Business Unit Manager: Controlling

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

A trusted business partner to the executive team, providing strategic financial leadership and guidance on budgeting, investment decisions, cost management, and overall business performance. Responsible for leading operational controlling and reporting activities across the organization, ensuring financial transparency and data-driven decision-making.

The role encompasses the preparation of manufacturing cost analyses, contribution margin reporting, and cost center accounting, as well as the development of recurring management reports for purchasing, production, warehousing, order processing, and sales. By establishing transparent, analyzable value flows and robust performance metrics, the Business Unit Manager: Controlling delivers actionable insights and reliable decision support to the executive management, driving operational efficiency, profitability, and sustainable growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Create and manage an ERP-driven cost controlling organization, delivering standardized processes, accurate cost allocation, budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting.
• Directly supervise and develop a team of controlling staff, including hiring, performance management, coaching, and day-to-day work direction.
• Execution of manufacturing cost calculations and contribution margin accounting, especially by applying Standard costing in SAP (usage of standard cost estimates and post costing) 
•  Maintenance and reconciliation of cost center accounting; allocation of costs to cost centers and cost objects, e.g. Allocation of energy costs at plant and cost-center level
• Preparation of standard and ad hoc reports for purchasing, production, warehouse, order processing, sales, and executive management
• Analysis of value flows and identification of deviations against plan and prior periods
• Preparation of analyses and dashboards 
• Review, improvement, and assurance of data quality, material master data and classifications
•  Investment related ROI calculations 
• Support of investment decisions, budgeting, forecasting, and planning cycles in coordination with the executive management. 
•  Participation in process improvements in master data, pricing, and reporting

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Controlling, or Business Administration; or equivalent through a recognized commercial/controlling apprenticeship plus relevant experience
• Professional certification a plus (e.g., CMA, CPA, or equivalent qualification)

Experience

• 5-7 years in controlling, cost accounting, or financial analysis, preferably in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Proven experience directly supervising a team (hiring, coaching, and performance management) is required, in addition to building and developing controlling processes.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing cost calculation, cost-center accounting, and contribution-margin analysis
• Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, and month-end/period-end reporting

Technical skills

• Strong working knowledge of SAP and reporting tools is essential (preferably S/4 HANA)
• Advanced Excel knowledge  (pivot tables, lookups, financial modeling, understanding of cost accounting principles and value-flow analysis across purchasing, production, warehouse, and sales
• Understanding of cost accounting principles and value-flow analysis across purchasing, production, warehouse, and sales
• Familiarity with master-data structures and data-quality management
• Good Skills in Analytics (Usage of Business Intelligence Tools, preferably Microsoft Platform)

Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability with close attention to detail and data accuracy
• Ability to translate operational data into clear, actionable management reporting
• Process-improvement mindset
• Reliable, organized, and able to meet recurring reporting deadlines
• Good communication skills to work cross-functionally and present findings to the executive management