Finance Director Europe

About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Finance Director, Europe & UK, based in Rome, to lead the Finance function across the region. Working closely with the SVP, Europe & UK, the Regional Management Team, and Group Finance, the Finance Director will act as a strategic business partner, providing financial leadership, insights and recommendations to support sustainable growth, profitability and operational excellence across the region. The role will have primary responsibility for the financial affairs of the PPG Group within the Europe & UK region, ensuring strong financial performance, effective cost management, robust financial controls, regulatory compliance and high-quality financial reporting. The Finance Director will work closely with Regional Procurement and other key business functions to identify and deliver cost optimization, efficiency and value-for-money opportunities across the region.

Key Responsibilities
Performance Management & Business Partnership Act as a key strategic finance partner to the SVP, Europe & UK and the Regional Management Team, supporting business and financial strategy and providing sound financial recommendations. Partner with regional business leaders to drive profitability, financial performance and key business KPIs. Lead the regional financial planning, budgeting and forecasting processes, ensuring alignment with business strategy and Group objectives. Provide timely and accurate management information, including monthly P&L, KPI reporting, forecasts, budgets and financial analysis. Monitor financial performance against budget, forecast, prior year and business plans, identifying trends, opportunities and areas requiring corrective action. Provide financial insights and foresight to support strategic and operational decision-making. Evaluate business performance against the external environment, market trends and relevant industry benchmarks. Support the SVP and business development teams in evaluating the financial feasibility and attractiveness of potential new business opportunities. Lead financial analysis and feasibility assessments for new investments, partnerships, joint ventures and other strategic initiatives. Work closely with the SVP, Group CFO and relevant stakeholders on financial and tax due diligence for M&A opportunities and assess the financial attractiveness of potential investments. Financial Controls, Governance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with PPG Financial & Accounting Policies, Treasury Policies and Group Tax Policies. Ensure the integrity, accuracy and reliability of financial numbers and records across the region. Oversee the timely preparation of management accounts, statutory accounts, audits and other financial reporting requirements. Ensure compliance with applicable local accounting, taxation and regulatory requirements across the Europe & UK region. Monitor financial performance and KPIs against plans and historical performance, proactively identifying risks and opportunities and taking appropriate actions. Identify financial and commercial risks associated with planned business activities and ensure appropriate mitigation plans and controls are established. Ensure effective cash management and efficient utilization of the region's cash resources in line with Group policies. Work closely with local management and Group functions to proactively identify and manage areas of business risk, including: Customer credit and solvency risks Bad debt and customer concentration risks Supplier dependency and supplier solvency risks Tax and regulatory risks Foreign exchange and currency risks Fraud and business ethics risks Litigation and other material business risks Ensure all material actual or potential risks are appropriately escalated and communicated to relevant Group functions. Cost Management & Regional Procurement Partnership Partner closely with the Regional Procurement function to identify, evaluate and deliver cost optimization and value-for-money opportunities across the region. Drive cost reduction through procurement optimization, supplier negotiations, process efficiencies, elimination of unnecessary costs and economies of scale. Provide financial analysis and insights to support procurement strategies, supplier selection, contract negotiations and commercial decisions. Monitor procurement-related spend, savings initiatives and financial benefits to ensure agreed targets are delivered. Work collaboratively with Regional Procurement and business leaders to identify opportunities to improve margins and operational efficiency. Ensure appropriate financial controls and governance are applied to procurement and supplier-related activities. Support the development of regional cost management initiatives and track their financial impact on the P&L. Leadership & Team Management Lead, develop and motivate the regional Finance team, fostering a strong culture of financial discipline, accountability and business partnership. Build and maintain a high-performing Finance organization with strong technical, analytical and commercial capabilities. Ensure Finance team members have the appropriate skills, knowledge and development opportunities to support the evolving needs of the business. Establish clear objectives, KPIs and performance expectations for the Finance team. Develop succession plans and ensure appropriate talent pipelines within the regional Finance function. Promote collaboration between Finance, Operations, Commercial, Procurement, HR and other business functions. Requirements Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline. A Master's degree or MBA is preferred. Professionally qualified accountant; ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent qualification is preferred. 12+ years of relevant finance experience, ideally gained within a sizeable international or multinational organization, with 3–5 years in a regional or senior finance leadership capacity. Strong commercial and strategic business acumen, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights. Strong understanding of IFRS, auditing standards, lease accounting and taxation matters relevant to the UK and Europe. Experience in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, P&L management and performance management. Experience in financial due diligence, business feasibility analysis, investments, joint ventures and/or M&A is highly desirable. Strong knowledge of financial controls, risk management, governance and regulatory compliance. Demonstrated experience in cost optimization and working closely with procurement teams to deliver measurable financial benefits. Strong leadership, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and work effectively across functions and cultures. Agile and adaptable, with proven ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving, dynamic and internationally diverse environment. Excellent command of English is mandatory Proficiency in financial systems, ERP platforms and business intelligence/reporting tools. The ideal candidate will contribute to the overall success of the organization by effectively managing all financial tasks. They will oversee the financial operations of the business and provide frequent financial reports. They will also assure strict adherence to financial regulations and compliance.