Financial Controller

Reporting directly to the Managing Director with a functional reporting line into the wider international finance organization (directly to the CFO)

Start Date

ASAP

About the Role

A well-established international engineering and manufacturing business is seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Finance & Business Controlling Manager to take ownership of accounting, project controlling, financial reporting, and selected administrative activities.

Acting as a key financial business partner to local leadership, the successful candidate will ensure financial transparency, support strategic decision-making, and maintain alignment with group-wide finance standards, controls, and reporting processes.

This position combines hands-on financial management with project controlling responsibilities in a project-driven industrial environment.

Key Responsibilities

Project Controlling & Business Analysis

• Establish and maintain project-level financial controlling processes.
• Monitor project revenues, costs, margins, profitability, and cash flow throughout project lifecycles.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers to ensure accurate forecasting and performance tracking.
• Analyse project profitability and identify financial risks, deviations, and improvement opportunities.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term business planning activities.
• Develop and maintain KPI dashboards and management reporting.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to local management and corporate stakeholders.
• Support the preparation for an ERP implementation and process standardisation initiatives.
• Prepare recurring financial reports for both local and international management.
• Ensure timely submission of monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting packages.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of global finance procedures and reporting standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, reporting quality, and internal controls.
• Participate in audits, compliance reviews, and finance transformation initiatives.
• Ensure accurate and timely bookkeeping in accordance with local statutory requirements and company policies.
• Manage Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable activities.
• Oversee customer invoicing and collection processes.
• Coordinate payment runs and cash management activities.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closings.
• Maintain general ledger accuracy and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Work closely with external auditors, tax advisors, and finance stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and corporate governance requirements.

Optional: HR & Administrative Support

• Coordinate payroll preparation and liaise with external payroll providers.
• Maintain employee master data and support personnel administration.
• Assist management with headcount reporting and labour cost analysis.
• Support onboarding and offboarding activities.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation and internal policies.
• Support general office administration when required.

Candidate Profile

Education

• Completed a commercial vocational qualification (e.g. commercial administration, office management, accounting, or similar).
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Controlling, or a related discipline.
• A combination of practical commercial training and academic education is highly desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years' experience in finance, accounting, controlling, or commercial administration.
• Experience within manufacturing, engineering, industrial equipment, project-based business, or a similar industrial environment is advantageous.
• Experience working within an international corporate reporting structure is desirable.

Systems & Tools

• Experience with ERP systems (SAP preferred).
• Openness towards digitalisation, data-driven decision making, and AI-enabled tools.

Languages

• Fluent German and English (minimum C1 level).
• Additional languages are advantageous.

Personal Qualities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Hands-on and detail-oriented approach.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to work cross-functionally across technical and commercial teams.
• Ownership mindset and accountability.
• Structured and methodical working style.
• Comfortable challenging assumptions and financial forecasts.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills.

Success in the Role

The successful candidate will:

• Deliver accurate and timely bookkeeping and month-end closing activities.
• Ensure efficient invoicing and cash collection processes.
• Improve visibility and control of project profitability.
• Provide accurate and timely management reporting.
• Maintain compliance with internal controls and audit requirements.
• Deliver actionable financial insights that support business growth and profitability.
• Act as a trusted business partner to local leadership.
• Build robust project controlling and profitability reporting processes.
• Successfully bridge local operations with the wider international finance organisation.
• Hybrid working model available.
• Position based within a well-established engineering and manufacturing business operating internationally.
• Significant exposure to senior management and global stakeholders.
• Opportunity to play a key role in finance process improvement, reporting enhancement, and ERP development projects.

Summary

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional who enjoys combining financial accounting, business controlling, project analysis, and operational support in a dynamic international industrial environment. The role offers broad responsibility, strong visibility within the organisation, and the opportunity to make a tangible impact on business performance.

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