Head of Finance

Company Description

FIA is a Madrid-based architecture practice acquired by the Egis Group in late 2024, operating as part of the 10N Collective of global architectural practices. This is a pivotal, standalone finance leadership role created to provide FIA with the full breadth of finance management it requires as it integrates into the wider Group and embarks on an ambitious growth strategy.

Job Description

The role carries a dual reporting line: day-to-day into the Managing Director of FIA, and functionally into the Finance Director of 10N. The role will also need to partner with the Egis EURA region from a financial compliance perspective.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Finance Leadership & Business Partnering

• Act as the primary finance partner and trusted advisor to the Managing Director of FIA, providing real-time financial support, insight, and challenge across all aspects of the business.
• Line manage the FIA finance function, currently including their financial controller.
• Act as FIA’s primary finance contact with Egis Group, the EURA region, and any shared service centre teams supporting FIA, as well as external stakeholders including auditors, tax advisors, and banking contacts.
• Build a strong, commercially-oriented relationship with FIA’s operational leadership, embedding finance as a driver of business performance rather than a purely reporting function.
• Provide financial input and analysis to support bids, pricing decisions, investment cases, and new business opportunities.
• Form a key part of the 10N central FP&A team, representing FIA within the 10N Collective and working closely with the 10N Finance Director and wider FP&A team.

Financial Planning, Analysis, Reporting & Strategy

• Own and lead FIA’s full budgeting, forecasting, and medium-term financial planning cycle, as well as FIA’s financial strategy, aligned with Group requirements and timetables.
• Deliver high-quality monthly management reporting, including full P&L performance, working capital, cash, WIP, margins, KPIs, and narrative commentary.
• Develop and maintain robust financial models to support scenario analysis, performance tracking, and strategic planning.
• Prepare concise and impactful financial presentations for the FIA MD, the 10N FD, and senior stakeholders within the wider Group.
• Provide clear, forward-looking insight highlighting risks, opportunities, and emerging financial trends.
• Ensure alignment and consistency of FIA’s financial reporting with Group consolidation requirements.

Project & Commercial Finance

• Take ownership of FIA’s project financial performance, working closely with project leads and operational teams to monitor project economics, revenue recognition in line with Group accounting standards, margins, resource utilisation, and WIP.
• Provide challenge and support around cost control, fee management, and project profitability, driving commercial awareness throughout the business.
• Support operational teams on resourcing decisions, pipeline analysis, and forward workload visibility.
• Oversee project invoicing and provide guidance on billing practices, commercial terms, and revenue recognition.

Finance Operations & Shared Services

• Oversee and provide senior direction to the in-house FIA team and any external accountants, ensuring day-to-day finance operations – including bookkeeping, tax filings, AP, AR, and month-end close – run effectively.
• Maintain oversight of all general ledger activity, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of FIA’s accounting records.
• Ensure full compliance with both Egis management accounting rules (per the Egis Management Core Model) and Spanish statutory accounting and tax requirements.
• Liaise with EURA and Group shared services functions to manage transitions, escalate issues, and maintain alignment with Group financial policies.
• Take an active role in developing a longer-term shared services solution for FIA in Spain, working with 10N and EURA finance leadership.

Controls, Compliance & Audit

• Ensure FIA operates in full compliance with Egis Group financial policies, internal controls, and governance frameworks.
• Act as the primary finance lead for FIA’s annual statutory audit, coordinating with external auditors and ensuring timely delivery of all required information.
• Maintain robust internal controls across all finance processes, identifying and addressing weaknesses as the function develops.
• Ensure appropriate financial risk management, including FX exposure, contractual risk, and insurance matters.

Systems, Tools & Process Development

• Lead the rollout and ongoing development of financial systems at FIA, including PPM/ERP project management tools, accounting systems, and Group platforms such as Tagetik for planning, reporting, and consolidation.
• Drive improvements in data quality, process efficiency, and reporting automation within FIA’s finance function.
• Support the continued integration of FIA’s finance processes into the Group operating model, working constructively with 10N and EURA counterparts.

Qualifications

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Significant post-qualification experience in a senior finance role combining FP&A / business partnering and finance operations responsibilities.
• Experience in management or leadership roles, partnering closely with senior management.
• Background in project-based or professional services environments, ideally architecture, engineering, design, or consulting.
• Demonstrable experience owning a full business P&L end-to-end, including budgeting, forecasting, performance reporting, and statutory compliance.
• Experience overseeing transactional finance processes (GL, AP, AR, month-end close, audit) without dedicated shared services support.
• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills, with advanced Excel capability.
• Proven ability to partner effectively with non-finance senior stakeholders and influence commercial decision-making.
• Comfortable operating as the sole senior finance professional in a business.
• Strong working proficiency in English.
• A relevant professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or recognised Spanish equivalent).

Desirable:

• Experience working within a complex, matrixed, international organisation.
• Proficiency in Spanish.
• Experience working with Tagetik.
• Exposure to post-acquisition finance integration within a group structure.
• Understanding of Spanish corporate tax and regulatory requirements.
• Experience working in a design-led or creative professional services environment.

Personal Attributes:

• Commercially astute, pragmatic, and solutions-focused – able to identify what needs to be done and get on with it.
• Confident operating at a senior level with both operational leadership and Group finance stakeholders.
• Able to balance hands-on operational finance delivery with strategic thinking and forward planning.
• A self-starter who thrives in an environment where the role is genuinely broad and evolving.
• Collaborative and culturally aware, able to build effective working relationships across a diverse international group.