About Us:

At Quaker Houghton, we are experts in the development, production and application of industrial process fluids, lubricants and coatings for the manufacturing industry. We have been an integral part in the growth of the world’s largest industrial and manufacturing companies from aerospace and automotive to primary metal and energy. Today, we have a global presence, with our corporate headquarters located in Conshohocken, PA. Quaker Houghton is a global publicly traded company with a unique collaborative culture that supports career growth for its colleagues and offers competitive compensation and benefit programs.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Global Finance Transformation Leader is a pivotal leadership position responsible for defining, delivering, and optimizing integrated finance operations across the organization’s worldwide footprint. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this leader will set the vision and execute best-in-class global finance shared services, driving operational excellence, digital transformation, and continuous improvement. The leader will play a key role in supporting business strategy, ensuring compliance, and enabling scalable growth through innovation and collaboration. The leader will work collaboratively across organizational boundaries, partnering particularly closely with the CIO on technology and transformation initiatives, the VP Global Controller on accounting policies and controls, and the broader Finance Leadership Team to ensure alignment, consistency, and optimal business outcomes. Candidates from EMEA and North America will be considered.

Accountabilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement the global finance shared services strategy in alignment with overall corporate objectives.
• Act as a change agent, promoting a culture of high performance, transparency, and accountability within the shared services organization.
• Collaborate closely with executive leadership, functional heads, and global business units to support cross-functional initiatives and business transformation.
• Operational Excellence: Lead, manage, and optimize global shared service teams responsible for end-to-end finance operations, including but not limited to Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Treasury, Tax, Payroll, and Financial Reporting.
• Ensure service delivery is consistently effective, efficient, and compliant with international standards and regulations.
• Drive continuous process improvement, leveraging best practices, automation, and leading-edge technologies to enhance performance, accuracy, and scalability.
• Greenfield Operations & Expansion: Lead the establishment of new greenfield shared service centers, including site selection, team recruitment, technology enablement, and infrastructure setup.
• Develop and execute transition plans to migrate finance transactional activities from business units to shared services, ensuring minimal disruption and maximum stakeholder satisfaction.
• Build robust governance, risk management, and control frameworks for new and existing operations.
• People Leadership & Development: Attract, develop, and retain high-performing global finance talent within the shared services model.
• Foster a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative environment, promoting learning, engagement, and professional growth.
• Inspire and mentor leadership teams and employees, championing succession planning and talent mobility.
• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Serve as the primary interface between shared services and business stakeholders, ensuring alignment on service expectations, performance metrics, and value delivery.
• Develop and report on key performance indicators, service level agreements, and financial performance metrics to executive leadership.
• Manage relationships with external partners, vendors, auditors, and regulatory bodies as needed.
• Technology & Transformation: Champion digital finance transformation, including ERP migrations, data analytics initiatives, and the integration of RPA, AI, and other innovative technologies into shared service operations.
• Promote a data-driven, agile approach to decision-making and problem-solving across the finance function.
• Risk & Compliance: Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of compliance, internal controls, and risk management programs across all shared service locations.
• Ensure adherence to all relevant local, regional, and international laws, including SOX compliance, data privacy, and anti-corruption regulations.

Education, Experience and Professional Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent international qualification) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive finance leadership experience in global organizations, previous experience in finance shared services management.
• Proven track record of building and scaling greenfield finance shared service operations, ideally across multiple geographies and cultures.
• Expertise in all core finance processes and global service delivery models, including process design, transition, and optimization.
• Comprehensive understanding of regulatory compliance requirements, global tax and treasury, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• Successful experience in managing large, distributed teams in a matrixed environment with strong influence and stakeholder management.
• Demonstrated success in driving digital transformation, technology implementation, and process automation within finance functions.
• Experience leading organizations through change, integration, and periods of significant business growth or restructuring.

• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) certification is considered an asset but is not required.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strategic mindset with a strong track record of operational excellence and service delivery innovation.
• Exceptional leadership, influence, and people development abilities, with a passion for building high-performing teams.
• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all organizational levels and with external partners.
• Agility and resilience in navigating complexity, ambiguity, and rapid change on a global scale.
• Strong project management, negotiation, and vendor management expertise.
• High integrity, ethical standards, and commitment to corporate governance and compliance.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in additional languages is highly desirable.

What's in it for you:

• Hybrid work environment
• Competitive pay programs with excellent career growth trajectory
• Opportunities to see your efforts contribute toward the success of the business.
• Work for a global leader in the industrial process fluids industry

Quaker Houghton is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. Quaker Houghton provides equal employment opportunity for all qualified candidates. Quaker Houghton does not discriminate against any candidate for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, veteran’s status, physical/mental disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by U.S federal, state, and/or local employment law. Furthermore, Quaker Houghton is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates with physical and/or mental disabilities. Applicants with a disability who need assistance applying for a position may email OneHR@quakerhoughton.com.