ClearBank, the enabler of real-time clearing and embedded banking, today announced the appointment of Valerie Romanovskaya as UK Chief Financial Officer, subject to regulatory approval. In this role, Romanovskaya will join ClearBank UK’s Executive Team and UK Board of Directors.

Romanovskaya joins ClearBank following her role as Director of Finance and Head of FP&A at HSBC Innovation Bank. She brings with her more than two decades of experience in finance, accounting and auditing, having worked at HSBC, Silicon Valley Bank and UBS.

Founded in 2015, ClearBank has established itself as the market leader in agency banking and embedded banking infrastructure, serving blue-chip clients such as TrueLayer, Tide, Chip, Coinbase, Raisin and Wealthify. The bank has maintained profitability since 2022, and last year reported 91% year-on-year growth in total income to £111.3m and first annual pre-tax profit of £18.4m.

The announcement follows the appointment of Emma Hagan as UK CEO earlier this year, who will take up the role following regulatory approval. The two will work together to support ClearBank’s growth ambitions in the UK. Romanovskaya will also work closely with ClearBank’s CFO, Mark Fairless, to support the Group’s broader finance function.

Romanovskaya will be responsible for all finance-related activities at the UK bank, including financial planning and performance, capital and liquidity and financial regulatory reporting.

The UK CFO role is an important part of ClearBank’s organisational changes to support its international growth plans. Last month, ClearBank secured a Credit Institution Licence from the European Central Bank, under the supervision of De Nederlandsche Bank, allowing it to expand its services into Europe. The new structure will support the bank’s international model as it plans to expand to North America and other markets.

Emma Hagan, CEO of ClearBank UK, said: “We are excited about the wealth of knowledge that Valerie brings to ClearBank. Her strong leadership, strategic mindset, and proven track record in driving financial success make her a great fit for our organisation. I look forward to working with her closely as we target further growth in the UK.”

Valerie Romanovskaya, Chief Financial Officer at ClearBank UK, said: “For years, I have admired ClearBank’s technology-first banking approach and the way in which it has driven innovation in the fintech sector. I am eager to work with the team as we move ahead with the next stage of our journey, driving UK growth as the company targets international expansion.”