Head of Finance

The Head of Finance will be responsible for driving financial governance, control, and strategic insight within the organisation. This role supports the senior management and the Group Finance function by ensuring timely, accurate, and meaningful financial analysis and reporting, while maintaining robust financial processes and controls to meet regulatory, management, and audit standards. You will contribute to financial planning, decision-making, and process improvement initiatives across the business.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Control & Reporting
Manage financial operations and reporting for the European entitles located in Germany.
Lead the preparation of statutory financial statements under HGB and IFRS, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and audit readiness.
Manage external audit processes and relationships with auditors.
Maintain strong balance sheet control and reconciliation governance.
Oversee month-end and year-end close processes, including preparation and review of manual journals, variance analysis, and financial reporting packages.
Own relevant Key Controls, including Monthly Finance Reconciliations, Balance Sheet Substantiation and Segregation of Duties for Payment and Journals
Adopt a continuous improvement approach to the financial controls framework
Accounts Payable
oversee the operations of, the outsourced Accounts Payable function to ensure accurate, timely and controlled processing of supplier invoices, employee expenses and payment runs
General Finance Responsibilities
Develop and manage annual budgets and rolling forecasts in partnership with business leaders, ensuring alignment between operational performance and strategic goals.
Provide detailed financial analysis and insight to senior management, identifying cost optimisation and efficiency opportunities.
Support commercial and operational management through monthly performance reviews, KPI tracking, and strategic reporting.
Team Leadership
Lead, coach, and develop a small team of management accountants, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring ongoing professional development.
Provide mentorship and support to junior team members, promoting engagement and skill development within the function.
Cultivate a collaborative environment, promoting best practices and continuous improvement in processes and reporting.
Key Skills:
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability with attention to detail.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management across international teams.
Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple deadlines under pressure.
Advanced Excel skills; proficient in Oracle.
Experience:
Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or equivalent) or CFA/MBA in Finance/Business.
5+ years of international experience in financial reporting, FP&A, budgeting, and audit coordination within the financial services, banking, or multinational corporate sectors.
Proven ability to manage statutory reporting under IFRS and HGB and coordinating external audits.
Experience leading multi-entity regional finance operations and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated capability in driving efficiency improvements and supporting strategic financial initiatives.