Finance Director

CBRE; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE is seeking a Client Finance Director based in London or Doncaster to lead financial governance, planning and reporting for key client engagements. You will manage a team of seven, drive month-end close, optimise overheads and ensure SOX controls are embedded across the GWS and client contracts.

The role requires Chartered Accountant qualifications, strong commercial acumen, and experience in a multiservice line environment with GMP and cost-plus/fixed-price models.

Qualifications

• Qualified CA with strong financial governance experience across multiservice lines.
• Experience delivering monthly actuals, budgets and forecasts in large matrix organisations.
• Proven ability to drive end-to-end close processes and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Knowledge of GMP, GMP cost models and external/internal audits.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills for a team of 7+.

Responsibilities

• Drive month end close timetable to meet group reporting requirements.
• Deliver GWS and Client monthly actuals, budgets and forecasts.
• Provide best in class management information including Actuals vs Budget.
• Oversee financial governance, balance sheet integrity and policy compliance.
• Lead finance processes, data integrity and inter-system reporting.
• Identify savings opportunities and drive efficiency across service lines.
• Develop high level relationships with business leaders and external auditors.
• Mentor and manage the finance team to ensure performance and succession.

Skills

Financial leadership

Governance & controls

SOX compliance

People management

Contract management

Education

Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent

Higher education (A-level/degree)

Tools

PeopleSoft

Coupa

Job description

• Developing high quality and effective Client relationships.
• Build good working relationship with Alliance Director & key client members and be a key strategic partner for both.
• Provide detailed GMP rec to the client each Qtr.
• Adhoc reporting as required for the client.
• Tightly manage contract governance, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of the terms and conditions of the contract to ensure that all cost elements are appropriately accounted for.
• Manage annual Client and GWS external as well as internal audits and ensure high quality audit responses.
• Assist with client team requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Support any GWS transformation and client initiatives, working closely with other functions to ensure full alignment of deliverables and results.
• Positively respond to both our internal and external customers (often in a matrix environment) through effective communication and personal accessibility/credibility.
• Deliver GWS and Client monthly actuals, budgets and forecasts.
• Provide best in class Management Information to both Client and GWS management to include Actuals v Budget.
• Provide ad-hoc support and financial analysis as required.
• Drive month end close timetable to meet Group reporting requirements, ensuring this is communicated to all stakeholders, including Shared Service Centre (SSC).

Job Title: Client Finance Director

Contract/Dept: Finance

Reports To: Divisional Finance Director

Direct Reports: 7

Location: Doncaster or London

Key Tasks

Customer

• Developing high quality and effective Client relationships.
• Build good working relationship with Alliance Director & key client members and be a key strategic partner for both.
• Provide detailed GMP rec to the client each Qtr.
• Adhoc reporting as required for the client.
• Tightly manage contract governance, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of the terms and conditions of the contract to ensure that all cost elements are appropriately accounted for.
• Manage annual Client and GWS external as well as internal audits and ensure high quality audit responses.
• Assist with client team requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Support any GWS transformation and client initiatives, working closely with other functions to ensure full alignment of deliverables and results.
• Positively respond to both our internal and external customers (often in a matrix environment) through effective communication and personal accessibility/credibility.

Financial Reporting

• Deliver GWS and Client monthly actuals, budgets and forecasts.
• Provide best in class Management Information to both Client and GWS management to include Actuals v Budget.
• Provide ad-hoc support and financial analysis as required.
• Drive month end close timetable to meet Group reporting requirements, ensuring this is communicated to all stakeholders, including Shared Service Centre (SSC).

Finance Leadership

• Drive high quality financial / commercial performance through understanding the contractual commitments on service lines
• Identify and help drive implementation of savings opportunities to ensure Client and GWS financial savings targets are achieved and maximised
• Ensure your finance team take responsibility for GWS Balance Sheet governance and account reconciliations together with full compliance with SOX control requirements within GWS.
• Review P&L results and challenge.
• Active management of overheads for business whilst seeking out areas for efficiencies for savings.
• Build and develop high level relationships with business and account leaders, customers and external agencies (e.g. auditors).
• Constantly improve quality, service and efficiency.
• Communicate regularly with contract financial and contract support staff to ensure they are fully informed of operational objectives and achievements.
• Identify, analyse and resolve potential business risks, as well as opportunities and solutions to enhance business performance.

Finance Processes, Procedures and Reporting

• Ensure full substantiation of all accruals, in line with GWS policy.
• Manage the integrity of data in Client reporting and GWS systems.
• Develop an understanding of how to best utilise GWS system-generated reporting capabilities.
• Continually develop systems to maximise efficiency benefits for client & GWS.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of accounting records and financial systems, identify opportunities to enhance system efficiencies
• Ensure adherence to processes for reconciling Intercompany balances monthly.
• Have thorough knowledge of procedures and processes and lead the delivery of these to the required standard.
• Manage compliance through the required procedures and processes.

Finance Planning

• Drive the annual budget cycle by site showing understanding of key cost drivers and Single Point of Contact for all budget communications.
• Assisting in the preparation of annual bottom-up Plan for and monitoring the forecast through the year.
• Ensure balance sheet and cash flow Plans are prepared and reviewed.

Financial Governance

• Ensure CBRE & country statutory obligations are met for reporting and governance purposes.
• Responsibility for ensuring the integrity of the Balance Sheet and Balance Sheet Commentary.
• Ensure monthly balance sheet reconciliations are carried out and reviewed
• Driving and agreeing any financial policy requirements with the Divisional Finance Director.

People Management

• Line Management responsibility for finance team, ensuring high quality finance team and succession planning in place.
• Build, lead and motivate a diverse and effective team. Empower team members to take responsibility and accountability.
• Supervise and review performance of individuals in the team.
• Convey messages and ideas clearly and openly. Involve people and influence decisions. Success Measures

Person Specification

• Hold a Chartered Accountant qualification (or equivalent)
• Higher educational qualifications to ‘A’ level or degree (or equivalent)
• Highly computer literate
• Ability to combine strategic vision with hands-on, pragmatic delivery.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills with strong oral presentation skills
• Understands the requirements of operating in a multiservice line environment.

Experience

• Worked in a complex multinational with hands on experience of managing teams
• Track record of achieving results
• Proven commercial acumen and ability to contribute to decision-making
• Management skills to maximise the performance of staff working directly for them and others
• Previous experience of a service industry role using operating systems such as PeopleSoft/Coupa
• Dealt with GMP, Cost plus and Fixed price commercial models
• Involved in acquisitions, including the integration of new businesses
• Ability to shape, lead and influence other senior managers
• Confidential and discrete approach