Finance Lead

CBRE Local UK
Job Purpose:

To lead sustainable financial growth by taking ownership of financial operations, controls and management information within the Business Unit. Provide insight and influence to impact performance and maintain competitive advantage alongside financial and contract support leadership and direction in the Business Unit. Act as point of liaison for Finance and Commercial issues for the Client and Contract teams.
This will involve personal attitude, use of skills and dissemination of knowledge. Use specialist skills and experience to provide insight and influence in order 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 Account Directors to both advise and challenge senior management on contract performance.

Key Tasks:
Customer

• Developing high quality and effective Client relationships especially across the Business Unit.

• Build good working relationship with account management and key client’s members and be a business partner for both.

• Tightly manage contract governance, demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of the terms and conditions of the contract to ensure that all cost elements are appropriately accounted for.

• Assist with client team requests in a timely and accurate manner.

• Positively respond to both our internal and external customers (often in a matrix environment) through effective communication and personal accessibility/credibility.

Financial Reporting

• 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.

• Liaising with Controllership or GWS EMEA Financial Planning and Analysis team to fulfill any ad hoc information requests.

• Support any GWS transformation and client initiatives, working closely with other functions to ensure full alignment of deliverables and results.

• Prepare accurate Business Unit 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.

• Ad-hoc reporting as requested by Divisional Finance Director, Finance Manager or Business Unit Leader.

• Provide best in class Management Information to both Client and GWS management to include Actuals v Budget.

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

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 service lines in EMEA and ensure is aligned and consistent with global contract management practices.

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

• Review Contract and Business Unit P&L results and challenge.

• Carry out regular Contract reviews and Project reviews.

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

• Build and develop high level relationships with business and account leaders, central finance teams, customers 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 (including SOX controls) are adhered to consistently throughout the Business Unit / Contract.

• Ensure full substantiation of all accruals, un-billed revenue and WIP, in line with GWS policy.

• Manage the integrity of data in Client reporting and GWS systems.

• Develop an understanding of how to best utilize GWS system-generated reporting capabilities.

• Continually develop systems to maximize efficiency benefits for client & GWS.

• 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 bottom-up Plan for and monitoring the forecast through the year.

• 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 and Balance Sheet Commentary.

• Ensure monthly balance sheet reconciliations are carried out and reviewed.

• Driving and agreeing any financial policy requirements with the Divisional Financial Director.