Head of International Finance

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

12/18/2024

Why join us?

DWF is seeking a talented and motivated Finance Leader to join us as Head of International Finance to help us develop and transition to a centralized operating model, ensuring alignment with our Global Strategy. This role is critical in driving financial performance within DWF.

The candidate will possess a deep understanding of technical expertise in financial reporting, balance sheet management and compliance, along with being a skilled influencer capable of managing diverse and sometimes challenging stakeholders in a matrix structure. You will lead efforts to strengthen the control environment, take responsibility for budgeting and forecasting, and identify opportunities for value creation across international markets, ensuring the business’s financial sustainability and growth.

Your role will be based In Manchester on a Hybrid Basis.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Lead the development and execution of the firm’s international finance strategy, working closely with the Deputy CFO. Identifying opportunities for value creation and cost efficiencies across international markets.
• Stakeholder Management & Influencing: Engage with senior partners and stakeholders across various international offices, Influence decision-making and align cross-functional teams with the firm’s financial strategy, leveraging data and financial insights to support key business objectives.
• Balance Sheet Review & Financial Reporting: Lead the review and analysis of global balance sheets to ensure accuracy, integrity, and timely financial reporting, while providing insights to optimize performance, working capital, liquidity, and profitability. Collaborate with Group Treasury to minimize local working capital requirements and maximize cash returns to the group. Manage overseas audits with the support of local/UK teams and assist with technical aspects of the Group audit.
• Control Environment & Compliance: Strengthen the financial control environment across all regions. Oversee global financial compliance to ensure all international operations adhere to local and international accounting standards, tax regulations, legal requirements, and client money regulations while identifying financial risks and implementing mitigating controls as needed.
• Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning: Own the overseas budgeting process for legal entities, guiding overseas offices to contribute to the Global budgeting process with realistic and actionable forecasts. Ensure budgets align with the Group's Value Creation Plan, and provide leadership in evaluating performance against budgets, offering insights and corrective actions where necessary. Oversee the delivery of comprehensive financial reports to the Executive Team, highlighting successes and opportunities for improvement, and manage the overseas 13-week cashflow forecasting process.
• Global Finance Transformation: Lead the transition to a global finance operating model, standardizing processes across jurisdictions while accommodating local requirements, and driving automation to enhance financial reporting efficiency. Support change management initiatives e.g. digital transformation, by guiding regional finance teams through structural and process changes.
  
  

What will help you succeed in this role?

Essential

• ACA (or equivalent) qualification with a deep understanding of international accounting standards (IFRS/GAAP) and experience of writing technical IFRS papers.
• Proven ability to lead a team and influence and challenge senior stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical skills, handling significant datasets, with a track record of identifying financial issues and developing effective solutions.
• Experience managing finance operations and an understanding of regional differences and complexities.
• Demonstrate success in improving financial processes and enhancing the control environment.
• Ability to manage significant change initiatives, particularly in moving to a global operating model, and driving adoption of new financial processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights for non-financial stakeholders.
• Hands-on approach with a willingness to dive into the details when necessary. Demonstrated success in managing financial due diligence and integration of acquisitions
• Ability to translate long-term goals into actionable plans and ensure their execution.
• Experience in being involved with delivering complex projects and managing resources efficiently.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels, influence decision-making, and foster partnerships.
  
  

What we offer?

We are committed to ensuring that each member of our team feels valued and duly rewarded during their time at DWF.

We are an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We aim to create a positive experience for all candidates and offer any adjustments or additional support needed. If you're excited about the opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the requirements, please apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for the role or others across the wider team.

About Us

DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. Our approach delivers efficiency, price certainty and transparency for our clients across the world without compromising on quality or service. Our purpose is to deliver positive outcomes with our colleagues, clients and communities and we foster a culture that places our colleagues at the centre of all that we do.