Interim Finance Controller (6 months)

Job Description

Company Introduction

Our client is a global industrial automation company.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Oversee daily accounting activities, including invoice processing, banking operations, reporting on bookings and billings, and maintaining general ledger accuracy across areas such as Fixed Assets, AR/AP, Cost, and VAT;
• Ensure the timely and accurate completion of monthly, quarterly, and yearly financial closing processes and reporting requirements;
• Reconcile intercompany accounts receivable and payable with internal group entities;
• Monitor and analyse key financial indicators including production costs, labour expenses, raw material costs, and overheads;
• Develop and maintain robust financial models to support plant-level budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis;
• Prepare and submit tax declarations within statutory deadlines;
• Calculate monthly payroll figures and accrue employee bonuses for timely and accurate payroll execution;
• Lead the annual budgeting process and coordinate periodic reforecasts for the Malta factory;
• Track and manage capital expenditure, ensuring adherence to approved budgets;
• Support the General Manager in compiling monthly and quarterly Business Review Meeting (BRM) reports and analysis;
• Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring timely completion and compliance with financial regulations;
• Manage cost accounting functions including product costing, standard costing, and analysis of cost variances;
• Collaborate with production and operations teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and drive efficiency;
• Implement effective cost control measures to maintain profitability and ensure alignment with financial targets;
• Conduct monthly departmental expense reviews and investigate any variances or anomalies;
• Establish and enforce internal controls and procedures for production finance in line with Corporate Finance guidelines;
• Handle petty cash disbursements and verify physical cash balances prior to month-end closing;
• Review and approve all bank payments, including those via e-banking and manual documentation;
• Coordinate with relevant departments to maintain smooth and consistent cash flow operations;
• Monitor stock levels, assess inventory valuation and obsolescence, and provide recommendations for optimization;
• Provide financial insights and support to non-financial managers, helping them understand key metrics affecting factory performance;
• Contribute to strategic decision-making and long-term planning for factory operations and profitability;
• Drive ongoing process improvements to enhance financial reporting accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency;
• Stay informed on industry developments and best practices to ensure continuous financial performance enhancement;
• Deliver ad hoc financial analysis and support to the management team as required.

Experience

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline;
• A Master’s degree or CPA/CMA certification will be considered a strong asset;
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a financial management role, ideally within a manufacturing or production environment;
• Solid knowledge of cost accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance analysis;
• Hands-on experience with financial systems such as IFS, SAP, Oracle, or MS Dynamics; proficiency in Excel is essential;
• Familiarity with reporting tools, particularly IFS and Tagetik, is a strong advantage;
• Sound understanding of financial regulations, including local GAAP and IFRS standards;
• Exposure to Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar process improvement frameworks is desirable;
• Proven experience leading and mentoring finance teams;
• Excellent communication skills in English; Knowledge of additional languages is a plus.

Personal Skills

• Demonstrated analytical thinking with excellent attention to detail and sound decision-making abilities;
• Strong leadership qualities with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization;
• A results-driven mindset, with flexibility, curiosity, and a collaborative approach;
• Comfortable working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines;
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability;
• Committed to service excellence, continuous improvement, and maintaining strong performance standards;
• Confident and approachable, with the ability to inspire trust and foster strong working relationships.