Job Description

THE ROLE & THE TEAM

At Zalando, we combine startup energy with the scale of an industry leader, powered by an international team from 140+ nations. We believe diverse perspectives lead to sharper thinking and better results, encouraging everyone to raise the bar, take ownership, innovate and bring their authentic selves to work. Zalando Bucharest is our newest site, playing a vital role in optimising our AI-driven infrastructure and driving operational efficiency alongside our Berlin headquarters. We’re looking for professionals who thrive on continuous improvement, automation and collaborative problem-solving to help us deliver exceptional customer experiences at scale.

Zalando Bucharest is our newest hub designed to centralize and scale expert services, ensuring operational excellence as we expand our global footprint. Within this newly established entity, you will be the key catalyst for our Finance function, responsible for building a culture of financial integrity and transparency from the ground up.

As Finance Manager, you will lead the "build and operate" phase of Zalando Bucharest’s financial framework, ensuring predictable results and strict compliance. Working closely with both the Bucharest Site Lead and our global Finance leadership in Berlin, you will have a unique opportunity to shape the financial roadmap of a growing hub while driving the efficiency agenda for Europe’s leading fashion platform. Operating as a senior expert and individual contributor, you will take ownership of the site’s legal and tax compliance, collaborating directly with executive leadership across Bucharest and Berlin without the distraction of people management.

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

If you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!
At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading European technology platform for fashion and lifestyle – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity.
We actively seek out talent from all backgrounds and try to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential.

We are committed to providing an exceptional and accessible candidate experience for everyone. If you require any accommodations to support you throughout the hiring process, please let us know – we are here to assist you.

Discover more about our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/our-culture/diversity-and-inclusion

WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)

• You’ll organize the setup and daily operation of the Zalando Bucharest Finance function, defining the long-term roadmap and advising leadership on the financial and structural implications of our new hub.

• You’ll oversee enterprise financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring the integrity of all reporting while adhering to the highest accounting, statutory and tax standards.

• You’ll establish robust governance and internal controls, managing risk and regulatory compliance as a true expert who ensures stability across all Zalando Bucharest.

• You’ll act as a strategic partner to Zalando Bucharest leadership and HQ, providing transparency on financial performance and evaluating business cases to ensure disciplined capital allocation.

• You’ll take responsibility to take financial ownership over the global Zalando Bucharest business case and ensure future transitions are documented and organized properly.

• You’ll champion financial integrity and data governance, collaborating with central functions to mitigate risks and ensuring the timely submission of all internal and external reports.

• You will be the first point of contact for any government grants, incentive programmes and alike within the Bucharest market.

WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF

• You bring 8–12 years of progressive experience in Finance and Accounting, including at least 4–6 years in a leadership role, ideally within a Global Business Services (GBS) or centralized environment.

• You are a hands-on expert with ERP systems (SAP preferred), driven by accuracy and a "can-do" attitude to ensure all numbers are clarified and compliant.

• You possess a data-driven mindset and a hands-on approach, allowing you to analyze metrics, guarantee operational stability, and maintain high-quality service output under tight deadlines.

• You are a proactive communicator and a quick learner, with the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships across a large organization while continuously improving ways of working to build site resilience.

• You have a proven track record on ensuring statutory, tax and regulatory compliance within a Romanian entity.

OUR OFFER

• As we build our new office in Bucharest, we are committed to providing a competitive benefits package tailored to local market practices. Please ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we plan to offer at the start:

• 22 days of holiday a year, increasing up to 25 days depending on your tenure (every 3 years)

• Private medical coverage with options to add your family

• Daily meal allowance of 30 RON per working day

• Subsidy of public transport ticket

• Office-first working model (at least 3 days a week)