EMEA Finance Director

About Crayola

Since 1903, Crayola has been dedicated to inspiring children's creativity. Our team is proud to support parents and educators in nurturing creatively engaged children globally. We are an iconic brand known for producing high-quality art products cherished by families and endorsed by teachers. Our organizational culture centers on our mission, fostering an environment of fun, openness, collaboration, and mutual support. Diversity and inclusion are core values, enriching our perspectives and driving innovation and continuous process improvement. We strive to create a workplace where every employee feels valued and appreciated.

Role Overview

The EMEA Finance Director is a vital strategic role influencing Crayola's growth and success across the EMEA region. Reporting to the leadership team, this position blends financial expertise with commercial insight to guide decision-making, encourage profitable growth, and execute business strategies. Leading the finance function throughout EMEA, the role champions transformation initiatives, simplifies operations, and promotes a culture of continuous improvement and commercial excellence. Collaboration with senior leaders in sales, marketing, and operations is essential to provide insights and recommendations that drive strategic priorities and long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the EMEA Leadership Team to craft and implement commercial strategies targeting sustainable profitability and growth.
• Deliver financial insights, critical analysis, and recommendations supporting market opportunities, customer strategies, pricing, investment, and resource allocation decisions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders by translating financial data into actionable business insights.
• Instill a strong commercial finance approach organization-wide, ensuring analyses support informed business decisions.
• Oversee financial planning, forecasting, and reporting for EMEA, highlighting performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Identify avenues to enhance profitability, optimize cash flow, and maximize return on investments.
• Support strategic planning via financial modelling, business cases, and scenario analyses.
• Uphold robust financial governance while fostering an agile and growth-oriented business culture.
• Maintain high standards of financial control, compliance, and governance across all EMEA entities, including statutory accounts and regulatory reporting.
• Manage external audits, VAT and indirect tax compliance, and liaise with advisors to mitigate financial and operational risks.
• Ensure timely and accurate closing processes and financial reporting in collaboration with the finance team.
• Strengthen internal controls, policies, and procedures aligned with corporate and local regulations.
• Lead and support finance team development, encouraging accountability, excellence, and continuous learning.
• Balance financial stewardship with commercial pragmatism, enabling growth alongside rigorous controls.
• Drive finance transformation efforts to improve processes, systems, and organizational effectiveness.
• Champion the adoption of technology and automation to enhance finance capabilities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams on business transformation programs, embedding sustainable improvements.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing finance team across EMEA, fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Develop finance function capabilities to meet evolving organizational needs and promote finance as a proactive strategic partner.

Candidate Profile

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) with extensive senior finance leadership experience.
• Proven track record as a commercial finance leader in complex, international, or multi-market environments.
• Success partnering with senior leaders to shape business strategies and enhance performance.
• Experience driving transformational change, challenging current practices, and implementing impactful improvements.
• Strong commercial insight connecting financial data to customer, market, and business opportunities.
• Proficiency influencing and managing change in cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, capable of simplifying complex financial concepts.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to cultivate high-performing teams and foster a culture of excellence.

Diversity & Inclusion

Crayola is committed to cultivating diversity and creating an inclusive culture that supports all employees to thrive, inspires innovation, and fosters a sense of belonging.

Environmental Commitment

We are dedicated to environmentally responsible product development that promotes a greener future.