Director - Finance & Operations

Location: New York, USA
Start Date: ASAP
Type: Full-time, permanent
Reports to: President Americas (New York)
Languages: Fluent in English – French a strong plus
Eligibility: Candidates must have a valid U.S. work authorization. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

About the Role

AMI Paris is hiring a Finance & Operations Director to lead and structure all financial and operational activities of its Americas’ subsidiary. Based in New York and reporting to the President Americas, the role is key to support AMI’s regional growth. The mission includes internalizing core functions, implementing robust processes, and becoming a key liaison with our Paris headquarters.

The position requires a mix of strategic insight and hands-on execution, with a sense of strong autonomy, entrepreneurial drive, and cross-functional collaboration. The Finance & Operations Director will oversee all core financial functions while driving operational excellence and working cross-functionally with our Paris headquarters.

AMI Paris continues its global expansion with a growing presence in the Americas. This role is key to structuring a solid foundation for our operations in the U.S. and supporting future growth in Canada and Latin America.

Responsibilities:

• 
  Financial Management & Controlling

• Oversee and drive all financial operations: budgeting, forecasting, monthly closing, and cash flow planning.

• Lead the annual budgeting and multi-year planning process in coordination with the President Americas and Paris HQ.

• Provide strategic recommendations to local leadership based on financial analysis and forecasts.

• Produce timely, accurate financial reports, dashboards, and KPIs to support local management and HQ

• Coordinate monthly reporting packages in line with Group requirements and consolidation timelines

• Monitor gross margin, cost structure, and operational expenses across all sales channels (retail, wholesale and ecommerce)

• Ensure compliance with IFRS standards, local tax regulations, and Group accounting standards

• Manage relationships with external accountants, auditors, and tax advisors

2. Accounting, Tax & Internal Controls

• Supervise day-to-day accounting processes, including AP/AR, invoice processing, payroll follow-up, and vendor payments

• Oversee inventory valuation and ensure alignment between financial and operational data

• Implement and monitor day-to-day internal control procedures, with a focus on cost control, stock accuracy, and process reliability

• Coordinate statutory filings and ensure full tax compliance (sales tax, income tax, etc.)

• Act as the local guarantor of compliance with Group policies and risk management standards.

• Act as local compliance officer, ensuring the subsidiary meets all legal, regulatory, and corporate governance obligations in coordination with external legal counsel and HQ teams.

3. Operational Oversight

• Oversee operational support functions, including insurance, lease agreements, and internal policy compliance.

• Act as the primary point of contact for logistics and supply-related topics, ensuring smooth coordination with local teams and Paris HQ

• Lead the implementation of a localized warehouse ensuring a smooth transition and cost-efficient transition that improves service levels and time-to-market across all channels.

• Support business continuity by anticipating operational risks and proactively planning for future needs

• Support the region and HQ in setting up the adequate and most efficient subsidiary structure in other markets (e.g. Canada, South America)

• Manage banking relationships and ensure optimal cash flow, liquidity, and treasury operations.

• Oversee currency exchange planning when applicable (e.g., USD/EUR conversion, payments to HQ).

4. Team Management & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Supervise and structure the local finance and back-office functions (internal and/or external resources)

• Define and optimize processes to scale the organization in a fast-growing environment

• Act as the key Finance & Operations liaison with Paris HQ (Finance, Logistics, and IT teams etc.)

• Set up an internal cost control system to monitor key expenses and propose solutions to protect profitability

• Ensure timely and accurate information flow between the US entity and HQ

• Partner with the sales and retail teams to monitor performance indicators (sell-through, conversion rates, AOV) and identify optimization levers.

• Analyze profitability by channel, store, and product category to support strategic decisions.

Required experience and skills:

• 10+ years of experience in finance and operations, including at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Previous experience in fashion, retail, or consumer goods
• Strong knowledge of IFRS, tax compliance, and operational finance (controlling, accounting, cash flow, internal controls)
• Demonstrated ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Proven track record in structuring and scaling finance and operational functions within a small-to-mid-size subsidiary
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with attention to detail and strong execution capabilities
• Enthusiastic about building processes from scratch and being hands-on
• Comfortable managing both day-to-day execution and longer-term structuring
• Familiar with ERP systems and accounting software.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to collaborate across teams and geographies
• Fluent in English; French proficiency is a strong plus
• Must have valid US work authorization – no visa sponsorship available