Director - Client Finance, Europe

Overview

Who You'll Work With: You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact. You will have access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities to broaden your expertise, grow into a well-rounded professional, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference.

Your Impact: As the Director of Client Finance, Europe, you stand as a vital leader within the Global Client Finance function, orchestrating the financial operations that support client engagements across the region. You ensure that engagement accounting processes run smoothly, that GAAP compliance is unwavering, and that Client Service Teams and Partners receive the strategic and operational support they need to succeed. You will oversee a team of approximately 60 finance professionals and foster a high-performing, collaborative environment that drives excellence across Europe.

As part of the global operations service line, the Client Finance function is dedicated to creating consistency and compliance in engagement and revenue processes. The team operates under the global function but is regionally structured, working with local and regional finance teams who hold ultimate accountability for GAAP compliance and financial performance. This structure balances global standards with the European region's unique needs, ensuring alignment and adaptability.

You will work closely with leadership across Europe, including Partners and Client Service Teams, acting as a trusted advisor on engagement economics. You will collaborate with other key pillars of the Finance function, such as Cell Finance and Commercial Arrangements, to strengthen the firm's client finance capabilities. The focus is on delivering a seamless and integrated experience for Partners while driving operational excellence and strategic alignment with the firm's broader goals.

You will bring deep expertise in engagement accounting within a professional services environment, coupled with a proven ability to drive efficiencies, optimize performance, and ensure compliance with policies and standards. A strong understanding of cell finance and a passion for fostering innovation and continuous improvement are essential.

Your responsibilities include management of client-related financial activities—from fee recognition and utilization tracking to billing and collections. You are accountable for providing performance insights to regional finance leaders and addressing escalations. Operational performance across Europe falls under your purview, as does the responsibility to ensure compliance with engagement-related policies and maintain robust financial controls. You will also focus on recruitment, development, and retention to sustain a high-performing workforce.

Collaboration is essential. You will work with stakeholders across regions and globally, including Cell Finance, Practices, RPC, PD, Global Operations, Tax, and other regional client finance teams to advance innovations, improve processes, and ensure engagement stewardship is effective and forward-looking. Ultimately, as Director of Client Finance, Europe, you are a strategic partner, an innovator, and a steward of operational excellence. Your work ensures that the firm not only meets its financial and compliance goals but also continues to deliver exceptional value to clients and stakeholders across the region and beyond.

Your Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelors degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Advanced degree or professional qualifications preferred (CPA, CMA, MBA, etc.)
• 10+ years of relevant finance and accounting experience in a professional services environment with client finance operations and deep knowledge of US GAAP
• Proven experience in operational leadership, identifying efficiencies, ensuring compliance, and driving performance improvement with senior stakeholders
• Expertise in financial systems (SAP or similar ERP) with digital transformation experience
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on improving performance
• Proven ability to lead change initiatives with effective stakeholder management
• Ability to collaborate across stakeholders and act as a strategic partner with a client service orientation
• Leadership experience, attracting and developing top talent to foster a culture of excellence
• Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills, with ability to influence stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, tailoring messages for diverse audiences