Vice President Finance

LP1105

The Opportunity

Finatal are retained by a rapidly growing c.€100m revenue global digital services and technology business. Having successfully expanded its footprint across Europe through a targeted buy-and-build strategy, the business is now entering an exciting new chapter and is seeking a VP of Finance to lead the professionalisation and next phase of growth across its European division.

Based in Paris, this is a high-impact leadership role with true regional ownership. The European division spans the UK, France, Spain and Germany. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial infrastructure and strategic direction of a business that is scaling quickly and with real ambition.

The Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring compliance with HGB, US GAAP, PCG, and all financial reporting requirements across 8 entities and 3 tax groups
• Manage and develop local accounting teams across the region
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closings, ensuring accuracy and timeliness across all group entities
• Own and enhance KPI reporting, ensuring metrics are clearly defined, actionable, and effectively communicated to leadership
• Support the optimisation and effective use of accounting systems and tools including NetSuite, LucaNet, Tipalti, DATEV, Spendesk, and Elster
• Lead initiatives to improve efficiency through automation, standardisation, and process optimisation

Compliance, Audit & Internal Controls

• Develop and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and documentation to support consistency and compliance
• Ensure compliance with German, French, and UK regulations, including corporate income tax, social security taxes, VAT, and regulatory reporting requirements
• Manage and coordinate financial, tax, and social security audits
• Identify financial risks and recommend mitigation strategies
• Manage and coordinate broader compliance requirements including KYC requests and statutory documentation

Strategy & Business Partnership

• Partner closely with the CFO and FP&A teams on budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning
• Collaborate with Marketing, HR, and Operations teams to ensure accurate financial tracking and reporting
• Support the continued professionalisation and scaling of the European finance function

What You’ll Need to Be Successful

• Degree in Business Administration or equivalent commercial qualification, with 10+ years’ experience in complex accounting and financial reporting environments, ideally within financial services, a Big 4 firm, or a high-growth international business
• Certified accountant qualification is advantageous
• Deep expertise in German GAAP (HGB), alongside strong knowledge of IFRS and/or US GAAP, German VAT law, and German income taxation
• Strong understanding of financial statements, complex consolidations, equity consolidation, group accounting, intercompany reconciliation, internal controls (ICS), and transfer pricing principles
• Experience preparing HGB consolidated financial statements, including disclosures and reconciliation schedules, is advantageous
• Proven experience supporting audits and managing relationships with external auditors
• Hands‑on leadership style combining operational excellence with strategic thinking and a continuous improvement mindset
• Highly analytical and solution‑oriented, with the ability to challenge existing processes and drive optimisation across financial operations and controls
• Strong systems and process orientation, with advanced experience using ERP systems such as NetSuite, financial consolidation tools such as LucaNet, and advanced Excel / Google Sheets capabilities; exposure to DATEV payroll software and system implementations is beneficial
• Excellent communication and business partnering skills, with the ability to clearly articulate financial performance, key drivers, and actionable insights to finance and non‑finance stakeholders, including senior leadership