Financial Controller

Financial Controller |  Private Equity, Consulting/Business Services
Remuneration |  €100k + 15% bonus
Location  | Milan, Italy – Permanent & full-time position (hybrid working; 2-3 days office)

The Opportunity:

A high-growth, Private Equity-backed Business Services & Consulting organisation is seeking an exceptional Financial Controller to join its rapidly expanding European operation, based in Milan.

The business has established itself as a leading player within its market, generating approximately £100m in revenue and £30–40m+ EBITDA, with an ambitious growth strategy built around a combination of strong organic performance and an aggressive buy-and-build M&A strategy.

Operating across 10+ European countries, the Group continues to expand its geographical coverage and is investing heavily in building out its regional infrastructure. The European operation has a genuine start-up feel, but with the backing, scale and resources of an already highly successful international Group.

This is an opportunity to join at a particularly exciting stage of the journey.

The Role:

Reporting directly to the European Finance Director/CFO, the Financial Controller will play a critical role in strengthening and developing the finance function across the region.

The role will take ownership of the technical accounting, financial controls, reporting, audit, tax and wider compliance agenda, whilst working closely with senior stakeholders across both Finance and the wider business.

The successful individual will not simply be responsible for maintaining the status quo. They will be expected to help build and professionalise the regional finance function, establishing robust processes, controls and reporting whilst supporting the business through its continued international expansion and M&A activity.

The role will involve significant interaction with stakeholders across multiple countries and functions, providing an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance professional to develop broad commercial and international exposure.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the regional financial control and technical accounting agenda across the European operation.
Own the integrity, accuracy and timeliness of monthly and year-end reporting.
Develop and strengthen the region's financial controls, processes and governance framework.
Lead the external audit, working closely with auditors and Group stakeholders.
Oversee tax, statutory reporting and wider regulatory compliance across the region.
Support the finance leadership team through M&A activity, including acquisition integration and the establishment of appropriate controls and reporting.
Partner with Finance Directors, operational leaders and other senior stakeholders across the European business.
Work closely with the Group finance function to ensure consistency of reporting, controls and best practice.
Identify opportunities to improve and automate existing processes as the business scales.
Provide technical accounting expertise and act as a key point of reference for complex accounting matters.
Contribute to the continued development and professionalisation of the European finance function.
Build towards taking responsibility for a growing finance team, with the expectation that the role will develop into a broader finance leadership position as the region expands.

The Requirements:
The business is looking for an individual who combines strong technical accounting capability with the ambition, energy and adaptability required to operate within a rapidly scaling organisation.
Ideally, the successful candidate will be professionally qualified, although candidates with a strong audit background and demonstrable technical accounting experience will also be considered.

They are likely to bring:
Fluency in both Italian and English is essential. Spanish language skills would be highly desirable.
A strong technical accounting and financial control background.
Experience gained within audit, financial control or a technically demanding finance environment.
Proven experience across reporting, controls, audit, tax and statutory compliance.
Experience operating within a high-growth, international or multi-country…