Director – Expertise Comptable

Sector: Accounting & Professional Services

We are working with a leading international accounting, advisory and professional services organisation on the appointment of a Director – Expertise Comptable in Lyon.

This is a senior leadership role within an established accounting business serving predominantly French clients.

The firm is open to considering both:

• A high-performing Senior Manager or equivalent senior professional ready to step up to Director level

The key requirement is not current title, but the ability to lead clients, develop business, build teams and take increasing ownership of the practice.

The Opportunity

The successful individual will join a well-established Expertise Comptable business and play an important role in its continued development in the Lyon market.

The role combines:

• Technical accounting oversight
• Team leadership

The position is focused on Expertise Comptable and accounting services.

This is not an Audit role.

It is also not a generic Finance Transformation or Accounting Advisory position.

The successful candidate should come from a strong accounting firm environment and have significant experience advising and supporting French businesses on their accounting and financial reporting requirements.

The Role

Responsibilities are likely to include:

• Leading and developing senior client relationships
• Ensuring high standards of technical accounting delivery
• Advising French businesses on accounting and reporting matters
• Managing and developing accounting teams
• Supporting and winning new business
• Developing existing client accounts
• Building relationships with business owners, CFOs and senior management teams
• Contributing to the growth of the firm's Lyon practice
• Working collaboratively with Partners across other service lines
• Developing a strong local market presence

The successful individual will have the opportunity to build the activity further and take on increasing leadership responsibility within the business.

The Profile

Candidates should ideally bring:

• Significant experience within Expertise Comptable
• A background within a Big Four, tier two, or strong regional accounting firm
• Strong technical accounting capability
• Experience managing significant client relationships
• Experience leading teams
• Strong commercial instincts
• The ability and willingness to develop new business
• The ambition to grow within a senior leadership role
• Strong credibility with senior French clients

Candidates may currently operate at:

• Senior Manager
• Director

A strong Senior Manager with clear Director potential can absolutely be considered.

Qualification: Diplôme d'Expertise Comptable (DEC) is strongly preferred.

Candidates with a strong Expertise Comptable background and the right level of seniority, credibility and commercial drive may also be considered where appropriate.

Language: Fluent French is essential.

The client base is predominantly French and the successful individual must be comfortable leading relationships with French business owners, CFOs and senior management teams.

The firm offers a highly collaborative and entrepreneurial environment.

The culture is characterised by:

• Direct access to senior leadership
• A collaborative rather than political environment
• A strong emphasis on teamwork
• High levels of autonomy
• Real scope to build and shape the business

The firm is looking for someone who wants to grow within a platform where success is built collectively rather than through internal competition.