Accounting & FinanceFull time
2 Sept
Plant Financial Controller
Location: Spain — relocation requiredWork model: Fully on-siteEmployment type: Full-timeSalary: €42,000–€48,000 gross per yearRelocation support: Provided
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Our client is a well-established food manufacturing company seeking a Plant Financial Controller for its production facility in Spain.
This newly created position reports directly to the CFO and General Manager. The successful candidate will take ownership of the plant-controlling function and provide accurate, timely, and commercially useful financial information to management and operational stakeholders.
The role offers broad responsibility, direct exposure to senior leadership, and the opportunity to improve the company’s costing, reporting, budgeting, and performance-analysis processes.
This is an individual-contributor position with no direct reports at present.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Cost accounting and variance analysis
Monitor raw-material, packaging, energy, and other production costs.
Compare standard costs with actual results.
Investigate cost and operational variances.
Identify the main drivers behind unfavorable performance.
Support the maintenance and improvement of standard-costing processes.
Recommend practical actions to improve cost control.
Production yield and waste analysis
Monitor production yields and raw-material efficiency.
Measure the financial impact of scrap, waste, production losses, and failed batches.
Work with production stakeholders to understand the causes of operational variances.
Support initiatives designed to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce losses.
Inventory control
Monitor raw-material, work-in-progress, and finished-goods inventory.
Analyze stock rotation, slow-moving items, and expiration risks.
Support accurate inventory valuation and reconciliation.
Help reduce losses related to obsolete, expired, or damaged inventory.
Review and report on inventory movements and differences.
Product profitability
Calculate and maintain accurate production costs by batch, SKU, and product line.
Analyze product margins and overall profitability.
Identify opportunities to improve margins and product mix.
Provide financial analysis for pricing and operational decisions.
Support management with ad hoc profitability studies.
Budgeting and forecasting
Coordinate the annual plant-budgeting process.
Prepare regular forecasts and contribute to medium-term financial planning.
Work with budget owners to collect, review, and challenge assumptions.
Monitor actual performance against budgets and forecasts.
Provide clear explanations for significant deviations.
Management reporting
Prepare weekly and monthly plant-performance reports.
Deliver reliable financial information to the CFO, General Manager, and budget stakeholders.
Translate operational data into clear financial insights.
Highlight risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
Support management decision-making through financial modelling and ad hoc analysis.
Processes and systems
Review and improve internal reporting tools and controlling processes.
Help strengthen data accuracy, financial controls, and cost awareness across the plant.
Collaborate with finance, accounting, production, purchasing, and inventory teams.
Use Microsoft Excel extensively for reporting, modelling, and analysis.
Work with the company’s ERP system.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Approximately 2–4 years of relevant experience in plant controlling, financial controlling, cost accounting, or external audit.
Good understanding of cost accounting and variance analysis.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
Fluent professional English.
Strong numerical and analytical ability.
High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Ability to work independently and take ownership of responsibilities.
Proactive, reliable, adaptable, and solution-oriented approach.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work with financial and operational stakeholders.
Willingness to relocate to Spain and work fully on-site.
Eligibility to work in Spain.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Experience in food production, FMCG, consumer goods, or another manufacturing environment.
Experience auditing manufacturing or production companies.
Big Four or other recognized audit-firm experience.
Knowledge of standard costing, inventory valuation, production yields, and waste analysis.
Previous experience with SAGE 200 or a comparable ERP system.
Spanish-language skills.
Spanish is not required from the first day. Language-training support will be provided.
PERSONAL PROFILE
This position will suit someone who:
Wants to take genuine ownership of a plant-controlling function.
Enjoys working closely with manufacturing operations.
Can turn complex data into clear recommendations.
Is comfortable working in a hands-on and entrepreneurial environment.
Communicates confidently with senior management.
Is curious, resilient, and open to a new cultural environment.
Sees international relocation as both a career opportunity and a personal experience.
WHAT IS OFFERED
Gross annual base salary of €42,000–€48,000, depending on experience.
Agreed relocation and moving expenses covered by the employer.
One month of company-paid accommodation following arrival.
Private health insurance.
Spanish-language training.
Potential performance-related bonus based on agreed KPIs.
Possible longer-term accommodation support, subject to availability and individual agreement.
Direct exposure to the CFO and General Manager.
Opportunity to develop and improve a newly established controlling function.
Long-term career-development potential within an international and multicultural working environment.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please apply with an English-language CV and include a brief note covering:
Your relevant controlling, cost-accounting, manufacturing, or audit experience.
Your level of Microsoft Excel proficiency.
Your availability to start.
Your motivation for relocating to Spain.
Only candidates who are genuinely open to relocating and working fully on-site should apply.
The employer’s identity and exact location will be shared with suitable candidates during the recruitment process. All applications and discussions will be handled confidentially.