Controller (m/f/d)

Dear Sir or Madam, I am currently looking for a highly experienced Controller (m/f/d) for a biotechnology company. General conditions: Start date: asap Duration: at least 2 years Workload: full-time Location: Munich Remote/on-site ratio: 3 days per week on-site, 2 days remote possible Contract type: Freelance or employee leasing (AN Ü ) - both options are possible The client is seeking a Controller to work closely with the CFO and senior management, ensuring flawless financial operations across all legal entities and assets. Key Responsibilities: 1. Accounting, Closing & Financial Statements Own the monthly, quarterly and annual close process under [HGB / HGB IFRS bridge]. Prepare and review: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow statement, and supporting schedules. Variance analyses vs budget / forecast. Manage our external accounting firm to deliver: Accurate postings (GL, AP, AR, payroll, fixed assets, grants, leases). Timely trial balances and reconciliations according to an agreed close calendar. Ensure robust cut ‑ off procedures, accruals and provisions (incl. grants, R&D, legal and HR ‑ related items). 2. Financial Reporting & PE / Board Support Produce a monthly reporting package for: Management (CEO, leadership team). Private equity investors and lenders. Maintain a consistent chart of accounts and reporting structure to enable: Portfolio ‑ level consolidation. KPI reporting in partnership with Strategic Finance. Support preparation of board materials with reliable historical data and reconciliations. 3. Compliance, Audit & Tax Act as primary contact for auditors on the Swiss and German entities: Coordinate annual audit. Own audit PBC lists, reconciliations, and issue resolution. Ensure compliance with: Local GAAP and IFRS requirements, as applicable. VAT, corporate income tax and other local filing requirements. Coordinate with tax advisors on returns, transfer pricing, and tax planning. Implement and maintain internal controls (segregation of duties, approvals, reconciliations). 4. Cash, Treasury & Working Capital Prepare monthly cash forecasts and monitor liquidity. Manage working capital (AR collections, vendor terms, payment runs) together with Procurement. 5. Systems, Processes & Vendors Act as process and control owner for our finance systems: ERP / general ledger. AP & payments tool for invoice and payment workflows. Expense tool and any financial reporting tools. Drive the migration from manual workflows to automated processes alongside Procurement. Design and continuously improve: Close calendar, standard journal templates, and reconciliations. AP / AR processes, vendor onboarding, posting rules, and coding standards. 6. Grants & Government Funding (with Ops) Review accounting treatment and financial reporting requirements of government grants and subsidies, in cooperation with external advisors. Ensure grants are: Correctly recognised in the accounts (timing, classification). Supported by documentation ready for audit or funding agency review. Requirements: 8-10 years experience in accounting / controlling roles Strong technical knowledge of accounting standards and experience with audit processes. IFRS exposure is a plus. Demonstrable experience owning month ‑ end close and annual financial statements. Experience working with or managing external accounting providers and auditors. Very strong systems and process orientation: Comfortable working with ERP systems Track record of improving processes and controls. Languages: Fluent German (spoken and written) Fluent English Education: Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or similar. Professional qualification: is a strong plus. If you are interested, please send me your current CV, including your earliest possible start date and desired hourly rate or gross annual salary, as well as your references. I will get back to you after reviewing your application. If you are not interested or currently unavailable but know someone who might be a good fit for this position, please let us know. We reward every successful referral with a €250 Amazon voucher! I look forward to your response and thank you in advance. Kind regards, Mariam Gareginyan Associate Principal Candidate Consultant E-Mail: m.gareginyan(@)sthree.com SThree_Germany is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.