Finance Director

CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS); South Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) seeks a Client Finance Director to lead finance for major client contracts. Based in Doncaster or London, you will oversee monthly closings, budgeting, forecasting, and commercial governance, while maintaining strong relationships with the client and internal stakeholders.

You will manage a team of seven, ensure SOX compliance, drive efficiency improvements, and deliver high-quality financial insights to support decision making.

Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant with strong audit and governance exposure.
• Experience leading finance teams in a multinational services environment.
• Proven ability to drive cost control and financial transformation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver monthly actuals, budgets and forecasts for GWS client contracts.
• Provide management information and variance analysis to client and internal teams.
• Drive month-end close and ensure SOX compliance.
• Lead balance sheet governance and audit responses.
• Manage and develop a high-performing finance team.

Skills

Chartered Accountant

Leadership

Strategic planning

Multiservice environment experience

Education

CA qualification

Degree or equivalent

Tools

PeopleSoft

Coupa

Job description

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