Director /Senior Director Finance Operations, EMEA

Senior Director Finance Operations, EMEA

Location: EMEA hubs (Madrid, Paris, London, Dusseldorf, Milan, Warsaw)

Role Overview

The Senior Director Finance Operations, EMEA is a strategic leadership role accountable for end-to-end Finance Operations and controllership across a complex, multi-country region. Lead all the country finance organization in EU including business controls. This role combines governance excellence, operational rigor, and transformational leadership, with a strong mandate to modernize the finance operating model through standardization, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.

Key Accountabilities Finance Operations & Governance

• Own end-to-end accounting, statutory reporting, and close governance across EMEA
• Ensure timely, accurate US GAAP financial reporting and a strong business control environment across the region
• Lead responses to audits, investigations, high-risk issues
• Ensure compliance with all local countries' finance external reporting requirements
• Ensure compliance with the company Finance and Accounting Policies

Transformation & Digital Finance Leadership

• Lead large-scale Finance transformation initiatives across processes, people and systems
• Drive process harmonization, simplification, and standardization
• Own the identification, implementation, and scaling of AI and automation use cases
• Embed AI into core Finance processes with measurable impact

Shared Services & Operating Model

• Govern performance of GBS / Shared Services and outsourced providers
• Lead transitions and operating model evolution
• Define and optimize retained vs. shared services roles and accountability

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and inspire regional teams across multiple countries
• Drive organizational transformation and capability building
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership

Experience Requirements (must have)

• Experience leading and implementing AI-driven transformation in Finance, including end-to-end delivery of AI or automation initiatives with measurable impact
• Strong track record in leading large-scale Finance transformation programs (ERP, automation, shared services, process harmonization) including organization transformation
• Experience working with Global Business Services / Shared Services models
• Leading large international finance teams in matrix organizations (e.g. closing, reporting, controls) incl. proven ability to influence across regions and functions
• Experience in driving financial accuracy, compliance, and process improvements with measurable impact on risk, efficiency, and reporting quality
• Strong expertise in accounting standards and managing audits, internal controls, and compliance in complex, multi-country environments
• Experience in working with Intl' shared service centers

Key Differentiators

• Experience scaling AI solutions across regions or functions
• Ability to translate Finance challenges into practical digital solutions
• Experience in FP&A and M&A integration or operating model redesign
• Background in internal or external audit

Leadership Profile

• Enterprise mindset and strong influencing capability (stakeholder management and relationships building)
• Ability to simplify complexity while maintaining governance rigor
• Ability to solution by bringing together multiple different teams
• Strong execution and transformation leadership
• Collaborative leadership style with focus on organization development and individual talent development

Success Measures

• Accurate and timely financial close and reporting
• Strong control environment with reduced audit findings
• Increased automation and AI adoption
• Improved service delivery performance
• Successful transformation and operating model changes