Senior Controller for Corporate Centre (m/f/d)

Bertelsmann-Jobs; Köln; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

RTL Group is seeking an experienced Finance Controller to partner with Corporate Center functions and deliver insightful financial analyses. You will manage cost accounting, budgeting, and forecasting, ensuring IFRS compliance and strong data governance across finance systems.

You will drive KPI dashboards, support top management with actionable insights, and collaborate across departments and territories to enable efficient financial planning and reporting.

Qualifications

• University degree in business/finance or a related field.
• 5+ years in financial controlling or similar areas.
• Strong analytical skills and business judgment.
• Ability to partner with senior stakeholders across departments.
• Solid IFRS knowledge and financial reporting experience.
• Experience with cost allocation models and budgeting/forecasting.
• Advanced MS Office skills and familiarity with finance systems.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Corporate Center functions and communicate cost risks and opportunities.
• Deliver performance updates and ad-hoc analyses for top management.
• Manage cost accounting, data governance, and master data across finance systems.
• Lead budget planning and forecasting with department heads and executives.
• Ensure timely delivery of actuals, forecasts, and budgets to Group Reporting.
• Oversee KPI dashboards and drive finance transformation with stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Business partnering

IFRS

Cost allocation

Budgeting & forecasting

MS Office

SAP S/4HANA

SAP Financial Consolidation

OneStream

Power BI

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Finance/Accounting

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

SAP Financial Consolidation

OneStream

Power BI

Job description

Company Description

At RTL, we entertain, inform and inspire millions of people every day across multiple platforms with our strong media brands, content and products. We offer many possibilities: from TV and streaming to print, digital, radio and podcasts. More than 16,000 creatives, strategists, techies, numerical geniuses and organisational wizards work towards the same goal.

Do you value team spirit and a hands-on mentality? Do you want to grow beyond yourself and be part of our diverse team? Do you value a trusting working atmosphere? Are you looking for the freedom to implement your ideas and develop your strengths?

Then join us in shaping the future of Europe's leading entertainment company.

Job Description

• Act as the business partner to Corporate Center functions (e.g., Finance, HR, Legal, Communications, Strategy, CEO Office) and identify, track, and communicate cost risks and opportunities, efficiency initiatives, and investment decisions.
• Conceptualize and deliver performance updates and ad-hoc analyses for the top management, translating complex financial data into actionable insights for decision-makers.
• Manage cost accounting activities of the Corporate Center, defining analytical structures, setting up cost allocation mechanisms and governing master data across finance systems.
• Lead and own the budget planning and forecasting processes for the Corporate Center, coordinating with department heads and top management.
• Own high-quality, consistent, and timely delivery of actuals, forecasts, and budgets to Group Reporting and in line with Group standards and IFRS principles.
• Oversee and continuously improve KPI dashboards and performance frameworks and drive controlling tools and processes in collaboration with other headquarter departments ensuring strong integration with Group finance systems.

Qualifications

• Excellent university degree in Business Administration, Economics, or a related field, ideally with a focus on finance or accounting.
• More than 5 years of professional experience in financial controlling, or a related area; prior experience with corporate functions or headquarter cost structures is a plus.
• Strong analytical capabilities with attention to detail, high commitment, and sound business judgment.
• Strong business partnering skills and the ability to challenge and influence senior stakeholders and collaborate effectively across departments and territories.
• Solid understanding of IFRS and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience with cost allocation models, controlling frameworks, and budgeting/forecasting processes.
• Advanced skills in MS Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with finance systems and BI solutions, in particular SAP S/4HANA, SAP Financial Consolidation, OneStream and Power BI.
• Proven experience contributing to finance transformation or tool implementation projects is a plus.
• Fluency in English, proficiency in German and/or French language is a plus.

Additional Information

Around 150 colleagues from 15 nations make up RTL Group's Corporate Centers in Cologne and Luxembourg. As part of this multi-cultural team, you work in an interdisciplinary environment where expertise meets passion.