CEO
Our client, Ballyshannon and Killybegs Credit Union, a prominent community credit union in County Donegal, is seeking a dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
This is a unique opportunity to lead one of the largest community-based credit unions in the Northwest, with assets exceeding €70 million serving 15,000 members and a dedicated team of 20 employees across five offices. The CEO will play a pivotal role in driving the credit union's mission to meet the financial needs of its members in a cooperative and professional manner. The vacancy has arisen due to the impending retirement of the current CEO.
This position offers an excellent opportunity for leadership growth and influence in a strongly performing credit union.
The Role
The CEO will be responsible for achieving financial and operational goals, ensuring regulatory compliance, and leading the senior management team. Key reports include overseeing lending, member service operations, IT, projects, and digital transformation, finance, data protection, marketing, risk, and compliance. The CEO will also manage internal and external audits, controls, and reporting to the Central Bank.
Collaboration with the wider management team and regular engagement with staff are essential to foster a member-focused ethos and achieve business targets, continual change, and renewal. The CEO will work with the Board and team to drive strategic developments and deliver on the credit union's strategic plan.
This is a PCF-approved role.
The CEO reports to the Board of Directors through the Chairperson.
The Credit Union
Ballyshannon and Killybegs Credit Union operates across five offices serving its community with modern financial services with lending at the core. The credit union is a not-for-profit organisation with a member-focused ethos that seeks to support the financial well-being of its members and the community it serves. Notable milestones include the introduction of mortgages in 2014, the merger of Ballyshannon and Killybegs Credit Unions in 2016, the continued expansion of favourable rate lending products, electronic banking services, digital apps and phone services, and the introduction of current accounts and debit cards for members in 2023. Some other notable achievements include the move to the cloud and DocuSign for loan applications and credit agreements and online member onboarding.
The credit union is well governed, with solid surplus generating capacity and reserves base.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a proven record of accomplishment of success in the financial services, banking, fintech, or credit union sectors. They will possess significant senior management experience and a diverse background in leadership roles, enabling them to effectively lead the credit union, and to ensure appropriate internal controls, polices & procedures are implemented and maintained as well as full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
The candidate must hold a degree and have relevant qualifications in finance. The candidate will preferably hold other qualifications in areas such as business, management, IT, strategy, change, or project management, and have completed personal leadership development programmes.
Essential management experience includes senior-level management, lending, investment knowledge, operations, banking products and services, digital hub, IT, digital transformation, financial management, risk, compliance, business development, board reporting, Central Bank of Ireland reporting, and project management.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
Ambition, drive, and energy to build on the credit union's success
Strong commercial, operational, and senior management abilities
Exceptional leadership skills
Ability to build successful relationships with the Board, management, and stakeholders
Strong financial & investment knowledge
Strategic thinking and execution
Comfort in leading through change
Salary & Benefits
The credit union offers a competitive salary, pension, and other benefits commensurate with the role and market benchmarks. Salary is negotiable, DOE.
Contract & Hours
This is a full-time, permanent contract. Flexibility in working hours is essential, as the CEO will attend Board and Committee meetings outside normal working hours and represent the credit union at events.
Location
The role is currently based in Ballyshannon and is an on-site role.
Applying and Closing Date
Apply here, and Helena Broderick from CollierBroderick, the credit union’s HR partners, will be in touch shortly. Applications close on Monday 25th November or earlier.
Confidential Enquiries
For confidential enquiries, contact Helena Broderick of CollierBroderick at 01 8666426 or 087 9074843. All enquiries should be directed only to Helena Broderick.
Interviews
Interviews will be held in December, with a view to the successful candidate commencing in early 2025.