Head of Finance

Pacific International Executive Search; Augsburg; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific International Executive Search partners with a global manufacturing group to appoint a Director of Finance in Germany. The role is based near Augsburg and leads finance for the site while guiding post‑acquisition integration, ERP selection, and scalable financial processes to support European growth.

This hands‑on, strategic leader will partner with operations and commercial teams to improve profitability, manage costing and reporting, and build a robust finance organization for future

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience.
• Leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial, or process industries.
• Proven finance function leadership and manufacturing site finance experience.
• Expertise in product costing, inventory valuation, profitability analysis.
• Experience with ERP implementation projects in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of German accounting, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Fluent German and English.
• Hands-on, pragmatic leadership balancing strategy and execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead all finance activities for the manufacturing site and associated sales office, serving as a key business partner to operational and commercial leadership.
• Drive the finance workstream of the post-acquisition integration, establishing efficient standalone accounting, reporting, treasury, payroll, and control processes.
• Support the selection and implementation of a new ERP system, ensuring strong financial controls, costing, inventory management, and reporting capabilities.
• Develop and enhance financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and management reporting processes.
• Partner closely with operations and commercial teams to improve profitability, optimize pricing strategies, strengthen margins, and improve working capital performance.
• Establish robust governance, internal controls, compliance frameworks, and audit-ready processes.
• Build and develop the finance organization, assessing current capabilities and recruiting additional talent where required.
• Oversee statutory reporting, tax compliance, external audits, and group reporting requirements.
• Support future acquisition activities, integration projects, and organizational scaling initiatives across Europe.
• Act as the primary finance representative to executive leadership, auditors, advisors, banks, and employee representatives.

Skills

Finance leadership

Manufacturing finance

ERP implementation

Post-acquisition integration

Strategic planning

People management

Tools

SAP

Oracle ERP

Job description

We are partnering with a global manufacturing group that has recently acquired a long-established European industrial operation and is embarking on an ambitious standalone growth journey. This is a unique opportunity to join at a pivotal stage of the company's evolution, helping shape the future of a manufacturing business serving customers across the semiconductor, defense, medical, energy, and industrial sectors.

AsDirector of Finance, you will be the most senior finance leader on site in Germany and a key member of the local leadership team. You will play a central role in supporting the business through its post-acquisition integration, establishing robust financial processes, implementing new systems, and creating the financial infrastructure required to support future growth.

We are seeking an entrepreneurial and hands‑on finance leader who enjoys building structures, developing processes, and creating scalable solutions in a manufacturing environment. Initially, the role will support one manufacturing facility and a sales office, with significant opportunity to expand responsibilities as the business grows through future acquisitions and investment across Europe over the next several years.

The position combines strategic leadership with operational execution and is ideally suited to someone who thrives in dynamic, evolving environments and has experience driving change within manufacturing, industrial, or process‑based businesses.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all finance activities for the manufacturing site and associated sales office, serving as a key business partner to operational and commercial leadership.
• Drive the finance workstream of the post‑acquisition integration, establishing efficient standalone accounting, reporting, treasury, payroll, and control processes.
• Support the selection and implementation of a new ERP system, ensuring strong financial controls, costing, inventory management, and reporting capabilities.
• Develop and enhance financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and management reporting processes.
• Partner closely with operations and commercial teams to improve profitability, optimize pricing strategies, strengthen margins, and improve working capital performance.
• Establish robust governance, internal controls, compliance frameworks, and audit‑ready processes.
• Build and develop the finance organization, assessing current capabilities and recruiting additional talent where required.
• Oversee statutory reporting, tax compliance, external audits, and group reporting requirements.
• Support future acquisition activities, integration projects, and organizational scaling initiatives across Europe.
• Act as the primary finance representative to executive leadership, auditors, advisors, banks, and employee representatives.

What We're Looking For

• 12+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience.
• Significant finance leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial, engineering, or process industries.
• Proven experience leading a finance function, manufacturing site finance team, or business unit finance organization.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing finance, including product costing, inventory valuation, profitability analysis, and operational performance management.
• Experience supporting business transformations, post‑acquisition integrations, carve‑outs, standalone builds, or turnaround situations.
• Experience leading or playing a key role in ERP implementation projects within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of German accounting, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Commercially minded with experience partnering closely with operations and sales teams to drive business performance.
• Fluent German and English.
• A hands‑on and pragmatic leadership style, with the ability to balance strategic thinking and day‑to‑day execution.

Preferred Experience

• M&A, private equity, or post‑acquisition integration exposure.
• Experience operating within a works council environment.
• SOX compliance or public company reporting experience.

Location & Working Model

This role is based near Augsburg, Germany.

Given the transformation stage of the business, a strong on‑site presence will be critical to work closely with operational and leadership teams to drive integration activities, establish effective business processes, and build a strong foundation for future growth.

About Pacific International Executive Search:

Pacific International, a globally recognized retained executive search firm, is dedicated to empowering Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and high‑growth enterprises in building exceptional C‑suite, senior‑level, and strategic leadership teams while championing diversity and inclusion. Our adaptability, agility, and forward‑thinking ethos distinguish us in the ever‑evolving business landscape.

Since 1997, we have been dedicated to building lasting client partnerships based on trust and reliability, and a proven track record of successful C‑suite and mid- to senior‑level leadership project delivery across many key industries globally.

At Pacific International, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and we proudly champion diversity on behalf of our clients in every Executive Search mandate we undertake. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. In pursuit of these objectives, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities.