Operational Controller Wavin Germany (Plant Westeregeln)
Reports to: Operational Controller Western Europe – B&I
Main Purpose
The Operational Controller manages operations from a financial perspective and supports multiple business activities. This role is responsible for product and investment costing, participates in major operational projects, and supports master data creation. The position is actively involved in month-end and year-end closing processes and provides support to Logistics. It plays a key role in enabling and driving changes across the two German plants.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage month-end closing and year-end activities related to finance operations, including inventory valuation and forecasting; lead the annual budgeting process for direct and indirect costs.
* Act as a financial business partner to site managers and logistics managers.
* Support plant-level and global harmonization initiatives within operational controlling.
* Prepare and analyze reports on direct and indirect costs as well as operational KPIs; review and discuss results with business partners and multi-plant leadership.
* Lead CapEx management, including evaluation, approval support, and monitoring of capital expenditure projects.
* Monitor monthly cost price runs and proactively communicate relevant changes to Sales.
* Manage master data creation for new materials for costing purposes.
* Contribute to SOX internal control compliance.
Complexity of the Role
* Manage diverse operational finance topics within Wavin Germany, including production costs, KPIs, CapEx, key projects, stock obsolescence, and statutory stock evaluation.
* Operate effectively within a complex, multicultural, and multidisciplinary matrix organization.
* Report to an international manager (non-German speaker), requiring strong cross-border collaboration skills.
Requirements
* Education: Degree in Finance or a related field.
* Languages: Full proficiency in German and very good command of English.
* Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience in operational controlling or a similar finance role preferred.
* Technical Skills: Advanced Excel skills are mandatory; knowledge of SAP R/3 and SAP BO is an advantage.
Key Competencies
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
* Excellent organizational abilities
* Customer-oriented mindset
* Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills
* Ability to present, influence, and build relationships across functions
This is a critical role for supporting operational excellence and financial performance across Wavin Germany, contributing directly to the success of ongoing transformation and growth initiatives.