Director – Expertise Comptable - Lyon

Merittas; Lyon; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Merittas in Lyon seeks a Director – Expertise Comptable to lead French client relationships, oversee technical accounting delivery and develop the Lyon practice.

The role requires a senior accounting firm background, DEC preferred, fluent French, and appetite to build teams, win new business, and collaborate with Partners.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Expertise Comptable with senior leadership exposure.
• Background in Big Four, tier two, or strong regional firms.
• Strong technical accounting capability and reporting know‑how.
• Experience managing significant client relationships and teams.
• Ability to win new business and develop the practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop senior client relationships with French businesses.
• Ensure high standards of technical accounting delivery.
• Advise on accounting and reporting matters for French clients.
• Manage and develop accounting teams and staffing.
• Support and win new business; grow existing accounts.
• Collaborate with Partners across service lines; build local market presence.

Skills

Client leadership

Team development

Business development

Commercial instincts

Senior stakeholder management

Education

Diplôme d'Expertise Comptable (DEC)

Job description

Sector: Accounting & Professional Services

We are working with a leading international accounting, advisory and professional services organisation on the appointment of a Director – Expertise Comptable in Lyon.

This is a senior leadership role within an established accounting business serving predominantly French clients.

The firm is open to considering both:

• A high-performing Senior Manager or equivalent senior professional ready to step up to Director level

The key requirement is not current title, but the ability to lead clients, develop business, build teams and take increasing ownership of the practice.

The Opportunity

The successful individual will join a well-established Expertise Comptable business and play an important role in its continued development in the Lyon market.

The role combines:

• Technical accounting oversight
• Team leadership

The position is focused on Expertise Comptable and accounting services.

This is not an Audit role.

It is also not a generic Finance Transformation or Accounting Advisory position.

The successful candidate should come from a strong accounting firm environment and have significant experience advising and supporting French businesses on their accounting and financial reporting requirements.

The Role

Responsibilities are likely to include:

• Leading and developing senior client relationships
• Ensuring high standards of technical accounting delivery
• Advising French businesses on accounting and reporting matters
• Managing and developing accounting teams
• Supporting and winning new business
• Developing existing client accounts
• Building relationships with business owners, CFOs and senior management teams
• Contributing to the growth of the firm's Lyon practice
• Working collaboratively with Partners across other service lines
• Developing a strong local market presence

The successful individual will have the opportunity to build the activity further and take on increasing leadership responsibility within the business.

The Profile

Candidates should ideally bring:

• Significant experience within Expertise Comptable
• A background within a Big Four, tier two, or strong regional accounting firm
• Strong technical accounting capability
• Experience managing significant client relationships
• Experience leading teams
• Strong commercial instincts
• The ability and willingness to develop new business
• The ambition to grow within a senior leadership role
• Strong credibility with senior French clients

Candidates may currently operate at:

• Senior Manager
• Director

A strong Senior Manager with clear Director potential can absolutely be considered.

Qualification: Diplôme d'Expertise Comptable (DEC) is strongly preferred.

Candidates with a strong Expertise Comptable background and the right level of seniority, credibility and commercial drive may also be considered where appropriate.

Language: Fluent French is essential.

The client base is predominantly French and the successful individual must be comfortable leading relationships with French business owners, CFOs and senior management teams.

The firm offers a highly collaborative and entrepreneurial environment.

The culture is characterised by:

• Direct access to senior leadership
• A collaborative rather than political environment
• A strong emphasis on teamwork
• High levels of autonomy
• Real scope to build and shape the business

The firm is looking for someone who wants to grow within a platform where success is built collectively rather than through internal competition.

Package & Progression

The firm offers a fantastic overall package, together with strong long-term progression potential.

For the right individual, the role offers the opportunity to:

• Step up to Director level
• Receive a highly attractive compensation package
• Take increasing ownership of major client relationships
• Build and develop a team
• Develop a strong local client portfolio
• Operate with significant entrepreneurial freedom
• Build a clear path toward Partnership

The precise package will depend on the individual's experience, track record and current position.

Who This Could Suit

This opportunity could be particularly attractive to:

• A Senior Manager ready to take the step up to Director
• An existing Director looking for a more entrepreneurial environment
• An Expert-Comptable who wants more autonomy and responsibility
• A commercially minded accounting professional who wants to build a meaningful leadership role

The most important factors are drive, credibility, leadership capability and the ambition to build.

For a confidential discussion, please contact [e-mail].