Lead, develop, and manage the Direct Line finance team, including performance management, hiring, and capability building as the function scales. Plan, approve, and execute budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning, and management reporting cycles — including monthly close, QBR preparation, and integration-related reporting for the CIS leadership team. Build and own the financial operating model for a project-based business, including revenue recognition across direct hyperscale and general contractor-routed contract structures, labor cost management, and project margin tracking. Partner with the Direct Line COO and VP of Finance for DCS to establish financial governance, reporting cadence, and KPI frameworks in a business that is actively integrating into the broader CBRE platform. Assist executive management with setting strategic direction for the business. Identify and drive CBRE synergy capture opportunities, including vendor consolidation onto CBRE procurement platforms and leveraging CBRE's global scale to improve cost structures. Establish departmental priorities, develop financial policies and procedures, and serve as the primary finance point of contact for Direct Line operations leadership. Review and approve capex projects under company approval guidelines. Apply deep knowledge of project economics, revenue recognition (particularly percentage-of-completion and milestone-based structures), and multi-entity reporting across a globally distributed services business. Operate credibly with senior leadership across CBRE DCS and CIS, and navigate cross-functional priorities between Direct Line, the broader data center platform, and CBRE corporate. Drive financial integration workstreams, including system alignment, chart of accounts standardization, and reporting normalization as Direct Line moves onto CBRE platforms. Direct resolution of complex business problems, including those involving revenue mix shifts, general contractor-vs-direct client profitability differences, and cost structure optimization in a high-velocity project environment. - - What You'll Need: - - To perform this job successfully, an individual will need to perform each crucial duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Bachelor's degree preferred with 12 to 15 years of relevant experience; combination of education and experience considered. Background in project-based or services businesses strongly preferred; experience in data center, construction, technology services, or field services environments is a plus. Demonstrated ability to build financial infrastructure from the ground up, including reporting frameworks, governance cadence, and controls, in a business undergoing integration or significant change. Experience in staffing, development, coaching, and performance management of finance teams. Ability to exchange sensitive and complex financial information with senior leaders and operating partners; comfortable presenting to executive audiences without a well-established playbook. Leadership skills to motivate teams and drive operational accountability in a decentralized, field-driven business. Experience navigating revenue recognition complexity across contract types (fixed-price, T&M, milestone-based) and customer structures (direct vs. general contractor-routed). Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with ERP and project accounting systems (e.g., Oracle, SAP, or equivalent) preferred. Expert analytical and quantitative skills; ability to translate operational data into financial insight and executive-ready narrative. - -