Finance Manager

EF Education First · Milan

The role
EF is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Finance Manager to join our team.

You will drive financial excellence by owning accounting integrity, financial reporting, statutory compliance, and audits—ensuring accuracy and timeliness while working with operational teams to assess and document all activities.

As a key-role in a privately held and international company, this role coordinates closely with shared service centers, global process owners, and central finance functions across multiple countries. For the successful candidate, this position provides immense opportunities for growth and ownership, and opportunities to contribute to fast-paced business decisions and planning activities.

We are looking for candidates that have strong knowledge in Italian statutory and tax requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Entity Accounting & Financial Reporting

Accountable for all accounting activities for the legal entity, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, intercompany transactions, and cash and treasury activities of a complex multi-entity structures
Ensure the completeness, accuracy, existence, and timeliness of all financial records and monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, in partnership with shared service centers
Review and approve financial results, providing clear explanations of variances, risks, and key judgments
Lead entity-level forecasting and projection processes, including monitoring actuals vs projections and providing clear insights to stakeholders

Controls, Compliance & Risk

Own the legal entity control environment, ensuring adherence to accounting policies, internal controls, and regulatory requirements
Identify, assess, and escalate accounting, compliance, and financial risks in a timely manner
Apply accounting judgment on complex or non-routine transactions, in coordination with central accounting or technical experts as needed

Audit, Tax & Regulatory Matters

Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors, coordinating and managing statutory and internal audits
Oversee tax, VAT, and regulatory filings, ensuring compliance with local laws and transfer pricing requirements
Coordinate with tax advisors and central tax teams, ensuring accurate and timely submissions

Support to Business Teams

Work closely with local business leadership and central FP&A teams, supporting accurate and timely capture of activities, contracts, and transactions
Provide guidance to stakeholders to ensure operations are structured and executed in line with accounting, tax, and regulatory requirements
Proactively engage with the business to prevent downstream accounting or compliance issues

Process Excellence & Transformation

Work effectively within a matrix organization, coordinating with shared service centers, Global Process Owners, and central finance teams
Retain accountability for outcomes while leveraging global processes and standardized solutions
Support continuous improvement of transactional and reporting processes, addressing gaps, inefficiencies, and control weaknesses
Manage and coach an international team to ensure quality and timeliness of deliverables, including identifying gaps in execution and providing corrective guidance

Governance & Corporate Matters

Support Board of Directors meeting preparation, including statutory financial materials and disclosures
Support corporate governance and structural matters, including regulatory and legal entity-related requirements

Requirements

8+ years of accounting experience in multinational environments
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or similar
Professional accounting qualification (e.g., Dottore Commercialista, ACCA, or equivalent)
Strong knowledge of Italian statutory and tax requirements
Fluent in Italian and English
Experience with Oracle Fusion or other major ERP is an advantage
Open-minded, solution-oriented and adapts to change
Strong analytical, organizational and time management skills
Strong communication and social skills and with all levels of management
Self-starter with strong business judgment and the ability to operate independently
The ability to thrive in an international and fast-paced environment

Why Join EF?

International Exposure: Build valuable experience within a truly global organization, collaborating with colleagues and clients across multiple continents.
Entrepreneurial Culture: Work in an environment that values initiative, innovation, and ownership.
Career Development: EF invests in continuous learning to help you build expertise and perform at your best in this role.
Dynamic Work Environment: No two days are the same—adaptability and creativity are key.
Collaborative Team: Be part of a team of collaborative professionals committed to supporting each other and fostering a positive, professional work environment.

About EF
At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.

When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, caste, parental status, identity, experience and everything else that makes you unique.

Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF has schools and offices around the world, including hubs in Boston, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Stockholm, Zürich, and more. Learn more at https://ef.com.

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