Interim Controller

Job Title: Interim Financial Controller

Location: On-site near Frankfurt

Industry: Global Industrial Equipment

Languages: Business Fluent German and English (both required daily)

Role Summary

This hands-on senior finance leadership role combines group-level accounting and consolidation with plant-level operational controlling. Reporting directly to global finance leadership, you will oversee reporting integrity across European entities up to the international parent company while remaining closely connected to daily manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes for all European legal entities, including consolidation and intercompany reconciliations.
• Prepare group reporting packages under US GAAP to meet parent company standards and deadlines.
• Ensure local statutory compliance (German HGB) and manage relationships with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Manage plant controlling and cost accounting: standard costing, variance analysis, inventory valuation, work-in-progress (WIP), and margin analysis.
• Partner with operations, engineering, and sales teams on operational budgeting, forecasting, and commercial business cases.
• Optimize internal controls, financial systems, and close reporting cycles across all regional entities.
• Act as a strategic finance partner to local management and serve as the main interface to global finance leadership.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: 15+ years of progressive accounting and controlling experience, with substantial time spent in a manufacturing environment.
• Manufacturing Finance: Proven track record in plant controlling, including hands-on experience with standard costing, absorption, and variance analysis.
• Accounting Standards: Strong practical knowledge of US GAAP (for parent company reporting) and HGB statutory compliance.
• Group Reporting: Experience managing group accounting and multi-entity consolidations.
• Languages: Daily operational fluency in both written and spoken German and English.
• Education: Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (or regional professional certifications such as Bilanzbuchhalter / certified controller).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within an international corporate structure (e.g., a US-owned German subsidiary).
• Knowledge of IFRS.
• Hands-on experience with mid-to-large enterprise ERP systems (e.g., Oracle ERP or regional manufacturing ERPs).
• Demonstrated track record of streamlining close processes and enhancing reporting capabilities.