Director Group Controlling

Privatal International; Stuttgart; Hybrid; EUR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Privatal International seeks a Director Group Controlling in the Stuttgart area, a high-visibility role reporting to the CFO. You will lead the group’s controlling function and drive a transformation to an automated, analytical, forward-looking finance organization, standardising KPIs and elevating reporting quality.

The role focuses on budgeting, forecasting, ERP and data analytics, with a strong emphasis on value creation and cost optimisation in a Private Equity-backed environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in Group Controlling within a multi-entity organisation.
• Leadership responsibility in a senior controlling function.
• Track record of transforming controlling processes, not just maintaining reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Group Controlling function and its team.
• Own group-wide budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and performance management.
• Transform controlling into a forward-looking business partner to the CFO and operations.
• Drive automation and digitalisation of controlling to reduce manual processes.
• Develop modern BI, dashboarding and data analytics capabilities for transparency.
• Standardise KPIs and reporting methodologies across entities.
• Support value creation and cost-saving initiatives with management and PE sponsor.
• Assist in post-merger integration and exit preparation when required.

Skills

Group Controlling

FP&A

Performance Management

Automation mindset

BI and analytics

ERP systems

Leadership

Finance transformation

Tools

SAP

BI tools

ERP systems

Job description

Director Group Controlling | PE-Backed Group | Stuttgart

We are partnering with a leading Private Equity-backed group in the Stuttgart area to appoint a Director Group Controlling.

This is a highly visible leadership role reporting directly to the CFO, with significant exposure to the management team and Private Equity sponsor. The mandate is centred around transforming and professionalising Group Controlling, moving the organisation away from historically manual and decentralised processes towards a more automated, analytical and forward-looking finance function.

The Opportunity

The Director Group Controlling will take ownership of the group-wide controlling organisation and play a central role in the company's wider value creation and transformation agenda.

A major focus will be on improving the quality, speed and automation of financial information: standardising KPIs, reducing manual reporting, building stronger BI and analytics capabilities, and creating a scalable controlling environment capable of supporting the next phase of growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and further develop the Group Controlling function, including leadership and development of the controlling team.
• Own group-wide budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and performance management.
• Transform controlling from a predominantly reporting-focused function into a forward-looking business partner to the CFO and operational management.
• Drive the automation and digitalisation of controlling, significantly reducing manual processes and improving the speed and quality of reporting.
• Develop modern BI, dashboarding and data analytics capabilities, creating greater transparency across the organisation.
• Standardise KPIs and controlling methodologies across business units and legal entities.
• Build more sophisticated analysis around revenue, price/volume/mix, margins, profitability, cost development and operational performance.
• Lead improvements to forecasting, scenario modelling and management decision support.
• Play an important role in the broader ERP and finance transformation, including optimisation of systems, processes and data structures.
• Identify and track value creation and cost-saving initiatives alongside management and the PE sponsor.
• Support M&A activity, particularly post-merger integration and the integration of acquired businesses into group reporting and controlling structures.
• Ensure the controlling organisation and reporting environment are scalable and suitable for a future exit process.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an experienced controlling leader who combines strong technical fundamentals with a genuine transformation and automation mindset.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Significant experience in Group Controlling, FP&A or Performance Management within a complex, multi-entity organisation.
• Previous leadership responsibility within a senior controlling function.
• A track record of transforming controlling processes, rather than simply operating an established reporting environment.
• Strong experience with automation, BI, ERP systems and modern reporting tools.
• Ability to turn large amounts of financial and operational data into meaningful commercial insights.
• Experience establishing group-wide KPIs, reporting standards and performance-management frameworks.
• Strong commercial understanding and the confidence to challenge senior operational stakeholders.
• Experience within a Private Equity-backed, transformation or similarly performance-driven environment is highly advantageous.
• Exposure to M&A, integration and/or exit preparation would be beneficial.
• Fluent German and English.

Location:

Stuttgart area / hybrid

This is particularly attractive for someone who wants to build and transform, rather than inherit a finished controlling organisation. The successful candidate will have considerable freedom to shape the systems, processes, team and reporting landscape while working directly alongside the CFO and Private Equity shareholder.

The emphasis on automated reporting, KPI-led performance management, SAP/ERP transformation and AI/BI tooling is also consistent with current senior controlling mandates in the German market.