Director of Finance, EMEA

SANS Institute

About The Position

The Director of Finance, EMEA provides regional finance leadership and business partnership across EMEA. The role owns regional financial reporting, planning, compliance and controls, partnering with the CFO, regional business leaders and global finance teams to drive strong financial performance, informed decision-making and appropriate governance across the region. This is a Senior Leadership Team role in EMEA, operating within a broader global finance model. Core finance activities such as accounting, treasury, billing, FP&A, legal, international, tax and other specialist areas are delivered in partnership with global shared-service and specialist teams. The Director retains clear regional ownership for financial reporting, planning, compliance and controls while drawing on those global capabilities for successful delivery. The position provides commercial insight and accountable regional finance leadership across EMEA, ensuring financial information is accurate, timely and understood, risks are actively managed, and finance processes remain practical, scalable and aligned with SANS's operating model.

Requirements

Graduate and professionally qualified management accountant (CIMA or Dutch equivalent).
Proven experience overseeing finance operations across multiple EMEA legal entities and jurisdictions, including financial governance, payroll compliance, supplier management, financial reporting and adherence to local statutory and regulatory requirements.
Significant proven experience reviewing financial performance, management reporting and key business metrics, providing financial insight and ensuring the delivery of accurate management information to support business decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to provide financial analysis, challenge and assurance to senior stakeholders.
Experience supporting the establishment and ongoing management of legal entities across Europe, including associated financial, tax, payroll and regulatory requirements.
Experience working within a global finance environment, partnering with international stakeholders and supporting financial activities across multiple regions and legal entities.
Demonstrated experience operating within a global, matrixed organisation, building effective relationships and influencing stakeholders across multiple regions and functions.
Strong understanding of VAT compliance and financial control processes across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions.
Strong understanding of international tax requirements, including corporation tax, VAT and transfer pricing within a multi-jurisdictional environment.
Strong understanding of financial systems, reporting tools and financial reporting processes within a multi-entity, international environment.
Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
Experience leading, managing and developing finance professionals, including performance management, coaching and capability development.
Experience building and leading high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across functions, countries and regions.
Exceptional organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders and deadlines whilst maintaining high standards of accuracy and attention to detail.
Strong numerical and analytical skills, with a commercial mindset and the ability to translate financial information into meaningful business insight.
Proactive, adaptable and solutions-oriented, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
Experience handling confidential and sensitive financial information with discretion and integrity.
Strong understanding of international payroll processes and associated compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions and legal entities.
Understanding of multi-currency reporting, cash flow management and the financial implications of operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Personally aligned with SANS' mission, values and commitment to excellence.
Willingness and ability to travel as required to support business needs.

Responsibilities

Partner with the CFO and regional leaders to provide financial insight, challenge and recommendations that support business decisions and the evaluation of opportunities across EMEA.
Provide financial leadership for regional growth initiatives, business planning and key projects in partnership with global finance and other shared teams.
Promote financial accountability and commercial awareness across the region.
Own regional budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities for EMEA, partnering with regional stakeholders and the global FP&A team to ensure robust and aligned plans.
Own the regional view of financial performance, trends, risks and opportunities, providing clear analysis and recommendations to stakeholders.
Ensure regional leaders receive clear, timely and useful financial information to support effective decision-making.
Own the quality, timeliness and relevance of regional financial reporting and review regional financial statements and reporting outputs.
Partner with the central Accounting and Finance teams to ensure regional reporting requirements are understood, delivered and appropriately governed.
Own regional oversight of statutory, tax and regulatory compliance matters, partnering with global finance, legal, international, tax and external advisors as appropriate.
Identify, manage and, where specialist input is required, escalate regional compliance or entity-related matters in a timely manner.
Maintain appropriate knowledge of relevant local requirements and ensure they are reflected in informed business and finance decisions across EMEA.
Own and maintain appropriate regional financial governance, internal controls and risk management in line with company policies and global finance processes.
Partner with shared teams to identify, assess and address regional financial, operational and compliance risks.
Act as the senior regional finance partner and accountable escalation point for operational matters requiring finance leadership or input.
Partner with shared Accounting, Billing, Treasury, FP&A, International and other teams to ensure practical, efficient and scalable regional finance processes.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives that make regional finance and broader business processes and ways of working more effective and scalable.
Support the future migration from Microsoft Dynamics SL to an updated ERP platform, representing EMEA requirements and helping ensure effective regional adoption and implementation.
Lead and develop the regional finance team, shaping the future regional finance structure and capability.
Build strong collaboration and clear accountability across regional finance, global finance and business partners.
Build strong, trusted relationships with regional leaders, global finance colleagues, shared functional teams and external advisors.
Serve as the principal regional finance interface between EMEA operations and the global finance organisation, ensuring regional priorities and global finance requirements are effectively aligned.
Manage priorities effectively within the direct reporting relationship to the CFO and dotted-line relationship to the Managing Director, EMEA, balancing regional and global requirements constructively.
Communicate financial information, business updates and recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders.
Carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required to support the needs of the business and responsibilities of the role.