Head of Global Shared Services Northern Europe

Galent Recruitment; West End; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Senior Finance Leader for a pivotal role in a well-known media and entertainment company. Based in London, you will oversee the Northern Europe Global Business Services function and manage a diverse team. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of finance experience, strong knowledge of IFRS and local GAAPs, and familiarity with SAP and S/4HANA. This strategic position offers significant senior leadership exposure and opportunities for process transformation in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Senior leadership exposure

Influence in strategic finance initiatives

Dynamic and innovative work environment

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in accounting and finance with shared services.
• Proven ability to manage large, distributed teams across multiple countries.
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS and local GAAP.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Northern Europe Global Business Services function.
• Manage a senior leadership team of finance professionals.
• Drive standardisation, digitisation, and process improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Intercultural awareness

Education

Professional qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, CPA)

Tools

SAP

S/4HANA

Job description

Location: London (with occasional travel across Northern Europe)

• Industry : Media & Entertainment
• Reporting Line : Group SVP, Global Business Services (plus dotted senior stakeholder exposure)
• Travel : Approx. once per month initially (may reduce over time)

GALENT are recruiting for a senior leadership opportunity suitable for an experienced finance transformation and shared services professional who seeks to work within a globally recognised media and entertainment group headquartered in London.

Environment and benefits / general selling points

This newly created position plays a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of a large, international finance organisation. It offers the opportunity to lead a multi-country shared services model, modernise processes, and help drive a significant systems transformation programme, all while having visibility with senior group-level stakeholders and contributing to long‑term strategy. You’ll work in a complex, dynamic environment where innovation and operational excellence are encouraged and where your expertise will directly influence how the business delivers finance services across Northern Europe.

You will

• Lead the Northern Europe Global Business Services function, overseeing delivery of accounting, reporting, and transactional finance services (AP, AR, treasury, general ledger) across multiple European countries.
• Manage and develop a senior leadership team with responsibility for a wider network of c.100 finance professionals across the UK, Scandinavia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and other regions.
• Drive standardisation, digitisation and process improvement, ensuring compliance with IFRS, local GAAP and group policies.
• Oversee period‑end close and statutory reporting, coordinating with group functions and external auditors.
• Build strong partnerships with local finance teams, group stakeholders and external advisors.
• Optimise how and where finance activities are delivered to create a scalable, efficient operating model.
• Play a key role in large‑scale system transformation, including the ongoing S / 4HANA rollout and associated data migration, testing and implementation projects.

Qualifications

• Senior finance leader with 10+ years’ experience in accounting / finance and several years leading a shared service or global business services organisation.
• Proven ability to run large, distributed teams across multiple countries and manage change with discretion and empathy.
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS, local GAAPs and multi‑country compliance.
• Track record of finance process transformation, ERP implementation and operational excellence, SAP / S4HANA experience strongly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management and project / change management skills, with a service‑oriented mindset and intercultural awareness.
• Professional qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, CPA) desirable; fluent English essential (other European languages a plus).

Why this is an excellent opportunity

This is a strategic, career‑defining role where you will help shape the future of a complex multi‑entity finance organisation at one of Europe’s most recognisable media and entertainment groups. You will gain senior leadership exposure, influence how finance is delivered across multiple countries, and lead transformation in a forward‑thinking, evolving environment that rewards innovation and operational excellence.

If your background matches the above, please do not hesitate to apply at your soonest convenience.

We look forward to hearing from you