Head of Group Operations Controlling

Position scope

The Head of Group Operations Controlling is a newly established position and will have direct responsibility for planning, budgeting, reporting, analysis and controlling of Gedeon Richter Group (GR) entire production, supply chain and QA cost base (representing cca 300 billion HUF p.a. in manufacturing costs or COGS covering around 4,000 SKUs across 9 production sites globally).

The position holder is expected to establish standardized processes for budgeting, reporting and analysis of production costs across GR production sites globally and set up global product costing methodology and processes, this with the ultimate objective to accurately measure product profitability. Furthermore, he/she will partner with the SM4RT Project Team to guide and oversee the design and implementation of product costing in SAP S4 environment.

The position holder is expected to make significant improvements to operations cost controlling by bringing in best practices, developing in-house capabilities and instilling financial acumen and controls mindset across the operations.

The position holder will be the Finance business partner to the Operations Leadership Team in delivering on GR 2023-2035 strategic ambitions.

As part of Group Controlling, the position will report to the Head of Global Controlling and will be the main Controlling (Finance) business partner to GR Group Chief Operations Officer and his Leadership Team.

The position will have two direct reports (solid reporting line):

• Head of Group Production, SCM, QA Controlling
• Head of Group Costing and.

The position holder will oversee a team of 10+ highly skilled Operations Controllers at GR Headquarters and 10+ remote Operations Controlling personnel across 5 international production sites.

Main Responsibilities

• Performance management – Own and lead all controlling processes (mid- and long-term planning, budgeting, reporting, forecasting, analysis) for production, supply chain and QA activities for GR Group globally
• Affiliate Steering, Guiding and Control – Guide operations sites’ Controlling and Finance personnel across the Group. Ensure that foreign operations sites’ Finance personnel is sufficiently trained, equipped and aligned to deliver against Group expectations in a timely and accurate manner. Control and challenge production sites financial processes and outputs.
• Control over (Financial) Resources – operate a transparent and efficient system of group-wide financial controls over production sites’ cost base and FTEs
• Standardization across GR Group – Develop and own Group Operations Controlling Manual and drive the Operations Controlling standardization agenda across GR Group
• Systems – Establish and operate controlling system solutions for Operations Controlling and reporting that result in a high level of automation and simplification
• SAP S4 Implementation – Oversee concept design and implementation of standard costing and management reporting of COGS in SAP S4 environment and reporting thereof
• New Planning & Reporting Software and Architecture Implementation – Contribute to the concept design and implementation of a new Planning and Reporting software (for the Operations finance part)
• Standard Costing – Establish and operate standard costing practices for GR Group for finished goods, API and CDMO together with Head of Global Costing
• Drive Efficiencies – Drive production, supply chain and QA cost efficiencies at Group level and disseminate best practices to local sites
• Business partnering – Partner with key stakeholders on cost optimization, understand and leverage key business drivers and challenge operations
• Management Reporting – Prepare and present Operations Committee materials for Executive Management and any other analysis as required
• WCR Optimization – Own the WCR optimization agenda for Inventories globally
• Benchmarking – Periodically conduct internal and external benchmarking and propose action plans based on outcomes to Group Operations Leadership
• Leadership – Manage Operations Controlling Global organization to success, including recruitment, training, development and motivation. Ensure that Operations Controlling is adequately staffed globally to support GR 2025-2035 Strategy implementation
• M&A Activities – Support M&A activities and integration of new acquisitions on an as required basis
• Group Controlling Transformation Agenda – As part of the Group Controlling Leadership Team, actively support and contribute to GR global Controlling transformation

Languages skills

• Fluent written and spoken English and Hungarian is a must

Professional Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressive professional experience gained in Manufacturing, Factory or Operations Financial Controlling or Finance manager/director roles at large and complex multinational companies (e.g. FMCG, chemicals, pharma, etc.) of which minimum 7 years in leadership positions of large teams
• HQ and/or multi-site and multi-country experience is required
• Conceptual knowledge and hands-on experience in managing large production sites' standard variable and fixed costs, Supply Chain costs in an SAP environment, including product costing
• Experience in SAP implementation and integration of newly acquired or greenfield production sites is an advantage

Main Contacts

• The position is the Finance Business Partner to the GR Group Chief Operations Officer and has regular interactions with the Group SCM Director, Group QA Director, Group CFO, Group Head of Accounting and Group Controller as well as with API, Production and Biotech Directors in Hungary and GR production sites' Directors and Finance Heads across the globe (5 sites currently). Other key contacts will be Group Controlling, Group Accounting, Procurement and all Group Corporate Services personnel.

Required capabilities and skills

• Hands-on experience in developing and managing controlling systems for production, manufacturing and supply chain operations at a global scale or for multi-country operations
• Thorough understanding of IFRS, HAS as well as consolidation, management reporting and costing principles
• Highly analytical mindset and advanced problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in financial systems and budgeting/reporting tools

Our offer

• Extensive benefits package (cafeteria, stock program, private life insurance)
• Training and development opportunities
• Medical services (Medicover) 
• Various sport and health opportunities (gym, swimming pool, AYCM)
• Challenging, responsible professional work
• Long-term employment in an innovative and secure company