Finance Change Lead - Europe

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Role Purpose

The Finance Change Lead will provide in-country expertise, ensure the seamless integration of processes and systems, and support local teams in achieving Howden’s financial and operational standards. This role is critical in driving financial transformation, enhancing operational efficiency, and enabling sustainable long-term solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Advice and Guidance

• Provide best-practice recommendations tailored to local requirements and business needs.
• Deliver finance change expertise and capacity at both divisional and in-country levels, including:
  • Identifying issues within current processes and controls, applying materiality principles.
  • Recommending and implementing improvements to processes and controls.
  • Leading implementation efforts with joint teams comprising Howden and external partner staff.
  • Coaching teams to assume ownership, thereby reducing reliance on external support.
• Develop and propose a long-term operating model, including the potential for shared services and centres of excellence.
• Ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements.
• Act as a liaison to coordinate dependencies across finance related projects
• Provide interim coverage for roles with capability gaps within in-country teams.
• Address key person dependencies and support divisional teams during the recruitment and onboarding of new staff.
• Take on interim change leadership roles as required, ensuring continuity until permanent hires are in place.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrable expertise in finance transformation and operational improvement within multinational organisations.
• Comprehensive understanding of financial controls, processes, and reporting frameworks.
• Experience managing complex, cross-border projects, including system integrations and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent coaching and mentoring skills to upskill internal teams effectively.
• Fluency in English and at least one additional European language, with the ability to navigate diverse cultural and regulatory environments.
• Strong project management skills, with a proven ability to establish and lead PMOs in high-pressure situations.
• Familiarity with Workday Financials or comparable financial systems is advantageous.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new

• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges

• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs.  Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent