Global Finance Director - Chicago, IL

Global Finance Director - Work Dynamics Client Finance Team 

Location: Virtual

Job Summary/Goals 

The Global Finance Director is the member of the Global Leadership team for the Client Account and is responsible for managing effective forecast, reporting and analytics, budget management in line with contractual requirements for internal client JLL. 

The role is critical to the success of the Client relationship through driving informative decisions based on the current spend plan, navigating through Client priorities, market conditions and strategic business plans; Also, the expectation from the role is continuous process improvement, innovation through fact-based decision making and driving cost efficiencies. This position provides an opportunity to work with a broad range of areas related to a global real estate portfolio, including: facility management and building operations, transaction management, energy management, leasing, project management, and real estate portfolio planning to ensure the delivery of Client and JLL Goals globally. 

• Accountable for the successful delivery of a comprehensive range of financial services & support as defined in the contract,  

• Monitor and ensure efficient use of accounting resources that contribute to the Jones Lang LaSalle revenue and profit targets. 

• Support through the team delivery of day-to-day global financial and accounting operations with particular focus on the client’s reporting requirements at a regional level.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Strategic Direction  

• As member of the Global Leadership team provide clear direction and strategic financial advice to the Leadership & extended leadership team. 

• Act as primary liaison with the Client’s Finance teams (JLL Country Finance). 

• Actively looking for innovations within your area of responsibilities to add value to the client and the JLL business 

Client Relationship Management 

• Proactively develop and manage internal client / business unit relationships ensuring that the expected services are delivered across regions consistent with the contractual scope of services and within budgets 

• Actively encourage an environment that supports teamwork, functional integration, financial transparency, co-operation & performance excellence across the region. 

Team Management 

• Ensure the team is structured to maintain & exceed the client’s financial expectations. 

• Act as manager and coach for the team ensuring high staff morale, trust, work ethics, clear goals and performance reviews. 

• Develop annual objectives and succession plans for all roles in the Jones Lang LaSalle global finance team, Process mapping and efficiency analysis. 

• Promotes a culture of teamwork and collaborates across other functional verticals within the firm in adopting/sharing of best practices 

Financial Planning and Analysis (Internal Client and Corporate JLL) 

• Oversee and coordinate the activities of the team across regions with respect to the annual budget setting and quarterly forecasting cycle 

• Ensure that accurate and timely financial information is provided to all members of the management team 

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the Client’s accounting structure and associate systems. Translate that knowledge to ensure a smooth and consistent flow of financial data. 

• Develop, maintain & deliver in a timely manner, the Client’s approved financial formats across the region. 

• Coordinate and track the cost savings initiatives through regions, both Strategic portfolio management and Operational, Platform and Capital savings. 

• Accountable for consolidating the Jones Lang LaSalle global annual profitability plan and subsequent forecasts. 

Invoice Payment & Processing 

• Ensure the regional teams are effectively managing: 

• Processing and payment of all regional property operating and capital expenditure invoices, including payment of rental to landlords, in accordance with legal obligations 

• Ensure that incidental revenue streams (i.e. sub-lease rents) are accounted for in a timely manner. 

• Accountable for the timely coordination of the Jones Lang LaSalle invoice processing and monitoring the accounts receivable 

Controls & Compliance; Policies & Procedures & Audit: 

• Ensure that appropriate process and systems controls are in place and maintained to guarantee the integrity of all transactions 

• Develop and maintain all relevant policies and procedures with respect to all financial & support services associated with the account. Managing teams with focus on policy and strategy implementation and control; 

• Ensure data integrity of the systems across the region and audit data from time to time 

• Ensure that all financial accounting and reporting is audit worthy and in keeping with recognized quality management processes 

Key Performance Measures 

• Annual budget delivery 

• Quarterly forecast accuracy 

• Savings generation 

• JLL profitability 

• Client satisfaction scores 

• Audit compliance 

Skills 

• Strong team leader, Excellent presentation and communication skills (verbal and written) 

• Strategic Thinking - Ability to think broadly, create a shared vision, and embrace change as an opportunity, Ability to deliver simple and effective solutions in a complex matrix-based environment 

• Ability to influence senior management on strategic matters 

• Organizational Agility - Knowledgeable about how organizations work; knows how to get things done both through formal channels and the informal network. Ability to deliver through a geographically dispersed functional team, Flexibility around understanding regional/cultural/contextual differences and allow for local expression without compromising global coherence 

• Financial competency at both a strategic & detailed level of operation 

• Client Management - Understanding client needs and setting and managing appropriate client expectations within system, project, or contract constraints all while providing exceptional and enhanced customer service. Demonstrated strength in client relationship management skills 

• Self-motivated, objectives focused, confident and energetic 

• Demonstrated initiative, autonomy and independence 

• Promotes open, constructive and collaborative relations at all levels 

Experience 

• Extensive work experience in the Finance Function including prior experience as FD of a multi-country business. 

• Experience of working across a global organisation. 

• In-depth understanding of regulatory/statutory requirements and governance principles/SOX 

• Exposure to US GAAP/IFRS. 

Qualifications 

• MBA, Masters or other Finance/Business qualification 

• Accountancy Qualification 

• Fluent English.