Finance Lead

CBRE Local UK
Job Title: Finance Lead

Location: London

About the Role
As a CBRE Finance Lead you will lead sustainable financial growth by taking ownership of the financial strategy, controls and management information for the Contract / group of contracts.
Provide insight and influence to impact performance and maintain competitive advantage alongside financial and contract support leadership and direction. This will involve personal attitude, use of skills and dissemination of knowledge. Use specialist knowledge and experience to provide insight and influence, to impact performance standards. Implement improvements, drive change, raise standards through the direct and indirect management of the team. Act as a business partner to the Alliance Director/AGM to both advise and challenge senior management on contract performance. Build meaningful relationships across multi-stakeholders within CBRE leveraging opportunity to improve contract(s) profile.

What You’ll Do

Financial Reporting

• Participate in monthly formal Contract and Project reviews. Ensure use of best practice, communication and understanding of key business messages through monthly site visits with focus on underperforming contracts and projects.

• Prepare accurate Contract reports in line with monthly company timetable including full Profit & Loss account with analysis and commentary, Balance Sheet extracts and reconciliations, detailed Project Profitability reporting, Profit & Loss forecasts and annual plans.

• Support BU F&CSM in preparing Business Unit reports and commentary.

• Use PowerBI to provide best in class Management Information to both Client and CBRE management.

• Provide ad-hoc support and financial analysis as required.

• Align with BU F&CSM to meet key Business Unit deadlines.

Contract and Finance Management

• Continually review, maintain and improve cash-flow, margins and reporting. Develop targets and benchmarking processes to challenge the financial information.

• Drive high quality financial / commercial performance through understanding the contractual commitments on all service lines and ensure is aligned and consistent with global contract management practices.

• Identify and help drive implementation of savings opportunities to ensure Client and CBRE financial savings targets are maximized.

• Review Client P&L results and challenge.

• Active management of overheads whilst seeking out areas for efficiencies for savings.

• Build and develop high level relationships with business and account leaders, customers, BSO, Controllership and external agencies (e.g. auditors).

• Constantly improve quality, service and efficiency.

• Communicate regularly with contract financial and contract support staff to ensure they are fully informed of operational objectives and achievements.

• Identify, analyse and resolve potential business risks, as well as opportunities and solutions to enhance business performance.

Finance Processes, Procedures and Reporting

• Ensure company policies and procedures are adhered to consistently throughout the Contract(s).

• Ensure compliance with all SOX controls and US GAAP accounting.

• Manage the integrity of data in CBRE ERP systems.

• Drive efficiency and best practice through the best use of CBRE system generated reports.

• Continually drive best practice to maximize the efficiency benefits of CBRE ERP’s and systems, eliminating all manual processes, journals and reporting.

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of accounting records and financial systems, identify opportunities to enhance system efficiencies

• Have thorough knowledge of procedures and processes and lead the delivery of these to the required standard.

• Manage compliance through the required procedures and processes.

Finance Planning

• Assisting in the preparation of annual Plan for and monitoring the forecast through the year.

• Assist BU F&CSM in preparing budgeting & forecasting analysis and correlation to actual performance.

• Challenge the contract(s) when performance trending off track, identifying opportunities and risks to results.

• Ensure balance sheet and cash flow Plans are prepared.

Financial Governance

• Ensure CBRE and statutory obligations are met for reporting and governance purposes.

• Responsibility for ensuring the integrity of the Balance Sheet.

• Ensure quarterly balance sheet reconciliations are carried out and reviewed

People Management

• Recruit, induct, manage, target, motive and develop the team.

• Carry out structured appraisals and ensure personal development plans are in place and include succession plans.

• Build, lead and motivate a diverse and effective team. Empower team members to take responsibility and accountability.

• Supervise and review performance of individuals in the team.

• Convey messages and ideas clearly and openly. Involve people and influence decisions.

Success Measures
Success in this role will be measured through defined targets as follows:

• Achievement of Contract annual financial plan

• Achievement of Contract KPIs in line with business requirements

What You’ll Need

• Hold a Chartered Accountant qualification (or equivalent)

• 2 years PQE

• Highly computer literate

• Ability to combine strategic vision with hands-on, pragmatic delivery.

• IT Skills to achieve key tasks and give the business a sound reporting base.

• Superior written and verbal communication skills with strong oral presentation skills

• Capable of working in a matrix environment

• Understands the requirements of operating in a cross border multiservice line environment.

• Worked in a complex multinational with hands on experience of managing teams

• Track record of achieving results through others.

• Proven commercial acumen and ability to contribute to decision-making.

• Management skills to maximise the performance of staff working directly for them and others

• Ability to shape, lead and influence other senior managers

• Well developed, effective communication skills enabling the individual to work with Board Members, clients, suppliers, and staff at all levels and of all abilities

• Self-motivated and ambitious

• Results/ task orientated, with attention to detail and accuracy

• Excellent time management and organisational skills

• Commitment to continuous improvement

• Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently

• Committed to customer service delivery

• Able to make sound decisions when needed and take accountability for outcomes

• Calm manner, able to work under pressure and with changing demands and priorities

• Confidential and discrete approach

• The individual must be willing to undertake travel as the role/business requires

Core Competencies

• Collaborates across the Organisation

• Build talent & lead teams

• Drives for results

• Plans & acts strategically

• Communicates effectively