Director of Finance and Controlling

For our client’s manufacturing site, we are seeking a highly skilled and hands‑on Director of Finance and Controlling to take full responsibility for the site’s finance and controlling function. This role owns the full financial agenda—from general ledger and cost accounting through budgeting, forecasting, and investment controlling—while acting as a trusted business partner to the General Manager. The position leads finance operations in a lean environment, works closely with shop floor and laboratory teams to ensure accurate product costing and inventory integrity, and collaborates within a matrix organization with the corporate headquarters in Germany.

This role reports directly to the Managing Director.

• Lead the day-to-day finance and controlling function for a growing manufacturing business.
• Manage core finance operations including general ledger, AP/AR, cash and treasury management, cost accounting, fixed assets, and investment controlling.
• Serve as a trusted business partner to the General Manager, acting as a visible, hands‑on finance leader on site.
• Partner closely with German headquarters under group reporting rules (HGB), including budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.
• Own and support the transition from Sage 100 to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (go‑live targeted for May
  1), ensuring data accuracy, strong controls, and practical processes.
• Drive cost accounting rigor and inventory integrity, including governance of BOMs, routings, work orders, unit‑of‑measure conversions, and monthly inventory counts.
• Deliver the annual budget, quarterly forecasts, and multi‑year (3‑year) strategic planning in collaboration with site leadership and HQ.
• Oversee fixed assets, capital investments, ROI analysis, and disciplined spend management.
• Coordinate tax and audit activities with external partners (including Rödel & Partner) and complete required in‑house compliance tasks (e.g., 1099 reporting, government portals).
• Work cross‑functionally with operations, lab, and office teams to identify issues early, improve processes, and ensure smooth day‑to‑day finance operations.
• Step in as needed in a lean environment to ensure continuity and effectiveness across the finance function.

• CPA required.
• Proven experience leading accounting and controlling in a manufacturing environment, ideally in a small, hands‑on organization.
• Strong technical accounting and general ledger expertise, with sound judgment around compliance, postings, and financial close accuracy.
• Deep experience in manufacturing cost accounting and inventory control, including BOMs, routings, work orders, and inventory valuation.
• Demonstrated ability to own finance operations end‑to‑end (GL, AP/AR oversight, cash/treasury, fixed assets, investment controlling, ROI analysis).
• Track record of building and managing annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and multi‑year planning in partnership with a General Manager.
• ERP implementation and process improvement experience;
  Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations preferred (or similar ERP), including legacy system transitions (e.g., Sage 100).
• Comfort working in an international, headquarters‑led environment with European/German reporting expectations (HGB exposure helpful).
• Experience coordinating with external tax and audit providers and handling practical U.S. compliance requirements in‑house (e.g., 1099s, state filings).
• Clear, pragmatic communicator able to partner across shop‑floor, lab, and office teams and translate operational realities into accurate financials.