COO/CFO, Large Cap Consumer & Retail Business, Wider Munich, Germany

PER; München; On-site; EUR 220,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

PER is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to join its executive leadership in Munich. The COO will partner with the CEO to translate strategy into scalable operating models, oversee finance, supply chain, logistics, marketing, HR, IT and legal, and drive performance across international markets.

We are looking for an accomplished leader with a proven track record in consumer retail, strong financial discipline, hands-on execution, and the ability to build resilient structures in a decentralised

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in a COO/ top executive role within a complex decentralised organisation.
• Proven track record in consumer-facing retail environments and multi-site operations.
• Experience leading operational transformation, process optimisation, and digitalisation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end supply chains, logistics, and procurement.
• Solid financial planning, KPI-based steering and cost optimisation.
• Experience in listed or capital-market environments and international teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic partner to the CEO, translating strategy into operational priorities and ensuring execution.
• Lead and develop finance, supply chain, logistics, marketing, HR, IT and legal functions with clear accountability.
• Drive scalable structures and processes to support international growth and seasonal fluctuations.
• Optimise end-to-end supply chain to improve product availability and cost efficiency.
• Strengthen financial reporting and performance management for the listed parent company.
• Develop management reporting, KPIs, planning and budgeting to enable agile decisions.
• Lead operational transformation initiatives and promote data-driven decision making.
• Drive CAPEX/OPEX cost optimisation while supporting working capital targets.
• Foster a strong performance culture and leadership pipeline across decentralised teams.
• Manage relationships with shareholders, auditors, and tax advisers with transparent communication.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic partnership

Operational transformation

End-to-end supply chain

Financial acumen

International leadership

Stakeholder management

Job description

About our client

Our client is an established international retail group with a strong presence across Europe. Combining a broad customer offering with an extensive store network, the company operates in a dynamic and competitive market environment, with a clear focus on customer value, operational excellence and profitable growth.

About our client

Our client is an established international retail group with a strong presence across Europe. Combining a broad customer offering with an extensive store network, the company operates in a dynamic and competitive market environment, with a clear focus on customer value, operational excellence and profitable growth. As the business continues to evolve and further develop its operations, it is seeking a chief operating officer (COO) to work closely with the CEO and play a central role in the company's leadership team. The COO will oversee key operational and corporate functions, driving efficiency, strengthening organisational capabilities and building scalable structures to support the company's continued development. Combining strategic perspective with strong operational and financial expertise, the successful candidate will take a hands-on approach to improving performance, fostering accountability and ensuring that the business remains agile, cost-conscious and customer-focused. The location is based in a Bavarian city.

What the job involves

• Act as a strategic partner to the CEO, translating the company's strategy into clear operational priorities and ensuring their effective implementation
• Lead and develop key functions across finance, supply chain, logistics, marketing, HR, IT and legal, ensuring effective collaboration and clear accountability
• Drive operational excellence by developing scalable structures and processes that support international growth and manage seasonal fluctuations effectively
• Optimise the end-to-end supply chain, including inventory management, warehouse productivity, procurement and distribution, while ensuring product availability and cost efficiency
• Strengthen financial steering and performance management, ensuring transparent and timely reporting in line with the requirements of the listed parent company
• Further develop management reporting, KPIs, planning and budgeting processes to support agile, data-driven decision-making and effective business performance monitoring
• Lead operational transformation initiatives, challenging existing structures and processes and introducing more efficient, modern and technology-enabled ways of working
• Drive cost and resource optimisation across CAPEX and OPEX, while supporting working capital objectives and the company's profitability targets
• Establish a strong performance culture, promoting accountability, continuous improvement and the effective use of operational and financial data across the organisation
• Lead, coach and develop the management team, strengthening leadership capabilities and building a strong pipeline of future leaders across a complex and decentralised organisation
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders, including shareholders, auditors and tax advisors, ensuring transparent communication and reliable reporting

Who we are looking for

• Extensive leadership experience as a COO, CFO/COO, head of operations or in a comparable senior executive role within a complex, decentralised organisation
• Proven experience in a consumer-facing or B2C business, ideally within non-food retail, discount retail, fashion or a multi-site retail environment
• A strong track record of leading operational transformation, process optimisation, organisational restructuring or the digitalisation of business processes
• Strong understanding of end-to-end supply chains, logistics and procurement, ideally within a fast-moving and seasonal retail environment
• Solid financial expertise, including financial planning, performance management, KPI-based steering and cost optimisation
• Demonstrated ability to scale operations and lead organisations through periods of significant growth and increasing complexity
• Experience managing multiple functions and aligning operational execution with broader commercial and financial objectives
• Experience in a listed or capital-markets-oriented environment, as well as with international leadership would be advantageous
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, from operational teams to senior management and shareholders
• A hands-on, pragmatic and results-oriented approach, combined with the ability to balance operational detail with strategic priorities
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate operational and financial data into clear decisions and actionable improvements
• Resilience, energy and a high degree of personal drive, with the ability to lead effectively in a dynamic and demanding environment.
• Fluency in both German and English