About the client

Our client is a well-established international manufacturer in the high-tech engineering space, with a production site near Cluj-Napoca, part of a global group headquartered in Western Europe. The site produces precision components and complete systems used in vacuum technology, equipment that creates and controls vacuum environments for industries like semiconductors, research laboratories, pharmaceuticals, and industrial processing. The company offers the stability of a mature multinational combined with the dynamism of a growing local site.

About the role

As an Operations Controller, you are responsible for overseeing all aspects of financial planning, reporting, and analysis to support data-driven decisions and ensure operational efficiency. Working closely with both local plant management and central finance, you play a key role in cost control, budgeting, and strategic planning - ensuring profitability and compliance within a production-oriented environment.

Responsabilities:

Financial Planning & Forecasting

• Lead the preparation of annual budgets and rolling forecasts for the plant, in close collaboration with operations and corporate finance.

• Translate production goals into financial targets, including cost of goods sold (COGS), overhead absorption, and capital expenditure planning.

• Identify and assess financial risks and opportunities, proposing proactive measures to optimize financial performance.

Cost Control & Analysis

• Monitor and analyze manufacturing costs, material variances, labor efficiency, and overheads on a monthly and ad-hoc basis.

• Identify inefficiencies and recommend cost-saving measures without compromising quality or productivity.

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Prepare and deliver accurate monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial reports aligned with IFRS/local GAAP and internal standards.

• Coordinate and support internal and external audits, ensuring all financial processes comply with relevant laws and corporate policies.

• Maintain control over capital investment requests (CAPEX) and support ROI analysis for site improvement projects.

Business Partnering & Decision Support

• Act as a financial advisor to the plant manager and site leadership team, providing insights and recommendations on operational and strategic decisions.

• Support cross-functional initiatives with financial modeling, scenario analysis, and investment appraisals.

• Lead margin analysis by product line, process, or customer to support pricing and product-mix strategies.

Operational Integration

• Participate in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and KPI tracking initiatives from a financial perspective.

• Partner with supply chain, engineering, and production teams to improve inventory accuracy and reduce working capital.

• Support implementation and optimization of ERP systems, data integrity processes, and reporting tools.

Qualifications:

Functional Competencies

• Strong knowledge of cost accounting, standard costing, and inventory management in a manufacturing environment.

• Proficiency with ERP, advanced Excel and financial systems (e.g., SAP or similar).

• Expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.

• Excellent attention to detail with a high level of accuracy and ability to manage multiple priorities.

Methodological Competencies

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial and operational data, identify trends and provide actionable recommendations.

• Process-oriented approach with a continuous improvement mindset.

• Competence in financial modeling, investment analysis, and project controlling.

• Ability to structure financial processes in alignment with operational goals.

Leadership & Interpersonal Competencies

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills — able to engage both finance professionals and non-financial colleagues.

• High integrity and reliability in managing confidential financial data.

• Proactive, self-driven, and able to work independently while integrating into multidisciplinary teams.

• Capable of challenging assumptions constructively and influencing business decisions with data. 

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