Company Profile
nLighten is a European platform of distributed edge data centers, designed to meet the growing demand for AI, 5G, and hybrid cloud deployments. As a rapidly expanding provider, we offer scalable colocation hubs and best-in-class energy solutions across Europe. Our innovative and sustainable approach to digital infrastructure ensures reliability, efficiency, and future-ready solutions for our clients.nLighten's current footprint is 34 data centers in 7 European countries, with the ambition to grow to 100 sites during the next 3-4 years.
Learn more about us: www.nlighten.com
About the Role
We are seeking a Financial Reporting & Tax Manager to own statutory accounting, audit, and tax compliance across all nLighten entities and jurisdictions, while acting as the group's in-house technical accounting authority. Reporting to the Group Financial Controller, you will ensure statutory accounts are prepared, audited, and filed on time, own the group's audit governance, including the group audit plan, internal audit programme, and Audit Committee process , and manage our outsourced tax providers across Europe to keep nLighten compliant in every market.
This role suits a Big 4 audit-trained accountant who enjoys technical depth and wants broad exposure across reporting and tax in a fast-growing, PE-backed infrastructure business.
Key Responsibilities
Statutory accounting and audit
- Own the annual statutory accounts process for all nLighten entities across all jurisdictions, from planning through to filing
- Manage the group and local statutory audit processes end-to-end: audit planning, deliverables tracking, auditor queries, and issue resolution
- Act as the primary day-to-day contact for external auditors, coordinating input from local finance teams and external service providers
- Maintain the statutory compliance calendar, ensuring all filing deadlines are met in every jurisdiction
- Ensure statutory accounts are consistent with group reporting and that local GAAP to IFRS differences are properly documented
Audit planning and governance
- Create and manage the group audit plan, providing the board with clear, regular transparency on audit progress, milestones, and risks across all entities
- Ensure audited accounts are delivered to lenders on time and in accordance with nLighten's funding obligations
- Track audit findings and management actions to closure, reporting status to the Group Financial Controller and Audit Committee
Internal audit and Audit Committee
- Own and run the group's internal audit programme delivered by outsourced providers: developing the risk-based internal audit plan, executing or coordinating reviews, and reporting findings and remediation progress
- Manage the Audit Committee process end-to-end: setting the annual calendar, preparing agendas and papers, coordinating external auditor attendance, and tracking actions arising
- Act as secretary to the Audit Committee, ensuring high-quality minutes and timely follow-up on committee decisions
Technical accounting
- Act as the group's technical accounting resource, providing controllers with clear guidance on the accounting treatment of complex areas — including revenue recognition (IFRS 15) and lease accounting (IFRS 16)
- Prepare technical accounting papers supporting the group's positions on significant judgements and new transactions, for review with the Group Financial Controller and external auditors
- Support the monthly reporting process by resolving technical questions from entity controllers and reviewing the treatment of non-routine transactions
- Maintain and develop the group accounting policy manual, keeping it current with new standards and group developments
Tax compliance
- Manage the group's outsourced tax providers across all jurisdictions, acting as the central point of coordination
- Track adviser recommendations to completion, ensuring nLighten follows up and remains tax compliant in every market
- Oversee the external preparation and filing of annual corporate income tax returns, ensuring the process runs smoothly and deadlines are met
- Coordinate the tax provisioning process for statutory and group reporting, working with advisers and the group finance team
- Maintain oversight of the group's wider tax compliance obligations (including VAT and transfer pricing documentation), escalating risks and issues to the Group Financial Controller
Wider finance team
- Work closely with entity controllers and the group consolidation team to align statutory, tax, and group reporting
- Support the finance integration of newly acquired entities, ensuring statutory and tax compliance obligations are captured from day one
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of reporting processes, templates, and controls
What We Are Looking For
- 10+ years of experience, including approximately 5 years in audit practice and 5 years in industry
- Big 4 audit-trained, qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, RA, or equivalent)
- Strong technical IFRS knowledge, with demonstrable depth in revenue recognition (IFRS 15) and lease accounting (IFRS 16)
- Experience preparing or auditing statutory financial statements for multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction groups
- Experience managing external audit relationships and delivering audits to deadline
- Working knowledge of corporate tax compliance processes and experience coordinating external tax advisers
- Experience building and managing audit plans and reporting audit status to senior stakeholders (board, audit committee, or equivalent)
- Highly organised, with the ability to run parallel workstreams across multiple entities and deadlines
- Clear written and verbal communication, able to translate technical accounting into practical guidance for controllers
- Fluent English
Nice to Have
- Experience in a private equity-backed, leveraged, and/or capex-intensive environment (infrastructure, data centres, real estate)
- Exposure to European statutory reporting regimes and local GAAP to IFRS conversion
- Experience with transfer pricing and cross-border intercompany arrangements
- Internal audit experience, or experience designing and testing financial controls
- Experience supporting or managing an audit committee, including paper preparation and minute-taking
- Additional European language skills (e.g. Dutch, German, French)
Why Join Us?
- Join a fast-growing company shaping the future of digital infrastructure in Europe
- Take on a high-impact leadership role across multiple countries and business units
- Work in a dynamic, international scale-up environment with real ownership and visibility
- Be part of a collaborative team focused on performance, innovation, and continuous improvement
If you have the right experience and are excited about contributing to the next evolution of edge data centers, we'd love to hear from you
Apply now and be part of our journey toward a more connected, efficient, and sustainable digital future.
Background Check & Screening
All selected candidates will undergo a background check to ensure a safe workplace, protect company assets, and comply with regulations.
Diversity & Inclusion Statement
nLighten is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Even if you do not meet every requirement listed, we welcome your application. We particularly encourage women and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.
