Financial Controller
GEA is one of the largest suppliers for the food and beverage processing industry and a wide range of other process industries. Approximately 18,000 employees in more than 60 countries contribute significantly to GEA's success – come and join them We offer interesting and challenging tasks, a positive working environment in international teams and opportunities for personal development and growth in a global company.
Why join GEA
Job information
Reference Number
JR
Job function
Finance (incl. Tax, Treasury, Accounting, M&A)
Position type
Full time
Site
Westfalia House, Milton Keynes MK12 5PY
GEA is one of the world's largest systems suppliers for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. Our portfolio includes machinery and plants as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. Guided by a strong sense of purpose, our more than 18,000 dedicated employees work to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of production processes globally.
Your responsibilities and tasks:
We are looking for a hands-on, commercially minded Financial Controller to lead day-to-day finance operations, strengthen controls, and partner with the business on performance. You will own month-end, statutory reporting, Germany Group reporting and cash management, and drive continuous improvement across our SAP environment.
Financial Reporting & Compliance
* Lead the preparation and delivery of accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports in line with UK GAAP/IFRS and Group reporting standards.
* Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and statutory requirements.
* Manage the month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring deadlines are met and variances are explained.
* Oversee AP, AR, treasury, payroll interface, and balance-sheet integrity (reconciliations, provisions, fixed assets, intercompany).
* Maintain and enhance internal controls, policies, and governance.
* Optimise finance processes and reporting in SAP (preferably S/4HANA or ECC), including master data, closing routines, and BI outputs.
* Business partner with functional leaders (Sales, Ops, Supply Chain) to support pricing, margins, and investment cases.
* Coordinate tax and compliance (VAT, CIS where applicable, corporation tax with advisors).
* Prepare monthly IFRS financial statements, including IFRS 16 lease accounting and PoC (Percentage of Completion) reporting.
* Deliver internal margin analysis, KPIs, and ad hoc financial reports for Group Finance and local management.
* Manage and lead budgeting, rolling forecasts, and ensure compliance with the uniform chart of accounts.
* Oversee daily cash and bank operations, including payment processing, bank guarantees, and contract follow-ups.
* Manage vendor and account reconciliations, invoice transaction processing, and SAP bookkeeping accuracy.
Dual Reporting & Stakeholder Management
* Act as a key finance business partner, providing insights and financial support to both regional and divisional leadership.
* Collaborate with Group Finance in Germany to ensure alignment with group-wide reporting and consolidation requirements.
Team Leadership & Development
* Lead, mentor, and develop a team of finance professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and maintain a harmonious and productive team environment.
* Identify skill gaps and implement a structured development and upskilling plan for the team.
* Promote a positive team environment, encouraging open communication, knowledge sharing, and mutual support.
* Act as a conflict resolver and mediator, ensuring issues within the team or across departments are addressed constructively.
Process Improvement & Controls
* Drive improvements in financial processes, systems, and reporting tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
* Implement and monitor robust internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure data integrity.
Audit and Compliance Oversight
* Lead the coordination and delivery of internal and external audits (IFRS and UK GAAP) for the legal entity, ensuring timely responses, audit readiness, and full compliance with audit requirements.
* Act as the primary point of contact for auditors and ensure all audit findings are addressed and resolved promptly.
Planning, Forecasting & Analysis
* Support the budgeting and forecasting processes, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
* Provide insightful variance analysis and commentary to support decision-making at both regional and divisional levels.
* Manage budgeting, forecasting, and rolling cash-flow; challenge assumptions and highlight risks/opportunities. Leading the budget presentation, supporting the head of division on regular queries from Group in relation to budget process, monthly reporting, forecast numbers and gap analysis.
Communication & Collaboration
* Serve as a bridge between operational teams and finance, translating financial data into actionable business insights.
* Communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, auditors, and external advisors
Systems & Tools
* Champion the use of ERP systems and reporting tools (e.g., SAP, Power BI, SAP4 HANA) to streamline reporting and analysis.
* Ensure data quality and consistency across systems used for financial reporting.
Your profile and qualifications:
* Qualified accountant: ACA / ACCA / CIMA (or international equivalent).
* Preferred background: Training/early career in a Big Four firm (Audit/Advisory/TS) with strong technical grounding.
* Experience: 5+ years PQE in progressively senior finance roles, including ownership of month-end and statutory reporting.
* Systems: Proven proficiency with SAP (S/4HANA or ECC); strong Excel and reporting/BI skills.
* Solid knowledge of UK GAAP/IFRS, revenue recognition, inventory and cost accounting, and cash management.
* Demonstrated track record improving processes/controls and partnering with non-finance stakeholders.
* Excellent communication skills; comfortable presenting to senior leadership and auditors.
* Analytical, detail-driven, and deadline focused.
* Pragmatic problem-solver who can simplify complexity.
* Proactive, curious, and continuous-improvement mindset