Finance Director

Overview

People. Passion. Pride. This is what has driven our teams since 1833.

Since that time, we have developed to become a critical partner in the global aviation industry, delivering time-critical logistics services across a global network. At the heart of our business is our people, and we are looking for a senior finance leader who can support the next stage of development of our Portuguese business.

We are now looking for a Finance Director to be based in Lisbon. The Finance Director will act as the senior finance lead for Portugal, providing financial leadership, control, reporting discipline and business partnering across the operation.

Reporting to the Regional Finance Controller Southern Europe and VP Portugal, with a functional relationship to Group Finance, the Finance Director will lead the finance function in Portugal. The Finance Director will operate as the senior finance lead for Portugal, with broad responsibility across financial control, reporting, governance, business partnering, statutory, tax and cash management matters.

ROLE PURPOSE

• Provide senior financial leadership for Menzies Aviation Portugal, ensuring robust financial governance, accurate reporting and disciplined cash flow management.
• Act as a strategic business partner to Operations, Commercial, HR and senior leadership, translating financial analysis into operational and commercial decisions.
• Ensure that financial insight, risk assessment and governance are embedded in key operational, commercial and investment decisions.
• Support senior management and shareholders with clear, timely and reliable financial information, analysis and recommendations.
• Protect the company through strong internal controls, statutory compliance, tax discipline, audit readiness and clear risk management.
• Lead and develop the Portugal finance function, ensuring the team has the capability, structure, discipline and succession planning required to support the business.

MAIN DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Lead the accounting, financial planning, reporting and financial governance of the Portugal business.
• Ensure all financial books, records and reporting packs are accurate, complete, timely and compliant with local statutory requirements, IFRS and Group reporting standards.
• Own P&L, balance sheet and cash flow reporting, controls and processes, ensuring clear accountability, strong financial discipline and high-quality analysis.
• Manage monthly closing, weekly flash reporting, annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes, ensuring risks, opportunities and key variances are clearly identified, communicated and followed through.
• Drive cash flow discipline, working capital management, receivables control, supplier payment discipline and cash forecasting.
• Lead financial internal controls, approval processes, cost validation and process adherence across the business.
• Manage internal and external audits and coordinate the preparation of statutory financial statements, tax filings and other required financial reports.
• Ensure compliance with Portuguese statutory, tax, payroll-related and regulatory requirements relevant to the finance function.
• Provide strong business partnering to Operations and Commercial teams, including support for customer negotiations, contract analysis, pricing discussions and investment decisions.
• Implement and maintain KPI reporting frameworks that allow the business to track performance against budget, forecast, operational targets and productivity objectives.
• Identify, track and drive efficiencies, productivity benefits and cost-control initiatives across the business.
• Support strategic, restructuring, transformation and systems-related projects where finance input, governance or leadership is required.
• Prepare clear financial analysis and presentations for senior leadership, shareholders and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support clear risk management and timely escalation of material financial, tax, compliance or control matters.
• Lead, coach and develop the finance team, promoting ownership, accuracy, discipline, continuous improvement and succession planning.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• University degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Management or equivalent.
• Professional accounting qualification or equivalent senior finance experience is desirable.
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant finance experience, including experience in senior finance leadership, finance director, financial controller or CFO-type role.
• Strong IFRS reporting experience and solid understanding of Group reporting requirements in an international organisation.
• Strong knowledge of Portuguese statutory accounting, tax, audit and compliance matters.
• Experience managing P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, budgeting, forecasting and financial governance in a complex operational environment.
• Proven experience leading finance teams and working with operational and commercial leadership.
• Experience with ERP and financial reporting systems, including OneStream or similar platforms.
• Advanced Excel, data management, financial modelling and reporting capability.
• Fluent Portuguese and English, both written and spoken.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FURTHERMORE HAS

• A hands-on but senior approach, able to operate strategically while ensuring strong control of the detail.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to engage with senior internal stakeholders, customers, auditors, tax advisers, authorities and shareholders.
• A strong business-partnering mindset, with curiosity to understand the operation from both a customer and financial perspective.
• Strong judgement, integrity and ownership, with the ability to challenge constructively and escalate issues when required.
• Delivery focus, resilience and the ability to work effectively in a demanding and dynamic aviation environment.
• A continuous-improvement mindset, with the ability to simplify processes, strengthen controls and improve management information.
• Flexibility to travel and support the business when necessary.

KEY INTERFACES

• VP Portugal and Portuguese senior leadership team.
• Regional and Group Finance teams.
• Operations, Commercial, HR, Procurement, Legal, Risk and IT functions.
• External auditors, tax advisers, banks, authorities, customers and shareholders, as required.

ROLE DETAILS

• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Working hours: Full time
• Duration: Permanent, with six months' probation
• Start date: As per agreement

DIVERSITY

Menzies Aviation is a committed equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible applicants regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy and maternity.

We strive to create an inclusive working environment where the different knowledge, perspectives, experiences and approaches of our global workforce are represented, where everyone feels valued and can reach their full potential.