Enthusiasm, togetherness, and a "get-it-done" attitude is what our IKEA culture is built upon. We're optimists, constantly looking for new and better ways to do things. We believe that you, as us, will thrive when meeting incredible people that are on the same mission at IKEA. People who are humble, supportive, and absolutely committed to leading home-furnishing retail into the future and creating a better life for many people by putting people at the heart of everything we do.
Join our team as Country Chief Financial Officer at IKEA South-East Europe
IKEA South-East Europe belongs to IKEA Retail, one of the three business areas of Ingka Group. IKEA Retail is the core business which consists of more than 370 IKEA stores and 100 planning studios across 31 countries around the globe. Every year, we welcome more than 680 million customers in our stores and around 3.8 billion on IKEA.com. Yet we never stop working to improve our services and become more accessible for the many people. To meet their expectations, we’re investing in new and existing channels, innovative store formats and digital platforms.
IKEA South-East Europe is one of the most vibrant regions, covering 5 countries (Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, and Ukraine). We are operating 6 stores and 17 pick-up points and we’re building 1 new store in the city of Timisoara, Romania; and yet, we have exciting expansion plans that will enable us to chart our path to further growth and make a positive impact on society and our planet.
The CFO Community (group and market) steers and supports overall Ingka performance (social, environmental, economic, and financial) while adding value to our assets, securing profitable growth and financial independence.
What is the purpose of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) job?
The purpose of the job is to be a vital enabler navigating the organization into the future by being a proactive financial business partner in both strategic and operational development, closely connected to the business and contributing to improved customer experience. Furthermore, it is to live and promote simplicity and entrepreneurship across the organization while securing compliance and safeguarding company’s financial strengths, its people, and businesses. Finally, it is to support growth, cost reduction and sustainable profitability while securing that investments deliver value in reality.
What will be your tasks and responsibilities?
In this role you will be responsible for the overall business performance management for IKEA SEE. This entails business steering and navigation, finance, governance & legal and risk & compliance. You will be managing the business and financial performance in accordance with the IKEA Retail direction and strategies and the Ingka Group financial frames.
The role of a CFO will promote well-functioning governance and compliance frameworks and monitoring activities in the organization on financial and investments matters. By developing, maintaining, and contributing to risk aware culture, you will protect people and assets and strengthen the IKEA brand.
As CFO you will lead the functional teams for Business Navigation, Financial Controlling & Tax, Governance & Legal and Risk & Compliance and you will report to the Country Retail Manager & Chief Sustainability Officer. You will be part of IKEA SEE leadership team and you will be one of the leading participants in the Market Boards and Councils. Additionally, you will represent IKEA SEE among Ingka Group Finance stakeholders, securing global decisions are locally assessed and integrated into the SEE business plan.
You will have an overall view of IKEA SEE strategies and initiatives and will be expected to build and maintain clear governance set-up for the business. Setting clear decisions making structures, roles and responsibilities in place and making sure they are supported with decision forums. Furthermore, you will be responsible for:
- Securing compliance with the applicable external and internal rules and regulations
- Establishing and maintaining good relationships with relevant authorities
- Establishing processes and control framework securing risk mitigation
- Secure competence development and succession within the areas of responsibility
More specifically, you will also:
- Optimize profitable growth, low cost, and the value of Ingka assets in accordance with our overall purpose, IKEA Retail direction and the Ingka Group financial strategy.
- Lead the IKEA Retail Business Plan process together with the country leadership team while securing alignment with the Country Penetration Plan. Lead the financial business plan process under the frame of the Ingka Group Financial strategy.
- Secure the support for a seamless and consistent customer journey in all contacts, by stimulating continuous improvement in ways of working.
- Lead the constant search for improvement in operating our companies by being the ambassador of cost consciousness, harvesting efficiency potentials, and taking advantage of the value chain.
- Lead with business opportunities in the forefront and secure that we invest to meet the needs of our customers. Evaluate and prioritize investments supporting both growth and cost reduction that deliver value, balancing returns, and risks.
- Create a risk aware organization and mindset, empowering people & business to grasp the many opportunities and to take responsible risks everyday while safeguarding & strengthening our people and Ingka businesses.
- Secure reliable and timely financial, management and tax reporting, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and accounting standards.
- Secure compliance throughout our business and rules and lead the development of a broad and proactive risk management approach that supports the country strategic direction and safeguard co-workers, visitors, and assets.
Why will we love you?
You have always had a strong genuine interest in life at home and home furnishing and would really like to make a positive impact on people and planet through your line of expertise. You are an explorer at heart, always curious to learn more about new and innovative solutions. You demonstrate good judgment, high level of integrity, trustworthiness, and maturity. You can prioritize and take sound and common-sense decisions. You have experience from developing and formulating strategies and business plans in unprecedented business environments. You have experience of leading corporations through and in a transformational change.
To be successful in this role you need to have proven and successful track record of leadership and strategic management with significant achievement at senior management level in business steering or finance related field in larger international structures. In depth knowledge of business development through finance and risk management, operations, internal controls, and relevant laws & regulations. We also believe you have an educational background in Business, Finance, Economics, or related fields on a master’s degree level.
You are known for being a people-oriented leader who see the potential in everyone and are able to bring out the best in everyone even in remote and multi-culturally diverse work environment. You have experience of leading senior leaders and co-workers, whom you coach and mentor to develop their assignments and optimize performance. With an ability to listen, inspire and engage on all levels, you always build trustful relationships with stakeholders and business partners both within and outside of the own organization. You are a strong communicator with capacity to influence decisions and create energy and commitment within the organization.
Additional Information
Please send us your application – CV and letter of motivation – in English. We really want to get to know you, so make sure you tell us why you are interested in this role, and why you would be a good fit for this role. Please note that we will review applications as they come through so do not delay, send in your application today! In addition, please note that the deadline for submissions can vary from country to country depending on the posting restrictions, however the last day to send your application via our official site is the 14th of April 2023.
We offer a permanent and full-time contract of employment, based in Belgrade, Serbia. Candidates from outside Serbia are required to relocate to the job location. Full mobility support is available for the selected candidate.
Candidate to whom we offer the position will be required to submit additional documents as part of a criminal and financial background check.
We strongly encourage and warmly welcome applications of people of all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, willing to pursue international career because we believe that diversity in IKEA makes us stronger.
