Alan Kealy

GOAL (€200m Revenues) is an international humanitarian organisation (NGO) operating in 13 countries and committed to saving lives and empowering communities to develop resilience in their lives.

Global Head of Accounting (120 FTEs in US, Lithuania) for Western Union Business Solutions ($400m Revenues, 10 Regulated entities); responsible for the Finance function of Western Union International Bank (‘WUIB’) and for International Financial Reporting (50 FTEs in Ireland, Europe, Russia, Morocco, Dubai) for Consumer Money Transfer segment, including oversight of intra-group outsourced Finance services (Treasury, Accounts Payable, Settlement Operations, Credit).

Western Union Payment Services Ireland Limited is an authorised Payment Institution under the Payment Services Directive (“PSD”) in relation to the provision of consumer money transfer services in the EU/EEA area. Finance lead for PSD authorisations (2010, 2018), where WU moved its $800m European Business from an agent license to own licence model, and for post-Brexit (2017/18) $100m UK entity.

Led the Board for this $35m revenues business offering the WU service through a retail network of Banks and Post Offices; advised on navigating specific regulatory challenges for principal/agent determination, outsourcing, systems, a non-Anglo-Saxon legal framework and Regulator transition.

Contributed to the Board of this $100m revenues business offering service at retail agent network and on wu.com, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority; guided the Board through the migration of the digital and commercial services business ($50m revenues) from WU’s bank license to this Payment Institution.

Included principal entity Western Union International Limited ($1.6bn revenues), holding companies (including Western Union Processing Ltd, WU’s largest international holding company, and Western Union Overseas Ltd, a bank holding company), Master Agents, Support Entities in Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Belgium, USA. Shaped capital distribution strategies at holding companies for constraints such as pre-acquisition reserves, regulatory capital restrictions, transfer pricing risks etc.

Appointed to lead the shared service operations (100 FTEs) for Accounting, AML, Payroll, HR, Corporate Governance, Legal, Privacy, Internal Audit and Tax Compliance teams. Led the Covid-19 pandemic response from initial crisis response and move to work-from-home, ensuring compliance with Health Service Authority guidelines, the Return-to-Office and ultimately the move to Hybrid Working.

Director of Accounting for EMEA and APAC regions. • Responsible for International Financial, Regulatory, Management and Board Reporting (40 FTEs) for Consumer Money Transfer segment, including for licensed entities in Europe and Asia. • Led the Finance team through the acquisitions of Fexco Money Transfer ($243m, 2010), Angelo Costa (€100m, 2011), and Finint (€100m, 2011) Master Agents, overseeing the delivery of key activities and ultimate integration into the WU operating model.

Responsible for statutory, management, and group reporting for DEPFA. • Managed the migration of the Group Accounting function from Frankfurt to Dublin (2001). • Key Finance leader during Financial Crisis and the €100bn liquidity bailout (2008/09) that ensured continuity of the bank. • As Finance Lead for 2007 €5.7bn acquisition by Hypo Real Estate Group (’HRE’), oversaw all financial due diligence activities and a redesign of the HRE Chart of Accounts.

Qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Audit experience consisted of financial services (funds, ATC's, banking internal audit) and of Industry (including timber processing, television, food processing). Other non audit work included controls design and assessment, and accounts preparation.

The programme covered Bank Governance, Global Prudential Regulation, Bank Capital, Dynamic Balance Sheet Management and Stress Testing, Operational Risk and Enterprise Risk Management and Oversight, Integration of ESG into Governance Frameworks, Audit Committees, Credit Risk Management and Oversight, Interest Rate and Market Risk, Liquidity Risk, Conduct Risk, Culture, Bank Strategy, Executive Remuneration & Incentives.

I studied Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), with a focus on integrating sustainability across an organisation's value-chain. The programme covered: · Importance of sustainability in business; · Leveraging technology, design, and innovation for sustainable practices; · Integrating marketing and communication strategies into sustainability efforts; · Creating value through stakeholder collaboration and partnerships.

The programme covered Theoretical Perspectives on Corporate Governance, Regulatory Frameworks, Director Responsibilities, Role of Boards, ESG/Sustainability, Board Behaviour, Culture, Executive Remuneration, Audit Committees, Risk Management, Annual Reports/Financial Statements, Leadership, Strategy.

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