Divisional Finance Director

Divisional Finance Director – JLL

Location: Chicago - Hybrid

What this job involves:

As Divisional Finance Director, you'll serve as the strategic financial leader for the JLL Work Dynamics JLL division, partnering directly with senior leadership to drive business performance and financial excellence. This role combines strategic finance leadership with hands-on operational oversight, positioning you as a trusted advisor who translates complex financial data into actionable business insights. You'll lead a high-performing finance team while establishing financial frameworks that support aggressive growth targets and operational efficiency. This is a pivotal leadership position where your financial acumen and business partnership skills will directly influence divisional strategy, profitability, and long-term success within JLL's dynamic commercial real estate platform.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Lead comprehensive financial planning, forecasting, and analysis processes for the division, providing strategic recommendations to the divisional president and executive leadership team.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring accurate and timely reporting while maintaining rigorous internal controls and compliance with corporate policies and regulatory requirements.
• Partner closely with business unit leaders to develop budgets, analyze operational performance, identify revenue opportunities, and implement cost optimization initiatives that enhance profitability.
• Manage and develop a team of finance professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth while ensuring adequate resources and capabilities to support business needs.
• Conduct detailed variance analysis and performance metrics reviews, translating financial results into clear business narratives and actionable insights for stakeholders at all levels.
• Drive process improvements and system enhancements across financial operations, leveraging technology and best practices to increase efficiency, accuracy, and the value delivered by the finance function.
• Collaborate with corporate finance, treasury, tax, and audit teams on enterprise-wide initiatives, ensuring divisional alignment with JLL's financial policies, systems, and strategic objectives.
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field; MBA, CPA, or CMA strongly preferred.
• Minimum 10-12 years of progressive finance experience, including at least 5 years in a senior finance leadership role managing teams and budgets exceeding $100M.
• Demonstrated expertise in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling with proven ability to drive business performance through financial insights.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with a track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing finance teams in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrate experience leveraging AI and emerging technologies in financial operations, including automation tools, predictive analytics, and AI-powered forecasting solutions to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency
• Advanced proficiency in financial systems and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms; expert-level Excel skills and experience with business intelligence tools required.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence with ability to effectively present complex financial information to C-suite executives and influence strategic decision-making.
• Commercial real estate, professional services, or related industry experience with understanding of revenue recognition, project accounting, and service-based business models.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a Big Four accounting firm or similar professional services environment with exposure to audit, transaction advisory, or consulting practices.
• Knowledge of real estate accounting principles, lease accounting standards (ASC 842), and industry-specific financial considerations.
• Proven track record leading major finance transformation initiatives, system implementations (Workday, Oracle, SAP), or process improvement projects.
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions activities including due diligence, financial integration, and post-merger financial operations.
• Familiarity with international accounting standards and experience managing finance operations across multiple geographic regions or countries.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) and ability to leverage advanced analytics to drive business insights.
• Demonstrated success operating in fast-paced, high-growth environments with ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational execution.