Senior Operations Finance Manager

Novo Emprego | Portal de Emprego; Deutschland; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Emprego | Portal de Emprego seeks a Senior Operations Finance Manager to drive financial performance across an international manufacturing network, partnering with senior operations leadership.

You will lead a geographically dispersed finance team, shape budgets and forecasts, and drive cost optimization and capital investment decisions with a strong emphasis on governance and transformation.

Qualifications

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or related discipline.
• Advanced Excel and ERP experience, ideally SAP.
• Proven track record in Operations/Manufacturing finance leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead Operations Finance across multiple manufacturing sites with financial discipline and performance visibility.
• Act as Finance Business Partner to senior Operations leadership to drive profitability.
• Lead and mentor an international finance team with accountability and collaboration.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, planning, and performance reporting across the network.
• Consolidate and analyze results, translating data into actionable recommendations for execs.
• Drive cost optimization, productivity, inventory, and working capital improvements.
• Provide financial leadership for strategic initiatives like footprint optimization, capacity expansion, and transformations.
• Evaluate capital investments and business cases for strategic priority alignment.
• Establish and monitor operational and financial KPIs, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Corporate Finance for better outcomes.
• Ensure robust controls, IFRS/GAAP compliance, and audit readiness.
• Champion automation and data-driven decision-making in finance operations.

Skills

Financial planning

Forecasting

Strategic decision-making

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical capabilities

Communication

English fluency

Industrial/manufacturing understanding

ERP experience

Education

Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or Economics

Tools

SAP

Job description

Senior Operations Finance Manager | Global Manufacturing & Financial Strategy

Area: EMEA - Flexible Location

Industry: Industrial Manufacturing | Global Operations | Finance

The Opportunity

We are seeking an accomplished Senior Operations Finance Manager to drive financial performance, operational excellence and strategic decision-making across an international manufacturing network.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for a commercially driven finance professional with extensive experience in multi-site manufacturing operations, financial strategy and international team management.

Working closely with senior operational leadership, you will play a pivotal role in shaping business performance, optimising manufacturing costs and supporting strategic investments and operational transformation.

The position offers significant international exposure, executive-level interaction and the opportunity to influence financial and operational decisions across multiple manufacturing locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Operations Finance activities across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring financial discipline, performance visibility and alignment with business objectives.
• Act as a strategic Finance Business Partner to senior Operations Leadership, influencing business decisions and driving sustainable profitability.
• Lead, develop and mentor an international finance team, fostering accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and operational performance reporting across the manufacturing network.
• Consolidate and analyse financial results, translating complex data into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Drive manufacturing cost optimisation, productivity improvements, inventory performance and working capital efficiency.
• Provide financial leadership for strategic initiatives, including manufacturing footprint optimisation, production transfers, capacity expansion and operational transformation.
• Evaluate capital investments, automation projects and business cases, ensuring financial viability and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Establish and monitor operational and financial KPIs, identifying performance gaps, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering and Corporate Finance to improve operational effectiveness and financial outcomes.
• Ensure robust financial controls, compliance with accounting standards and effective audit processes.
• Champion continuous improvement, reporting automation and data-driven decision-making across finance operations.

Your Profile

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in Finance, Controlling or Financial Management within industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Significant experience in Operations Finance, Manufacturing Finance, Plant Controlling or Regional Finance leadership.
• Proven track record supporting multiple manufacturing sites within an international or multinational organisation.
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing and managing geographically dispersed finance teams.
• Strong expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, standard costing and operational performance management.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing cost structures, inventory management, capital expenditure and operational financial processes.
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and build trusted partnerships with operational leadership.
• Experience supporting strategic investments, manufacturing transformation and cost optimisation programmes.
• Strong analytical capabilities, commercial judgement and strategic decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management abilities.
• Knowledge of IFRS or US GAAP and strong financial governance principles.
• Advanced Excel and ERP experience, ideally SAP.
• Professional accounting qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CPA would be advantageous.
• Experience with business intelligence tools, financial analytics and continuous improvement methodologies is valued.
• Fluent English and willingness to travel internationally as required.

What Sets You Apart

You are more than a finance leader. You are a strategic business partner who understands how financial performance, manufacturing operations and business strategy connect.

You combine financial expertise with operational insight, challenge assumptions and influence decisions that deliver measurable business value.

You are comfortable navigating complex international environments, leading geographically dispersed teams and engaging with senior stakeholders across different functions and cultures.

Above all, you bring commercial acumen, leadership credibility, strong ownership and the ability to turn financial insights into meaningful operational improvements.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Take on a strategic finance leadership role with international scope and significant business impact.
• Influence financial strategy and operational performance across a global manufacturing network.
• Partner directly with senior leadership on business-critical decisions and transformation initiatives.
• Lead and develop an international finance team.
• Contribute to major investment decisions, manufacturing optimisation and long-term business growth.
• Benefit from geographical flexibility within the EMEA region and exposure to a dynamic international business environment.

Interested in Exploring This Opportunity?

If you are an experienced Operations Finance leader with a strong manufacturing background and the ambition to influence business performance on an international scale, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

All applications and discussions will be handled with strict confidentiality.

Skills: english,excel,capital,operations,financial strategy,transformation,management,strategy,accounting,manufacturing,finance,communication,decision-making,leadership