Finance Project Manager

Lazard; Paris; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Lazard’s Paris AM Finance department seeks a Finance Project Manager to lead high-priority integration projects, aligning target entity accounting with Lazard Group consolidation under US GAAP and French GAAP.

You'll coordinate cross-functional teams, maintain stakeholder communication, manage milestones and deadlines, and support monthly/quarterly/yearly closes, tax reporting, and budgeting. Fluent English and French required; strong project-management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in Finance with 3 seasons as auditor and experience as financial/management controller in Asset Management.
• Strong knowledge of French GAAP and US GAAP or IFRS GAAP.
• Fluent in English and French; able to communicate with diverse stakeholders.
• Practical computer skills and familiarity with consolidation principles and tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage the integration of the target entity’s accounting into Lazard Group consolidation under US GAAP and Group management control.
• Coordinate with Paris AM Finance teams, Tax, and external advisors to ensure timely milestones.
• Prepare Finance project meetings and slides for stakeholders.
• Set up detailed project plans, adjust timelines, and ensure key accounting and tax deadlines are met.
• Perform operational accounting/ reporting tasks from UAT to postings; support daily/ monthly/ quarterly closes.
• Assist in producing the Budget / Forecasts and ad-hoc analyses.
• Ensure documentation is complete and up-to-date; maintain clear communication with all parties.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Analytical skills

Adaptability

Fluent English & French

SOX/compliance awareness

Consolidation knowledge

Microsoft Office

Education

Finance Master or equivalent

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

The Paris AM Finance department, which currently has 18 employees, is divided into 3 teams: the general accounting team, the Group and Management reporting team and the regulatory reporting team.

The Finance Project Manager, reporting directly to the Paris AM Deputy Head of Finance, will be responsible for managing high-priority projects within the Finance department : ongoing project consisting in the integration and alignment with Lazard finance processes of an AM company, pecialized in Private Equity, ensuring compliance with US GAAP and French GAAP accounting standards, effective management control and corporate tax reporting and payment.

The role involves coordinating with various teams to ensure timely delivery of projects milestones, maintaining clear communication with stakeholders, and ensuring that all project goals are met within the stipulated deadlines.

The role also includes operational tasks, as long as the final organization of the Finance Department after integrating the target entity has not been defined and set up.

Missions

In close collaboration with the Head of AM Finance and her Deputy, your main missions will be:

• to manage the integration of the target entity’s accounting into Lazard Group consolidation process, ensuring strict adherence to US GAAP and Group management control practices (SOX)
• to manage the integration of the target entity’s accounting into the Holding company Compagnie Financière Lazard Frères’ scope, under French GAAP
• to ensure all project documentation is complete and up-to-date
• to set up a detailed project plan and adjust timelines and milestones as needed, to ensure that the key accounting and tax deadlines are met (monthly, quarterly, yearly closes, as well as budget and forecast)
• to prepare Finance project meetings (slides)
• to facilitate effective communication and coordinate with the various stakeholders, including: the other team members of the Paris AM Finance team (Accounts Payable, Accounting, Group and Management reporting, Regulatory), Group consolidation and accounting policy teams, Paris AM Finance teams (Accounting, Group reporting and Regulatory) and Tax team, Finance Operation team (FinOps), Paris Project team for the contemplated acquisition: AM General Counsel, AM Management, HR Director, Private Equity Manager, external advisors, The target’s CFO, ...
• to analyze the transactions and assess their accounting and reporting incidence
• to perform operational accounting and reporting tasks, from UAT to actual postings, while
• accompanying the team to take over recurring tasks: day-to-day accounting, consolidation accounting (Equity method, full consolidation...), monthly, quarterly, yearly closings: accruals, US GAAP adjustments, tax calculations, control over minimum capital and cash requirements (Financial Market Authority regulated entity)
• to participate in the production of the Budget / Forecasts
• to prepare ad’hoc analyses
• With a Finance Master or equivalent (Business school or university), you have a minimum 5-year experience in Finance, ideally including 3 seasons as an auditor and an experience as a financial / management controller in the Asset Management sector.
• You have a good knowledge of accounting in French GAAP and US or IFRS GAAP.
• You have practical computer skills (Windows pack Office: Excel, Word, Powerpoint).
• You are familiar with consolidation principles and tools.
• You have good organizational and communication skills and are fluent both in English and French
• You have good analytical skills with a focus on management control.
• You can adapt easily to changing project requirements and priorities.
• You are used to collaborative work and have an experience in project management.
• You are accountable for what you produce.