Head of Plant Controlling

Our client is a leading international manufacturing organization. The company combines an entrepreneurial culture with the stability of an established industrial business and is focused on operational excellence, continuous improvement, and sustainable growth.

We are currently looking for an experienced Regional Plant Controlling Manager to take responsibility for driving and harmonizing Plant Controlling activities across several manufacturing facilities. This role combines hands-on operational finance expertise with a broader regional perspective and offers significant exposure to senior finance and operations leadership.

Responsibilities

• Personally manage Plant Controlling activities, including cost analysis, manufacturing variance analysis, productivity monitoring, budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting.
• Act as a business partner to Plant Management, identifying cost drivers and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and implement standardized controlling methodologies, KPIs, reporting, and performance-management routines across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Establish robust analysis of direct labour efficiency, material price and usage variances, overhead absorption, production costs, capacity utilization, scrap, and rework.
• Coordinate Plant Controlling activities across multiple manufacturing locations, harmonizing processes, improving data quality, and enabling cross-site benchmarking and sharing of best practices.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis processes, ensuring reliable and timely financial insights for operational management.
• Improve the use of SAP and reporting tools, ensuring consistent cost accounting, product costing, and Plant performance reporting.
• Coach and develop controlling capabilities while fostering a performance-oriented culture across manufacturing operations.
• Work closely with Plant Managers and operational teams to identify and support initiatives that improve productivity, cost efficiency, and manufacturing performance.

Requirements

• Significant experience in manufacturing controlling within a complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong expertise in manufacturing finance and controlling, including manufacturing cost accounting, product costing, cost variance analysis, labour productivity measurement, material cost management, and overhead cost control.
• Proven ability to work directly with plant operations, analyse detailed cost and production data, and translate findings into concrete improvement actions.
• Experience establishing or improving controlling processes, KPIs, and reporting frameworks.
• Good knowledge of SAP and manufacturing controlling processes.
• Experience working across multiple sites and in an international environment.
• Strong analytical skills, a pragmatic and structured approach, and the ability to operate effectively in both strategic and operational environments.
• Proven leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to develop talent and influence operational stakeholders.
• Fluent English and German.
• University degree in Finance, Controlling, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience within automotive, industrial machinery, or other complex manufacturing environments will be considered an advantage.

What We Offer

• A regional leadership position with responsibility across multiple European manufacturing sites.
• The opportunity to shape and harmonize Plant Controlling processes and performance standards in an international environment.
• Close cooperation with senior finance and operational leadership.
• High visibility and direct impact on operational and financial decision-making.
• Participation in transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• A dynamic role combining strategic responsibility with hands-on business partnering.
• International exposure within a complex and fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Hybrid working model.
• Competitive compensation package, annual bonus, and comprehensive benefits.

If you are looking for an opportunity to make a tangible impact in a complex manufacturing environment and would like to learn more about this confidential opportunity, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Apply directly or contact me for a confidential discussion.

Hays Poland sp. z o.o. is an employment agency registered in a registry kept by Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship under the number 361.

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#1202263 - Martyna Baur-Gadzinowska