Europe Finance Director

Shaping the future of entire cities, designing infrastructure and buildings to combat climate change - a career at Buro Happold means making a difference. With a world-renowned reputation, our employees and commitment ensure we make a positive difference to our clients, the environment and entire communities.If you want to make a difference with us - this is your chance

A commercially focused and autonomous leadership role, ensuring all areas of our Europe business are adopting best practice, working together to make our projects successful and adopting consistent strategies to improve our project delivery and operational efficiency.

This includes tight financial & operational controls, managing all aspects of the finance function along with decision support to the leadership team. Europe is a fast paced, growth region within the Buro Happold practice with ambitious growth plans that may include acquisitions. This is a strategic and facilitative role that requires a combination of focus and flexibility, as well as a willingness to play an active, behind-the-scenes role as a ‘trusted advisor’ to the Europe Managing Director & leadership team.

Aufgaben
- Driving all aspects of the commercial and financial performance of the business unit.
- Overall responsibility for the Europe Finance team operating within 4 countries (Germany, Netherlands, Poland and Denmark)
- Management of the finance function includes the provision of:

- Monthly management and project information
- Quarterly financial reporting and the associated controls
- Financial and Commercial decision support for senior executives and engineering teams
- Control the integrity of financial data, particularly revenue recognition.
- Control of Europe payroll & transactional teams (Accounts payable & accounts receivable)
- Control of local finance systems and processes
- Preparation of budgets and forecasts.
- Preparing and delivering board reports
- Control of and management of regional office costs
- Compilation of any ad hoc reports and information requests
- Liaison with other Group and Regional finance teams
- Manage commercial risk to ensure that risks are identified, evaluated, and mitigated or escalated where appropriate.
- Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders including Project Principals, RDLs, Office Directors, Partners, and the Regional MD to ensure alignment to the US strategy.
- Support in driving efficiencies in ways of working and with the project and engineering teams.
- Key business partner to the MD and US Board members, driving strategy and formulating tactical plans.
- Control over all commercial aspects of our projects including bids, operational controls, cash, credit, and risk management.
- Identify and drive operational improvements in process and systems throughout the finance function
- Control and management of all commercial and financial aspects of running the Europe region.
- Support the business and financial integration of any companies that are acquired in Europe.
- Carry out duties with due regard to the Buro Happold Equality & Diversity objectives.

Qualifikation
- Several years of experience in highly commercial environment with at least 2 years operating at a similar level of responsibility.
- German and English speaker
- Can demonstrate proactive commercial control over a wide range of situations
- Outstanding interpersonal and networking skills with good stakeholder management and the ability to enable change and drive business improvement
- Experience of driving implementation of strategy and change
- Good project management skills with ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
- Proven ability to effectively lead finance teams within multiple office environment
- Highly organised with the proven ability to prioritize and work to tight deadlines.
- Confident and proactive, with the ability to take the lead in challenging situations
- Resilient with excellent communication skills and demonstrate an attention to detail.
- Experience of professional services or the construction industry would be an advantage
- Experience with Mergers and Acquisitions would be an advantage.
- Experience of the following would be an advantage:

- Long Term project accounting
- Working as part of an international, matrix managed business
- Consulting Engineering or Professional Services business

**Benefits**:

- a unique, interdisciplinary environment with international large-scale projects
- working with future-oriented software such as Revit
- collaboration with our offices around the world
- hybrid working from the office and home office
- flexibility of our positions for part-time and full-time
- 30 days of holiday
- language courses for our employees in German and English
- a mental well-being programme and an individual benefit programme with a focus on transportation, sports and future planning