Manager Controlling (Mat Cover ~12 months)

adidas; Porto; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

adidas is seeking a Finance Business Partner for the GBS Cost Division to steer budgeting, forecasting, and performance management across Global Business Services.

You will provide timely insights, partner with GBS teams, and lead finance projects, ensuring alignment with corporate targets and KPIs. Fluency in English and strong SAP FI, Excel, and PowerPoint skills are essential with 3+ years FP&A in multinational setups.

Qualifications

• University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in Finance, Controlling, FP&A, or related business partnering roles.
• Experience working in multinational and matrix organizations.

Responsibilities

• Support budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and financial planning activities.
• Consolidate, report and analyze actuals, forecasts, and budgets across GBS hubs and functions.
• Partner with GBS teams to collect information for planning, aligning with corporate targets.
• Assess variances of budget and costs, delivering accurate financial information and recommendations.
• Lead finance-related projects and drive sustainable results.
• Deliver ad-hoc financial analysis and stakeholder insights.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Influence and collaboration

Project management

Cross-functional mindset

Multinational / matrix experience

Fluent English

MS Office proficiency

Education

University degree in Finance or related field

Tools

SAP FI

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

As a Finance Business Partner for the GBS Cost Division, you will support and steer financial planning, forecasting, and performance management across Global Business Services (GBS). You will provide timely, accurate, and actionable financial insights that enable informed decision-making and contribute to the achievement of business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Support budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and financial planning activities for assigned areas, while challenging and monitoring progress against own key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Consolidate, report and analyze actuals, forecasts, and budgets across all GBS Hubs and functions, supporting target setting and internal planning reviews.
• Partner with GBS teams to collect all relevant information for the planning processes, ensuring alignment with Corporate Controlling guidelines and company targets.
• Assess and report on variances of GBS Budget and approved costs, ensuring delivery of accurate financial information, as well as provide recommendations to enable and drive fact-based decision making.
• Collaborate with GBS PMO, Transformation & Adoption, Strategy and operational teams to support Business Case creation & tracking.
• Act as a trusted finance partner for projects and cost centres, ensuring alignment and consistency across main drivers in GBS, including FTE, PEX, and L&P.
• Lead and support finance-related projects, driving implementation, monitoring outcomes, and ensuring sustainable results.
• Deliver ad-hoc financial analysis, reports and insights to support stakeholder decision-making.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business partners, GBS leadership teams, and Corporate Controlling stakeholders.
• Develop, monitor, and report relevant KPIs for areas of responsibility.
• Ensure KPIs are accurately maintained, achieved, and reported in a timely manner.

Key Relationships

• Corporate Controlling – Group Functions (Managers and Peers)
• GBS Transition, Transformation & Adoption, and Strategy Teams
• GBS SLT – Center Leads and GSO’s
• Colleagues in the GBS locations
• Central HQ expert functions
• GBS Business Partners

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and manage data from multiple sources
• Strong presentation, storytelling, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively with stakeholders at different organizational levels.
• Experience in project management and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Cross-functional and business-oriented mindset with the ability to understand end-to-end processes.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, international, and multicultural environment.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong SAP FI knowledge gained through hands‑on professional experience.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications

• University degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in Finance, Controlling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), or related business partnering roles.
• Experience working in multinational and matrix organizations.

AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR.

• COURAGE:Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need..
• OWNERSHIP:Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
• INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
• TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
• INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
• RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.

At adidas, we strongly believe that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our culture and talent processes gives our employees a sense of belonging and our brand a real competitive advantage.
Culture Starts With People, It Starts With You
By recruiting talent and developing our people to reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities, we foster a culture of inclusion that engages our employees and authentically connects our brand with our consumers.