Description
Job 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: Controller delivers actionable insights and reliable decision support to the executive management, driving operational efficiency, profitability, and sustainable growth.
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 equivalents 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
•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 high 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
AGRU AMERICA, INC. IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, controlling, or business administration, or equivalent commercial/controlling apprenticeship with relevant experience
- Professional certification such as CMA, CPA, or equivalent
- 5-7 years of experience in controlling, cost accounting, or financial analysis
- Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
- Direct team supervision experience, including hiring, coaching, and performance management
- Experience 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 or period-end reporting
- Strong working knowledge of SAP and reporting tools, preferably SAP S/4HANA
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and financial modeling
- Understanding of cost accounting principles and value-flow analysis
- Familiarity with master-data structures and data-quality management
- Experience with analytics and business intelligence tools, preferably on the Microsoft platform
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and process-improvement skills
What We Do
AGRU America, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative engineering plastics solutions, including geosynthetics, HDPE piping systems, and semi-finished products. Since 1988, the company has focused on creating high-quality products for environmental protection and industrial usage, providing solutions for waste management, water/wastewater, mining, energy, and construction to build a safer and more sustainable future.
