Controlling Manager Spain & Portugal

Mission

As a member of the Bridgestone SW Region Finance Team, the Controlling Manager Spain & Portugal is responsible for working closely with the Regional Finance Director, the Regional Finance Team and the HQ FP&A Network to ensure the completeness, timeliness and accuracy of reporting, planning, budgeting and forecasting in line wih both group and regional requirements.

The role is required to participate and represent SWR, preparing and ensuring that data and analytics are used to bring the right insights to the business in the most effective manner.

The role is expected to consolidate the accurate financial reporting and analysis covering the Regional business, working with the Business Unit Financial Controllers and the FP&R local team (accounting and controlling) to provide insight regarding the results and forecasts to the Regional Management Team and the leadership of BS EMIA (Europe, Middle East, India and Africa), to support operational and strategic decision-making. 

 The role would suit someone who is keen to develop a well-rounded understanding of the whole business and who is able to think and communicate clearly, across national boundaries and cultures, with finance and non-finance colleagues. 

The candidate should possess strong organizational skills, have a good understanding of governance and be prepared to speak up and hold self and others to account.  The ability to think commercially and communicate in business language is also important

Key Responsibilities

Reporting:

• Ownership of the Regional management reporting process, including but not limited to governance, reporting templates and standards. Ensure alignment with Group reporting requirements and coordinate monthly accounting closing for the entity.

• Consolidate the monthly Regional Business Review process prepared by the different business unit controllers, liaising with HQ to ensure requirements are clearly understood and translated into actions at a Regional level.

• Own the Local Reporting process, ensuring deadlines are met and explanations for performance variances are captured and documented. Where variances indicate accounting misstatement, work with the FP&R team and business unit controllers in root cause fix.

• Own the Regional Risk and Opportunity tracking process, working with Business Unit Controllers, Financial Leaders and other functions to ensure completeness and validation.

• Think beyond purely Financial reporting, supporting Regional and HQ initiatives such as Market performance analysis and integrating sales, financial and credit reporting to create wider perspective on Customers.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting:

• Consolidation and oversight of the Planning, Budgeting and Forecast process for the Region (aligned to Group requirements).

• Build relationships with other stakeholders such as BU Business controllers, Shared Services Centre and HQ Finance to gain understanding of the wider business.

• Consolidating inputs, sanity checking, challenging and reporting status.

• Responsible for delivery and coordination of the long range and annual operating plans. 

Process and continuous Improvement

• Drives for continuous improvement in the accounting and forecast process methodology, seeks opportunities to drive sustainable improvements.

Identify and lead initiatives to improve the efficiency and accuracy of different processes in the financial region environment, creating insights which drive business performance. Be an active contributor in broader Finance change and development initiatives both within BS SWR and within BS EMIA Finance Network.

Required capabilities
Education (type & level): Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field and a professional additional qualification preferred
Professional experience: +5 years of experiences in Financial Analysis, Controlling, Business Partnering

English: fluent (Group language) / Other European languages can be considered as a plus
Specific behavior & attitudes:
✓ Highly analytical with an eye for detail
✓ Excellent communication and influencing skills at all levels of a business, including senior stakeholders.
✓ Previous FP&A experience in a large Company/Group.
✓ Strong commercial acumen and a demonstrated ability to use information, experience and judgement to drive results.
✓ Previous experience in either delivering continuous improvements and efficiencies through the adoption of new tools and/or ways of working.
✓ Good knowledge of process automation and standardization.
✓ Able to apply logic and problem solving to complex Finance or Business problems.
✓ Take personal responsibility for the quality of outcomes.
✓ Ensure a positive team mentality, treating colleagues with respect and creating an inclusive culture.
✓ Ability to balance communication of headline messages supported by detailed analysis.
✓ Experience in Accounting and financial systems including ERP and EPM applications can be considered as a plus
✓ Typically more than 5 years Finance experience of which 3 with responsibility for planning, forecasting, reporting in a multinational organization
✓ Leading a team with strong simplification & customer oriented mindset