Director Transformation & Finance Excellence - #2176282

About

We are a media business focused on creating content that matters to millions of people across Europe. Our offering extends from print and online publishing to audio broadcasting and entertainment, alongside investments in other media related sectors. With more than 500 million copies sold each year, we are one of Europe's largest Publishers. From women's and celebrities' magazines to TV listings to food and special interest, we own some of the most popular publishing brands in Germany, UK, Poland and France – both digital and print. But not only that. Reaching over 61 million listeners weekly, we operate over 150 radio and podcast brands in nine countries, spanning the UK, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Portugal. Family-owned in the 5th generation, Bauer Media focuses on the long-term, with a consumer-first mindset that guides us across our diverse portfolio. Our workforce of 12,000 shares a common purpose: to deliver content and services that enrich people‘s everyday lives.

About The Role

As Director, Transformation & Finance Excellence, you will lead a team of experts focused on delivering global Finance transformation. Acting as both a sponsor and driver of change, you will oversee the development and implementation of Bauer's Finance Operating Model, ensuring the function is agile, forward-looking, and aligned with strategic business goals.

You will sponsor the Transformation & Finance Excellence Tribe — a newly formed team of 7 — and collaborate closely with senior stakeholders, including the Executive Leadership in Finance Team. Your work will impact key areas such as strategic planning, process improvement, systems optimisation, service delivery, governance, and change management.

Location: Hybrid – UK, Germany, Poland

Key Responsibilities

Sponsorship & Leadership

• Act as the sponsor for the Transformation & Finance Excellence Tribe and chair all meetings.
• Provide vision, support, and alignment across the tribe and other Finance teams.
• Build and nurture a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
  
  

Finance Strategy & Operating Model

• Co-develop and maintain the Finance Strategy and Transformation Roadmap.
• Design and safeguard the Finance Operating Model, including processes, systems, roles, KPIs, and governance.
• Oversee change governance, including forums for transformation and global process owners (GPOs).
  
  

Systems, Processes & Service Excellence

• Drive global standardisation and improvement of core finance processes (R2R, O2C, FP&A, etc.).
• Collaborate with the Finance Technology Centre of Excellence to evolve finance systems, including S/4HANA.
• Maintain global documentation and training materials; own the Finance Service Catalogue and SLA framework.
  
  

Transformation Program Management

• Define and lead the Finance transformation portfolio, including project delivery, planning, and resourcing.
• Oversee business cases, budgets, timelines, risk mitigation, and communication.
• Champion change across the organisation by ensuring senior leadership alignment and broad engagement.
  
  

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or related field; advanced degree or professional qualification preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in Finance, including leadership roles in transformation or operational excellence.
• Proven track record of strategic planning, business case development, and transformation delivery.
• Deep knowledge of financial systems and tools (e.g. S/4HANA, MS Excel, PowerPoint).
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and financial modelling abilities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Confident leader with the ability to coach, inspire and develop a high-performing team.
• Fluent in English, with a performance-driven and proactive approach.
• Experienced in managing cross-functional initiatives and global process improvements.
• A curious, constructive challenger who embraces innovation and digitalisation.
  
  

If you are looking for an independent position and would like to enrich our existing team with fresh impulses, we look forward to receiving your complete application documents.

Your contact for this position is Antonia Samanns and Doris Tuchen.

Reference Number: 2789

We are an international employer and equal opportunities are important to us. That's why we welcome everyone in their uniqueness, regardless of e.g. religion, gender, skin color, disability in our house.

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Nice-to-have skills

• Innovation
• Powerpoint
• Strategic Planning
• Management
• Planning
• Leadership
• SAP S/4HANA
• Implementation
• Financial Modeling
• Documentation
• Communication
• Finance
• Training
• Accounting
• Team Leadership
• Program Management
• Change Management
• Powerpoint
• Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  
  

Work experience

• Finance & Accounting
• General Project Management
• IT Project Manager
  
  

Languages

• English