Controller Accounting Manager

Wagner - Technical; Buford (GA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Wagner - Technical in Buford, GA seeks a Controlling and Accounting Manager to oversee all financial controlling and accounting activities. You will lead a small team, partner with operations and senior leadership, and ensure compliance with policies and regulations.

This hands-on role requires involvement in day-to-day finance, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, with a focus on IFRS/local GAAP, tax compliance, and cost accounting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in financial controlling and accounting in manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS/local GAAP, tax law, and cost accounting.
• Experience with SAP, Lucanet and reporting tools; excellent Excel skills.
• Fluent in English and able to present to non-financial stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial controlling and accounting activities, ensuring compliance with internal policies and regulations.
• Lead a small accounting team and act as a business partner to management.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual closing processes and financial reporting.
• Conduct deviations analyses (actual vs target vs plan) and present results with recommendations.
• Coordinate audits with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Support investment planning, DCF calculations, and capacity analysis.
• Drive cost center accounting, product costing, and production controlling.
• Maintain liquidity forecasts and monitor key financial metrics.

Skills

ERP systems (SAP)

Lucanet

MS Excel

Financial analysis

Team leadership

Business partnering

Cost accounting

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Finance/Accounting/Economics

Tools

SAP

Lucanet

MS Office (Excel)

Job description

Position Overview

As the Controlling and Accounting Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing all financial controlling and accounting activities, ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations, and being a business partner to management through accurate financial insights.

This is a hands-on role, requiring you to be actively involved in the day-to-day finance operations. You will lead a small accounting team and collaborate closely with operations, engineering, and the local management team. Your ability to balance operational execution with strategic thinking will be essential to the success of this role.

Key Responsibilities

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring active involvement in operational controlling and accounting tasks, in close collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• Oversee the full financial operations of the company, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and financial analysis


• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing processes in accordance with IFRS/local GAAP, German GAAP and Chinese GAAP


• Ensure accuracy and integrity of general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, fixed assets, and payroll transactions


• Execute monthly reporting processes in SAP and Lucanet, including preparation of deviation analyses (actual vs. target vs. plan)


• Present financial results to management with clear recommendations and follow-up on corrective actions


• Maintain and manage bi-weekly liquidity forecasts to ensure financial stability and alignment with strategic goals


• Execute cost center accounting and product costing, including cost assessments, internal allocations, activity types, and pricing


• Drive production controlling by monitoring cost developments and efficiency in manufacturing processes


• Support the investment planning and approval process, including DCF calculations, capacity analysis, and subsequent investment controlling


• Conduct ad hoc economic analyses and monitor key performance indicators such as working capital (WC), purchase price variance (PPV), and other relevant financial metrics


• Ensure compliance with internal controls, tax regulations, and financial policies


• Coordinate audits and liaise with external auditors and tax advisors


• Identify and implement process improvements to increase financial transparency, efficiency, and cost control


• Lead and develop a small team of accountants, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement


• Act as a financial business partner to operations, sales, and senior leadership

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of accountants


• Act as a financial business partner to operational departments


• Participate in ERP enhancements and digitalization initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field


• 5+ years of experience in financial controlling and accounting within the manufacturing industry, preferably in the automotive sector


• Strong knowledge of IFRS/local GAAP, tax law, and cost accounting


• Proven experience with ERP systems (preferably SAP), reporting tools (e.g., Lucanet) and expert knowledge in MS Office, especially Excel


• Excellent communication skills and the ability to present complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders


• Hands-on mentality with a willingness to dive into operational details and take ownership of tasks from start to finish


• Proven ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced, manufacturing environment


• Fluent in English