Ready to shape global financial leadership? Join Buro Happold as Group Finance Director.
This person can be based in our Bath or London office on a hybrid working model.
At Buro Happold, we are driven by a shared ambition to create a better, more sustainable world. As our business continues to grow and evolve globally, we are seeking an experienced and values‑led Group Finance Director to play a pivotal leadership role within our Finance function.
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Group Finance Director will act as Deputy to the CFO, providing group‑wide financial leadership, governance, assurance and control across a complex, multi‑region professional services organisation
About The Role
This is a critical senior leadership position within our global Finance team. You will lead core group finance activities, ensuring strong financial governance, robust controls and high‑quality reporting across all regions. While the role does not directly own FP&A, you will work in close partnership with FP&A leadership to ensure alignment between performance, risk, governance and decision‑making.
You will also play a central role in shaping and delivering Buro Happold’s future finance agenda, supporting transformation, consistency and scalability across our global finance operations.
Key Responsibilities
Deputy CFO & Group Leadership
- Act as trusted deputy to the CFO, providing leadership, continuity and challenge across all group finance matters
- Support the CFO in executive, committee and external stakeholder engagements, including auditors and banks
- Help shape and deliver the global finance strategy
Global Oversight
- Provide oversight and direction to regional finance leaders, ensuring consistent standards, accountability and collaboration
- Act as escalation point for complex accounting, compliance and governance issues
- Support global finance capability, resourcing and succession planning
Group Financial Control & Reporting
- Lead group financial control, statutory consolidation and reporting
- Ensure consistent application of accounting policies, judgements and estimates
- Own the group balance sheet, including intercompany, tax balances, provisions and working capital
Governance, Compliance, Assurance & Risk
- Own the global financial governance framework, policies and delegated authorities
- Lead year‑end processes, statutory accounts and external audit across the group
- Partner with the CFO and risk leadership to identify, manage and mitigate financial risk
Treasury & Capital Management
- Lead global treasury strategy, including liquidity, cash, funding and FX risk management
- Oversee banking relationships, facilities, guarantees and covenant compliance
- Support capital structure and financial resilience planning
Tax Affairs
- Provide leadership and oversight of global tax compliance and governance
- Oversee corporate tax, VAT/GST, transfer pricing and withholding taxes
- Act as senior sponsor for tax planning in line with business strategy and risk appetite
Systems, Process & Continuous Improvement
- Support delivery of the future finance agenda, including systems optimisation, automation and standardisation
- Drive continuous improvement in processes, controls and data quality
People Leadership
- Lead and develop a high‑performing, inclusive global finance team
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement
- Support global engagement, EDI initiatives and talent development
What We Are Looking For:
- Significant experience in a senior Group Finance Director or Financial Controller role
- Strong background in financial control, statutory reporting, audit and compliance
- Deep understanding of governance, risk and internal controls in a multi‑entity organisation
- Proven experience leading global or multi‑region finance teams
- Experience influencing and advising at executive and board level
- Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
Desirable
- Experience within professional services or construction
- Familiarity with Agresso and/or Deltek Vision
Style & behaviours
- Strategic thinker with strong problem‑solving capability
- Confident, resilient and comfortable operating with autonomy
- Collaborative leader with excellent communication skills
- Highly organised, detail‑focused and able to manage complex priorities
- Values‑driven, proactive and committed to supporting the wider business
Why Join Buro Happold?
At Buro Happold, we believe in creating a better, more sustainable world. You’ll be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. We offer a supportive environment where your contributions make a real difference
What we offer you
Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world's most respected consultancies.
- Hybrid working arrangements
- Attractive salary
- Discretionary bonus
- Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements
- 10% car allowance
- Generous company pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
- Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts
- Enhanced parenthood leave policies
- A strong commitment to continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you
- Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
- A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities
- An opportunity to support your local community and those in society that are most in need, wherever they are located in the world through our Share Our Skills (SOS) programme
- A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring
- An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won't be far from exceptional.
Apply now and be where exceptional is everywhere.
A place for everyone.
Technology is the beating heart of our work and intrinsic to our culture. We innovate. We think smart. We use digital solutions to constantly push forward. Employees choose to join Buro Happold because technology enables them to ‘be their best self’, multiplied but never replaced. This is how we are spearheading the digital transformation of the built environment. We are therefore looking for candidates with a digital mindset who embrace new technologies with ease and enthusiasm.
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.