Head of Finance Shared Services

We are recruiting for a Head of Finance Shared Services. This global finance role will lead the growth of a newly created finance shared services team, ensuring services to the business are delivered aligned with Service Level Agreements and targeted KPIs which are communicated to the Finance Directors in the regions.

The Role

The position requires broad financial and systems knowledge across accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial control, reporting, projects and intercompany. The role will be responsible for identifying efficiencies, implementing controls and leading the direction for the shared service team. It will include collaboration with other business operations departments (IT & HR), policy & procedure review, global alignment, communication with internal & external stakeholders, resourcing & prioritisation of the new services to be introduced to a shared services centre.

Responsibilities

• Identification and implementation of transactional workflows being centralised.
• Regional cost savings.
• Improvement to efficiency, controls and supporting our regional finance teams.
• Supporting the Director of Financial Accounting & Reporting and the CFO on making their vision for the ‘future of finance’ a reality.
• To support and grow a high performing team, motivated to deliver high standards of service to the business.
• Review of transactional processes across the business to identify and assess suitability to centralise into the shared service centre.
• Create, communicate and implement new policies and procedures as required.
• Identify system dependencies for maximum efficiency and engage with operational finance team for implementation.
• Identify areas of improvement – Align to global risk matrix. Improvements include (not exclusive to) governance, controls, automation, efficiencies and supporting future growth.
• Lead on global compliance lead initiatives.
• Continually assess and refine SLAs with key stakeholders and report meaningful KPI’s to track progress, implementing improvements plans as necessary to drive delivery excellence.
• Monitor KPIs with regular reporting and benchmarking.
• Effectively manage and monitor the flow of work across the share service centre, re-planning and prioritising resources as necessary.
• Cultivate an environment that encourages maximum productivity and service effectiveness, professional development, open communication, and teamwork.
• Standardise and rationalise processes and ensure they are documented and satisfy the relevant financial control requirements, and ensure all owned processes have fully operating controls.
• Ensure appropriate training and knowledge transfer occurs across all relevant business processes.
• Manage relationships with internal stakeholders responsible for strategies, process consolidations, process improvements, system developments/implementations, and value-added initiatives.
• Work closely with operational heads to align on cross-functional global projects.
• Other ad hoc projects as required by the Finance Leadership team.
  
  
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualified CIMA/ACCA/ACA.
• Previous experience in a similar role and level.
• Broad experience and knowledge of finance functions and experience with guiding and supporting strategic and tactical decision making.
• Ability to actively engage stakeholders and staff to ensure processes are executed consistently.
• Applied strategic thinking and complex problem solving.
• Strong team player, yet comfortable to work autonomously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deal with finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience in communicating and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Highly organised with the proven ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines.
• Confident, proactive character, with the ability to take the lead in challenging situations; able to work unsupervised and use own initiative.
• Positive and collaborative approach to support and grow the global Buro Happold business.
• Resilient with excellent communication skills and demonstrable attention to detail.
  
  
  

Desirable skills:

• Experience of professional services or the construction industry would be an advantage.
• Experience of Unit4 accounting system would be useful but not essential.
• Experience of Deltek Vantagepoint would be an advantage but not essential.
  
  
  

Styles & Behaviours

• Creative thinker and problem solver - able to think strategically and also get into the detail.
• A good communicator and influencer - able to foster an environment for learning and creativity by leading a newly established team and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing.
•  Is seen as a role model; strives to behave in a positive and inspiring manner at all times.
• Develops and maintains internal and external networks and relationships. Is able to call upon a wide range of contacts; puts colleagues in touch with internal and external contacts.
• Is able to secure other Buro Happold expertise/resources at the right time and can lead cross group meetings and events.
• Develops an open relationship with the team to ensure they have support and direction needed to deliver goals.
• Does not sit on problems, proactively seeks solutions. Through knowledge of their specialism minimises challenging circumstances for the team or motivates them to a solution in unforeseen circumstances.
• Finds way of solving problems amicably by demonstrating a flexible and lateral approach to business and project situations avoiding confrontation and litigation.
• Takes time to consider how their specialism can impact positively on the business.
  
  
  

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact [email protected] so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.

#Hybrid