European Finance Controller - Transformation & Controls

Remoteca Limited; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 2,600,000 - 3,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott in Johannesburg, South Africa, seeks a Finance Controller, EAC, the most senior finance leader in the English-Speaking Africa Cluster. You will partner with the Country Manager to drive financial performance, governance, planning, and growth across multiple markets.

You will lead forecasting, financial reporting, and decision support, ensure strong internal controls, and collaborate with commercial, marketing, supply chain, and support teams while mentoring a high-performing finance team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Professional accounting qualification (CA(SA), CIMA, CPA, ACCA, ACA, CMA) preferred.
• Strong IFRS, statutory reporting, governance and internal controls.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted commercial finance partner to the Country Manager and Leadership Team.
• Lead business planning, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance management.
• Drive profitable growth with strategic financial insights and decision support.
• Ensure governance, compliance, controls across the cluster.
• Collaborate with commercial, marketing, supply chain, and support functions.
• Lead business reviews, investment evaluations, resource allocation.
• Champion automation and AI-enabled finance solutions.
• Develop and mentor high-performing finance team.

Skills

IFRS knowledge

Governance & internal controls

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Automation & AI in finance

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/Finance

CA(SA) / CIMA / CPA / ACCA / ACA / CMA

Tools

ERP systems

Financial planning tools

Job description

Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You will have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

The Finance Controller, EAC role, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the most senior finance leadership position within the English‑Speaking Africa Cluster. As a strategic Commercial Finance Business Partner to the Country Manager and Leadership Team, you will drive financial performance, governance, business planning, and profitable growth across multiple African markets.

What You'll Work On

• Act as a trusted commercial finance partner to the Country Manager and Leadership Team.
• Lead business planning, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance management.
• Drive profitable growth through strategic financial insights and decision support.
• Ensure strong governance, compliance, internal controls, and financial stewardship across the cluster.
• Partner with commercial, marketing, supply chain, and support functions to maximize business performance.
• Lead business reviews, investment evaluations, and resource allocation decisions.
• Champion automation, process improvement, and AI‑enabled finance solutions.
• Develop and mentor a high‑performing finance team while fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or a related is essential.
• Professional accounting qualification such as CA(SA), CIMA, CPA, ACCA, ACA, CMA, or equivalent preferred.
• Strong understanding of IFRS, statutory reporting, governance, treasury, compliance, and internal controls.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Experience

• 10‑15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience within multinational organizations, with at least 5 year's in a people manager role is essential.
• Experience leading finance activities for a country, cluster, or regional business with full P&L accountability.
• Strong FP&A, commercial finance, and business partnering experience.
• Experience operating within complex matrix organizations and partnering across multiple business functions.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic decision‑making.
• Demonstrated success in building, developing, and retaining high‑performing teams.
• Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Medical Device, FMCG, or other highly regulated industry experience preferred.
• Experience leveraging digital, automation, and AI tools to improve finance processes, forecasting, and business insights is advantageous.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Abbott welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce. We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. To request accommodation, please call or email.