Group Finance Director in London

Emerald, a leader in building dynamic market platforms that integrate live events, media, & commerce, seeks a Group Finance Director (GFD) to manage the financial planning & analysis for the EMEA entities within the portfolio. The GFD EMEA will be tasked with providing financial insights to aid in driving growth for EMEA based brands. They will provide accurate and timely analysis of financial results and lead the process to best reflect the future expectations for the brand, both to Emerald corporate and the local brand leadership team. As a true business partner, this position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the success of the business. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Finance (NY), the GFD will oversee the financial planning & analysis function, including budgeting, forecasting, actuals reporting, executive presentations and integration with the Emerald finance and accounting processes. This role is a key partner for brand leadership and event directors and will provide thoughtful insights and challenge financial forecasts in partnership with the businesses.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial planning & analysis for the current Emerald portfolio of brands in EMEA, including brands like This is Beyond, Insurtech, GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance).
• Provide clear financial direction and insight to business leaders, ensuring robust financial performance and strategic decision-making.
• Proactively identify and promote best practices from brand teams through analytics and KPIs.
• Understand the nuances of the events industry and drive financial solutions that align with the company’s commercial objectives and creative vision.
• Liaise with the Accounting organization to ensure accurate financial results are recorded.
• Use accurate, real-time financial data to guide business decisions and identify areas for cost-saving and revenue growth.
• Drive cost efficiencies and strong cost management at the brand and event level.
• Consolidate actual performance results and prepare variance analysis to the corporate and executive teams.
• Develop and implement robust budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes to support future growth and launches.
• Lead event teams in accurately budgeting and forecasting the latest expectations for each business, in line with Emerald planning process.
• Prepare exec presentations to communicate performance to leadership teams and convey changes in business drivers.
• Partner with corporate team to develop analyses for Board presentations and reporting.
• Proactively identify financial challenges and propose innovative, practical solutions that drive business growth and profitability.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Experience in Financial Planning & Analysis roles.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.
• MBA or full professional certifications (e.g. CIMA CPA, CFA) are essential.
• Strong knowledge of financial management principles, practices, and accounting standards.
• Advanced Microsoft skills as well as comprehensive knowledge of financial/accounting systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making abilities.
• A strategic thinker with experience of engaging/managing multiple key stakeholders at varied business levels.
• A passionate self-starter with excellent leadership, communication skills and attention to detail; alongside being highly organized to run multiple projects at once.
• A forward looking hands-on way of working, constantly questioning what we do, who has a resilient and agile approach - always up for a challenge with a smile and willingness to have fun.
• Willingness to travel and work flexible business hours as required.