Director of Finance

A hugely exciting opportunity to join an international organisation assuming responsibility for the EMEA finance function overseeing a team across the Surrey, Germany & Holland. This position will also have change & transformation projects associated within the remit.

Regional Controller / Finance Director, EMEA – Benefits

• Performance related bonus scheme

• Significant influence at senior leadership and regional decision-making level

• Opportunity to shape and lead finance transformation across EMEA

• Exposure to a fast-scaling, international business environment

• Hybrid working

Regional Controller / Finance Director, EMEA – About The Role

This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious and commercially driven finance leader to step into a pivotal Regional Controller / Finance Director role with genuine influence across a complex, international landscape.

You will operate at the heart of the EMEA leadership team, owning financial performance while driving transformation, control, and strategic insight across the region. This is not a purely oversight role it requires a hands-on leader who can balance technical excellence with commercial impact.

With full ownership of reporting, forecasting, and financial governance, you will play a critical role in elevating finance as a true business partner. You’ll also lead key transformation initiatives, improving systems, controls, and processes to support scalability and performance. Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as the senior finance lead across EMEA, partnering closely with regional leadership

• Owning financial performance, delivering clear insight on risks, opportunities, and drivers

• Leading all aspects of financial reporting in line with US GAAP and statutory requirements

• Driving best-in-class forecasting, budgeting, and long-range planning processes

• Enhancing revenue recognition and POC accounting in a high-judgement environment

• Building and embedding a robust, scalable financial control framework

• Leading transformation initiatives across systems, processes, and reporting capabilities

• Elevating the quality, speed, and impact of management and executive reporting

• Optimising cash flow, treasury strategy, and working capital performance

• Partnering with operations to improve profitability and project-level performance

• Leading audits with confidence and ensuring a strong, compliant control environment

• Building, mentoring, and inspiring a high-performing regional finance team

The successful Regional Controller / Finance Director, EMEA will have:

• A proven track record in senior finance leadership roles within complex, multinational environments

• Deep expertise across controllership, FP&A, and financial strategy

• Strong technical grounding in US GAAP and financial governance

• A commercially minded approach with the ability to influence at executive level

• Experience driving finance transformation and continuous improvement initiatives

• Advanced capability in Excel, Power BI, and financial modelling

• Experience with ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics D365 highly advantageous)

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills

• The gravitas, resilience, and ambition to operate in a fast-paced, high-impact role

Desirable:

• CPA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification

• Experience in private equity-backed or listed environments

• Exposure to data analytics or SQL

Howett Thorpe are acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role and comply with all relevant UK legislation and do not discriminate on any protected characteristics. Due to the high volume of applications we currently receive, we are unable to respond to all candidates. If you do not hear from a Consultant within 5 working days, please assume that you have not been successful.

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