Head of Accounting

Privatal International; Sankt Gallen; Hybrid; CHF 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential – Established Swiss Industrial Business seeks a Head of Accounting to lead group accounting, consolidation and financial reporting within a growing finance transformation agenda.

You will drive digitalisation, automation and data-driven management reporting, partnering with the CFO to enhance systems, processes and KPI visibility across the finance function.

Qualifications

• Strong accounting and controlling professional with solid understanding of group accounting and consolidation.
• Backgrounds could include group accounting, financial controlling, consolidation, audit or finance management, particularly within an international or multi-entity organisation.
• Previous experience as a Head of Accounting or senior finance leader is not essential; open to ambitious professionals taking the next step with a CFO.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of key areas of group accounting, consolidation and financial reporting.
• Support, coordinate and develop the wider accounting team, providing technical guidance.
• Manage consolidation topics including valuation, currency translation and intercompany matters.
• Ensure robust and efficient accounting, reconciliation, reporting and month-end closing processes.
• Drive the continued digitalisation and automation of Finance.
• Identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary manual and paper-based processes.
• Improve finance systems, reporting tools, processes and overall data quality.
• Work closely with the CFO to develop management reporting incorporating financial and operational KPIs.
• Support development and utilisation of the company’s data warehouse.
• Identify and implement practical applications of AI and automation within Accounting and Finance.
• Collaborate with external tax and accounting advisers on specialist topics as required.
• Partner with procurement and production to make financial information more accessible for decision-making.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across Finance.

Skills

Group accounting

Consolidation

Financial reporting

Systems capability

Data warehouse

Automation

AI

ERP systems

BI/reporting tools

Process automation

Tools

ERP systems

BI tools

Data warehousing

Job description

Head of Accounting – Finance Transformation

Location: St. Gallen, Switzerland

Working Model: Hybrid – 3 days per week in the office

Company: Confidential – Established Swiss Industrial Business

Must speak German

The Opportunity

Our client, an established Swiss industrial business with international operations, is looking to appoint a Head of Accounting as it continues to develop and modernise its finance function.

This is a broad, hands-on finance position combining group accounting and consolidation with financial controlling, systems development and finance transformation.

Working closely with an experienced, hands-on CFO, you will take ownership of key finance activities while helping shape how the wider finance function develops. You will support and develop the accounting team and play an important role in improving the systems, processes and information that underpin Finance.

A major focus will be on digitalisation, automation, systems and continuous improvement.

The business is investing in how it uses data across finance and operations, including the continued development of its data warehouse and the integration of financial and non-financial KPIs into management reporting.

There is also a genuine appetite to explore how AI can be practically applied within Finance. Tools are already being explored and used to support areas such as account reconciliations and variance analysis, with significant scope to identify further applications.

For someone who enjoys questioning existing processes, taking ownership and finding better ways for Finance to operate, this is an opportunity to have a visible impact on the organisation.

Your Responsibilities

• Take ownership of key areas of group accounting, consolidation and financial reporting.
• Support, coordinate and develop the wider accounting team, providing technical guidance where required.
• Manage consolidation topics including valuation, currency translation and intercompany matters.
• Ensure robust and efficient accounting, reconciliation, reporting and month-end closing processes.
• Drive the continued digitalisation and automation of Finance.
• Identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary manual and paper-based processes.
• Improve finance systems, reporting tools, processes and overall data quality.
• Work closely with the CFO to further develop management reporting incorporating both financial and operational KPIs.
• Support the continued development and utilisation of the company's data warehouse.
• Identify and implement practical applications of AI and automation within Accounting and Finance.
• Work with external tax and accounting advisers on specialist technical topics where required.
• Partner with operational functions, including procurement and production, to make financial information more accessible and relevant to decision-making.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across the Finance function.

Your Background

We are looking for a strong accounting and controlling professional with a solid understanding of group accounting and consolidation, combined with the ambition to take meaningful ownership within a developing finance function.

Relevant backgrounds could include group accounting, financial controlling, consolidation, audit or finance management, particularly within an international or multi-entity organisation.

Previous experience as a Head of Accounting or senior finance leader is not essential. This opportunity would also suit an ambitious finance professional looking to take the next step in their career, broaden their responsibilities and work closely with a CFO.

Deep local GAAP expertise is not the primary consideration. The emphasis is on strong accounting fundamentals alongside systems capability, learning agility and an improvement mindset.

Experience with ERP systems, finance systems, BI/reporting tools, process automation, data warehouses or broader finance transformation would be particularly valuable.

What Matters Most

Our client is looking for someone who:

• Has a strong understanding of group accounting and consolidation.
• Brings a solid foundation in accounting, financial controlling or financial reporting.
• Has a genuine interest in systems, technology, AI and automation.
• Naturally identifies inefficient processes and looks for ways to improve them.
• Understands Finance within the context of the wider business, rather than viewing Accounting purely from a statutory perspective.
• Is comfortable working with both financial and operational data.
• Can support, influence and develop colleagues, with the potential to take on broader leadership responsibilities.
• Is intellectually curious and willing to continuously learn.
• Is proactive and hands-on, with the confidence to take ownership.
• Is comfortable operating in an environment where processes and structures are continuing to evolve.
• Wants to make a visible and measurable impact on the organisation.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join an established business at an important stage in the development of its finance function.

You will work directly with the CFO, gain exposure to a broad range of accounting, controlling and transformation topics, and have the opportunity to influence how Finance operates.

Rather than focusing exclusively on traditional accounting responsibilities, the role offers meaningful involvement in systems improvement, automation, data-driven reporting and the practical application of AI.

For an ambitious finance professional, this represents an opportunity to broaden their experience, develop their leadership capabilities and play an important role in shaping a modern finance function.