual SEC filings to that committee and prepare materials for review by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
• Partner with Accounting Policy and technical accounting resources to evaluate complex transactions and new accounting standards; prepare or review technical accounting memos and disclosure conclusions.
• Maintain strong disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), including oversight of SOX processes, financial statement tie-outs, and evidence retention to support audit and regulatory reviews.
• Coordinate with external auditors on quarterly reviews and annual audits, including planning, issue resolution, and timely response to requests and review comments.
• Collaborate with Business Unit Controllers/CFOs, Legal, Investor Relations, Treasury, Risk, and Lines of Business to validate disclosures and ensure appropriate treatment of regulatory capital, liquidity, credit, and market risk topics for reporting purposes as applicable.
• Drive continuous improvement in reporting processes, including streamlining the flow of information into reporting tools, enhancing review workflows, improving data quality and controls, and leveraging functionality in reporting tools (including artificial intelligence capabilities).
• Ensure accurate and consistent XBRL tagging and maintain appropriate documentation to support filing requirements and internal governance.
• Identify and escalate reporting, control, financial, operational, regulatory, and reputational risks; design, implement, and enhance controls and monitoring consistent with the Company’s Risk Appetite.
• Oversee a team of senior managers, managers and reporting analysts in a high-paced deadline-driven environment. Ensure efficient, high-performing teamwork to deliver outcomes and continuous process improvement to deliver best-in-class financial reporting. Promote an environment that reflects the Company brand while building strong partnerships across Finance and the enterprise.
• Maintain internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit findings and remediation of issues raised by regulators and governance committees, as applicable. Partner with the Company’s First Line Risk officers to improve controls and remediate any identified issues impacting financial reporting.
• Complete other related duties and special projects as assigned, including support for acquisitions and divestitures, and reporting transformation initiatives. Create pro forma financial statements for acquisitions and organize efforts to report on the results of an acquired bank prior to conversion of its processes and systems to that of the Company’s.

Scope of Responsibilities:

Accountable for key elements of the close-to-report cycle that enable external reporting, including coordination of month-end general ledger close activities that impact consolidation and disclosure. Responsible for compiling and/or presenting periodic financial results and external reporting narratives for executive leadership (including the CFO and CEO) and the Board of Directors, ensuring alignment between internal performance reporting, earnings materials, and SEC filings.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:

This Controllership leadership role is accountable for the integrity of the Company’s SEC filings and related external reporting deliverables, including ownership of the reporting calendar, cross-functional disclosure inputs, and governance routines (e.g., Disclosure Committee and Audit Committee materials). The role leads key controllership processes that enable external reporting, including close and consolidation activities, and coordinates with Legal, Accounting Policy, First Line Risk officers and internal and external auditors on technical accounting conclusions, SOX/ICFR and SEC reporting compliance and general reporting considerations.

Manages subordinate managers.  Full supervisory, development of team through professional leadership. Possess ability to direct/persuade/influence across division and peers throughout the bank.

Education and Experience Required:

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum 13 years’ experience with 4 years’ managerial experience or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 15 years’ higher education and/or work experience with 6 years’ managerial experience

Strong analytical ability and creative problem-solving skills

Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities

Strong interpersonal skills and maturity to build relationships, collaborate to obtain consensus and desired outcome, and interact from a business as well as a technical standpoint

Expert knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements (including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K), and disclosure controls and procedures

Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional drafting and review processes and communicate complex accounting and disclosure matters to senior leaders

Strong analytical ability and sound judgment to assess reporting risks, evaluate disclosure alternatives, and drive issues to resolution

Strong understanding of internal controls over financial reporting (SOX/ICFR) and experience partnering with internal and external audit

Experience with SEC reporting tools and large financial systems (e.g., Workiva/Wdesk and an enterprise ERP/consolidation platform); advanced Excel and Word skills

Education and Experience Preferred:

Advanced degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.

CPA certification.

Big 4 public accounting experience.

Prior SEC reporting leadership experience within a financial institution, preferably a bank holding company. In-depth knowledge of the banking industry and related generally accepted accounting principles.

Experience supporting disclosure committee, audit committee, and investor relations processes, including preparation of financial results to executives.

Strong project management skills, including ownership of a reporting calendar with multiple stakeholders, tight deadlines, and high attention to detail.

Experience leading process improvement and automation initiatives (or other projects) across close/reporting processes (including governance, controls, and tooling enhancements), or other organizational projects.

M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $157,500.00 - $292,500.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.

Location

Buffalo, New York, United States of America