Head of Finance - Madrid

NEW Head of Finance position available at global law firm to head up their Southern European regions, which would cover Madrid, Barcelona, Milan & Rome.

My client is focusing their search in Madrid as this is the largest of the four offices and the revenue for the Southern Europe region is c.150million. As the Head of Finance, you would have c.30 people underneath you with a few direct reports.

Specific duties include:

• Manage the financial planning, reporting, and analysis for the region, ensuring compliance with global and local standards and regulations
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reports to local management highlighting key performance indicators, variances, and trends
• Analyse and monitor the financial performance and profitability of the region, identifying risks and opportunities, and providing recommendations for improvement
• Provide strategic financial advice and guidance to the local leadership teams, supporting business development and growth initiatives
• Conduct financial modelling and scenario analysis to support decision making and investment proposals
• Oversee the budgeting, forecasting, and performance management processes, ensuring alignment with the firm's objectives and targets
• Coordinate and consolidate the annual budget and quarterly forecasts for the region, and communicate them to the regional finance leadership
• Establish and monitor the key performance metrics and financial targets for the region, and provide regular feedback and coaching to the finance team and the business leaders
• Manage the Firm’s lock up to targeted levels and ensure an efficient cash conversion cycle
• Manage billing and collections to their monthly phased targets, liaising with fee earners, business professional colleagues and clients as appropriate
• Ensure the regional billing and collections teams are utilising all relevant systems and tools to their maximum potential
• Lead and develop a team of finance professionals across the region, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and innovation
• Facilitate the annual performance review and compensation process for the finance team, and provide input and feedback to the regional leadership team
• Identify and implement best practices and benchmarks for the finance function, and ensure alignment and consistency with the global finance team and the other regions

Experience/background needed:

• At least 10 years’ experience working in Senior Finance/ Lead role for a law firm experience is essential
• Experience managing a regional or multi-country finance function
• A bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field. A professional qualification such as CPA, CMA, or ACCA or their equivalent would be beneficial.
• Experience in leading and developing finance teams, and driving continuous improvement and efficiency in the finance function
• Strong business acumen and analytical skills, with the ability to provide strategic insights and recommendations
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and external partners
• Fluency in English and Spanish required, working knowledge of Italian an advantage