Controlling Lead - CoE

Sulzer; Madrid; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal vouchers

Flexible compensation

International team exposure

Permanent contract

Job summary

Sulzer is seeking a Controlling Lead - Center of Excellence to join our finance team in Madrid. The role oversees FP&A, commercial and project controlling, cost controlling, and reporting & analytics, driving standardization and efficiency.

You will lead and develop experienced controlling professionals while ensuring global process standards are applied across the organization, delivering accurate financial insights for decision making.

Qualifications

• University degree in Finance, Controlling, Business Administration, or related field.
• Seven to nine years in financial planning, analysis, or controlling, with at least five in leadership.
• Strong knowledge of financial modelling, forecasting, data analytics, pricing, and cost control.
• Experience leading finance professionals across countries and functions.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint; English proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Controlling teams within the Center of Excellence.
• Coordinate controlling activities for countries and clusters supported by the CoE.
• Act as primary contact for operational controlling teams and manage escalations.
• Oversee FP&A, commercial, project, cost controlling, and reporting processes.
• Ensure timely, accurate financial processing and reporting.
• Drive standardization, automation, and continuous improvement with Global Process Owners.

Skills

Leadership

Financial modelling

Data analytics

Stakeholder management

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Tagetik

Qlik Sense

Job description

Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. Join our global team to grow your expertise and develop innovative solutions that enable a prosperous and more sustainable society.

About the role

We are looking for a Controlling Lead - Center of Excellence to join our finance organization in Madrid. In this leadership role, you will oversee the controlling processes delivered through the Center of Excellence, covering Financial Planning & Analysis, Commercial Controlling, Project Controlling, Cost Controlling, and Reporting & Analytics.

You will lead and develop experienced controlling professionals while ensuring that global process standards are consistently applied across the organization. Working closely with local controlling teams, business partners, and global process owners, you will help improve the quality, efficiency, and consistency of financial processes and reporting.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in an international environment by strengthening financial governance, resolving complex operational challenges, and driving standardization, automation, and continuous improvement.

What you will do:

• Lead and develop the Controlling teams within the Center of Excellence, promoting high performance, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Coordinate controlling activities for the countries and clusters supported by the Center of Excellence.
• Act as the primary point of contact for operational controlling teams and manage escalations effectively.
• Oversee FP&A, commercial controlling, project controlling, cost controlling, and financial reporting processes.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and consistent financial processing and reporting.
• Collaborate with local Controlling teams, Finance Business Partners, Group Controlling, and regional and divisional stakeholders.
• Partner with Reporting & Analytics teams to standardize reports, templates, and performance insights.
• Monitor key performance indicators and service-level agreements to assess process quality and effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, optimize, and automate controlling activities across legal entities and countries.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with Global Process Owners to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Provide accurate and timely financial information and insights to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, internal controlling standards, company directives, and established financial policies.
• Maintain effective internal controls and ensure that standard operating procedures are documented and followed.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors and support the timely completion of audits.
• Support the recruitment and onboarding of qualified Controlling professionals when required.

What you need to succeed:

Required:

• University degree in Finance, Controlling, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Seven to nine years of experience in financial planning, analysis, or controlling, including at least five years in a leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of financial modelling, forecasting, data analytics, profitability analysis, pricing, cost controlling, project portfolio management, and revenue recognition.
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate, and develop experienced finance professionals.
• Experience managing complex controlling processes and collaborating across countries, functions, and organizational levels.
• Strong understanding of integrated ERP systems and financial reporting processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Excellent analytical, planning, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to present financial insights to senior leaders.
• Professional proficiency in English.

Preferred:

• CPA, ACCA, or an equivalent professional finance qualification.
• Experience in a Center of Excellence or Shared Services environment.
• Experience within the manufacturing, engineering, or industrial sector.
• Knowledge of Tagetik and Qlik Sense.
• Demonstrated experience standardizing, optimizing, or automating finance processes.

What we offer you

• A permanent contract.
• A competitive salary as well as participation in the variable remuneration system based on personal and financial objectives.
• Meal vouchers.
• Access to a voluntary flexible compensation scheme allowing employees to optimize their salary package, such as health insurance, transport, or childcare.
• The opportunity to lead and develop an experienced, international finance team.
• A collaborative working environment with exposure to global stakeholders and business operations.
• Opportunities to grow your career within a solid and well-established international company.
• The chance to contribute to a dynamic organization undergoing continuous transformation and improvement.
• Office location: Nuevos Ministerios (Madrid)

Additional benefits may apply depending on the position and location.

Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment.

We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.