CFO / Head of Finance, Private Equity-Backed Industrial Company, Heilbronn, Germany

About our client

Our client is a well‑established, Private Equity‑backed industrial company operating in a specialised B2B environment. The business is in a strong growth phase, driven by international expansion, increasing operational complexity, and a broader product portfolio. As part of its ongoing development, the company is further professionalising its finance organisation to support the next phase of growth and increasing shareholder requirements. The position is based in the Heilbronn area, Germany.

What the job involves

• Overall responsibility for finance, accounting, controlling, legal, insurance, governance, and compliance topics (excluding HR)
• Leadership, stabilisation, and further development of the finance organisation, including an established finance team
• Hands‑on ownership of operational and strategic finance topics in a dynamic growth environment
• Responsibility for monthly, quarterly, and annual closing and reporting processes, including further enhancement of reporting quality, controls, and governance structures
• Ownership of budgeting, rolling forecasts, financial planning, and scenario modelling
• Development and continuous improvement of management reporting, KPI frameworks, and performance transparency across the business
• Driving EBITDA, margin, cash flow, and working capital performance through actionable financial steering and disciplined performance management
• Commercial sparring partner to the CEO, the management team and investor on strategic, operational, and financial topics
• Ensuring robust financial processes, internal controls, policies, and documentation standards across the organisation
• Preparation of finance structures and reporting quality in line with increasing external and shareholder requirements
• Driving the further development of the company’s digital finance landscape, including ERP, BI, reporting, automation, and data‑driven decision‑making capabilities
• Support international expansion and sales organisation from a finance perspective
• Contribution to value creation initiatives through financial transparency and discipline
• Coordination and management of external advisors, including audit, tax, legal and banking partners

Who we are looking for

• University degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related disciplines
• Several years of experience in a senior finance role (e.g. Head of Finance, Commercial Director, Finance Director)
• Strong accounting and controlling background with solid technical expertise
• Experience in manufacturing and production‑driven business environments preferred
• Experience in a PE‑backed or shareholder‑driven environment is a plus
• Proven exposure to M&A and exit processes, including preparation of financial information and reporting
• Resilient, stress‑resistant personality with a pragmatic, execution‑focused mindset
• Hands‑on leader, comfortable operating close to the business and the numbers
• Ability to combine operational execution with further professionalisation of structures and processes
• Strong on‑site presence expected (ideally 4 days per week, minimum 3; higher presence during the initial phase)
• Fluency in German and English