Brian Kennedy
Belfast
Summary
ACA-qualified finance professional with experience across Big 4 audit and global banking environments. Background in financial controls, audit, and regulatory governance within complex regulated institutions, with strong exposure to financial reporting processes and data analysis. Experienced in assessing control effectiveness, analysing financial information, and partnering with stakeholders across finance, risk, and operations teams to support reporting integrity and process improvement initiatives. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with experience working in fast-paced corporate environments. Currently seeking to transition into broader financial reporting and accounting-focused roles where technical, governance, and data analysis capabilities can add value.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Vice President | Citi | Markets Controls Testing
Citi
Belfast
2025.04 - Current
- Perform controls testing and governance reviews across Markets business activities within a complex global banking environment, assessing control effectiveness and supporting reporting integrity.
- Analyse financial and operational data to identify control gaps, process weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement across key reporting and operational processes.
- Partner with stakeholders across finance, operations, risk, and front-office teams to support regulatory compliance and strengthen financial governance frameworks.
- Review process documentation, reconciliations, and reporting outputs to validate control execution and support remediation activities.
- Contribute to delivery of governance and regulatory initiatives within a highly regulated financial services environment.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on enhancing process efficiency, reporting quality, and control standardisation.
Senior Associate - Digital Audit & Controls
PwC
Belfast
2022.07 - 2026.05
- Delivered audit and controls engagements for large multinational clients across financial services and regulated industries.
- Evaluated the design and effectiveness of financial and operational control environments supporting financial reporting and regulatory compliance processes.
- Analysed large financial datasets using Alteryx and Excel to identify exceptions, validate data integrity, and support audit conclusions.
- Collaborated with client finance, operations, and technology teams to assess process controls and recommend improvements to reporting and governance frameworks.
- Led and reviewed work performed by junior team members, supporting engagement delivery and stakeholder communication.
- Contributed to process automation and data analytics initiatives to improve efficiency and reporting accuracy within audit engagements.
Associate - Digital Audit & Controls
PwC
Belfast
2020.05 - 2022.06
- Conducted digital audits, focusing on IT systems and processes to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Assisted with designing and executing audit plans, utilizing data analytics for pinpointing key areas of vulnerability.
- Collaborated with senior auditors and clients to develop actionable recommendations for improvement.
Compliance Testing Associate
PwC
Belfast
2019.08 - 2020.04
- Conducted risk assessments and developed mitigation strategies to address identified issues.
- Assisted in the development and implementation of compliance programs
and policies. - Managed client relationships, organising regular meetings to discuss ongoing projects and future needs.
Education
Bachelor of Accounting -
Queen's University
Belfast, Northern IrelandSkills
Financial Controls & Reporting Governance
Experience assessing control environments and supporting reporting integrity within highly regulated financial services organisations
Financial Data AnalysisSkilled in analysing complex financial datasets to identify trends, validate reporting accuracy, and support decision-making processes
Audit & Risk AssessmentStrong background in evaluating financial and operational risks, identifying control weaknesses, and supporting remediation activities
Stakeholder ManagementExperience collaborating with finance, risk, operations, and audit stakeholders across large-scale corporate environments
Process ImprovementAbility to identify inefficiencies and support enhancements to financial processes, reporting workflows, and governance frameworks
Data Analytics & Reporting ToolsExperience using Alteryx and Excel for data analysis, reconciliations, reporting support, and audit analytics Currently developing SQL and Power BI skills
Regulatory Compliance (SOX,CASS)
Experience supporting compliance with regulatory frameworks including SOX and CASS through controls testing, documentation review, and governance assessments
Certification
- Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) Qualification
Chartered Accountants Ireland
September 2020 - April 2024
Timeline
Vice President | Citi | Markets Controls Testing
Citi
2025.04 - Current
Senior Associate - Digital Audit & Controls
PwC
2022.07 - 2026.05
Associate - Digital Audit & Controls
PwC
2020.05 - 2022.06
Compliance Testing Associate
PwC
2019.08 - 2020.04
Bachelor of Accounting -
Queen's University