Strategic Financial Controller – Global Manufacturing

Michael Page; Aveiro; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page seeks a Senior Financial Controller to lead critical closing activities, ensure robust internal controls, and partner with regional stakeholders to improve financial discipline and decision-making.

You will drive budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis, while overseeing compliance and reporting in a regulated manufacturing environment. Fluent English is essential, with Portuguese/German a plus.

Qualifications

• Academic degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in financial control, audit, or a similar finance role.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and/or US GAAP, statutory reporting, internal controls, and financial close processes.
• Experience in a multinational, manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills and solid experience with ERP systems; experience with SAGE, SAP, Oracle, or similar systems is an advantage.
• Fluent English is required; Portuguese and/or German language skills are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual closing processes, ensuring complete, accurate, and timely financial results.
• Prepare and review statutory and management reporting, balance sheet reconciliations, journals, accruals, and supporting schedules.
• Manage and support finance team members, promoting accountability, accuracy, collaboration, and continuous development.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, local statutory requirements, tax obligations, and corporate policies.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, including documentation, testing, remediation, and continuous monitoring of key controls.
• Coordinate internal and external audits and ensure timely, high-quality responses to audit requests and findings.
• Oversee fixed assets, inventory accounting, standard costing, provisions, intercompany transactions, and other key accounting areas.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning, including insightful variance analysis versus budget, forecast, and prior year.
• Monitor cash flow and working capital, with particular focus on receivables, payables, inventory, and cash forecasting.
• Partner with operational and functional leaders, providing financial guidance and analysis to support business decisions and cost discipline.
• Drive finance process improvements, standardization, automation, and effective use of ERP and reporting tools.
• Perform ad-hoc financial analysis and support strategic, transformation, and cross-functional projects as required.

Skills

Financial analysis

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Multitasking

Education

Academic degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Management, or related field

Tools

SAGE

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Michael Page seeks a Senior Financial Controller to lead critical closing activities, ensure robust internal controls, and partner with regional stakeholders to improve financial discipline and decision-making.

You will drive budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis, while overseeing compliance and reporting in a regulated manufacturing environment. Fluent English is essential, with Portuguese/German a plus.