Europe Regional Controller

The Opportunity:

A finance leader driving the Controllership supporting the region. The role makes critical decisions regarding the design and execution of accounting processes and internal controls with particular emphasis on aligning these items to follow global standards. This role actively engages to drive continuous improvement in the USGAAP accounting and SOX function within the region by standardization and process improvement. The role collaborates closely with several constituencies including: FP&A leaders in the region, corporate functions, and India-based leaders and associates who also provide significant support for the region. The leader demonstrates strong awareness of and commitment to the Avantor Business System (ABS) as a means of driving continuous improvement in processes and team performance. This position holds statutory director positions with many legal entities in the region. The position reports to Avantor’s Europe Controller.

Controller will manage multiple countries e.g. Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Hungary, Czech Republic, Italy and Slovakia

MAJOR JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (List in order of importance)
- Manages a team (directly and indirectly) including 11-12 accountants who have responsibility for Controllership for the region, displays strong leadership and influencing skills to achieve functional objectives and goals.
- Responsible for ensuring the integrity of financial information and the smooth operation of monthly accounting operations for the entire region.
- Manages changes to the region’s internal controls environment, including identifying opportunities for efficiency while maintaining or increasing overall effectiveness.
- Responsible for legal and fiscal compliance in relation to financial reporting and adherence to and compliance with internal SOX controls processes.
- Responsible for Corporate Income Tax compliance, both USGAAP and Statutory Accounting in the region.
- Promotes the message of strong internal controls to functions other than finance, monitors the effectiveness of controls performed by other functional teams and actively engages to drive remediation when control deficiencies arise.
- Helps to drive ABS within the Region Controllership team, including TDM deployment and regular leverage of ABS tools (kaizens/A3's)
- May participate directly in financial due diligence for acquisition targets, plays a leadership role in the integration of acquired companies.
- Develops and maintains a strategy to promote associate development and engagement within their teams, including the leverage of development plans and succession planning tools.
- Collaborates closely with other leaders within the broader Controllership and Shared Services teams to drive consistency in regional processes and overall performance.
- This role requires the person to perform the duties of a director for many legal entities within the region.
- Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS (Education/Training, Experience and Certifications)
- Chartered Accountant or CPA qualification
- 8+ years of professional experience in finance-oriented roles

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES (Those necessary to perform the job competently)
- Strong influencing and leadership skills
- Expert knowledge of US and local GAAP requirements
- Expert knowledge of and ability to support internal and external audit requirements.
- Works very well autonomously, able to execute responsibilities with mínimal direct oversight.
- Experience working in a complex, global organization.
- Expert communication and collaboration skills
- Excellent problem-solving skills, able to develop solutions.
- Comfortable presenting topics to senior leadership, as necessary.
- Experience with ERP systems a plus but not required.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Applications - Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
- Excellent problem solving, organizational, and communication skills.
- Strong project management skills (defines targets, monitors and reports progress, strong closure).

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL EFFORT (Under Typical Positions)
- Typically works in an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation and a normal range of temperature and noise level.
- Work assignments are diversified. Examples of past precedent are used to resolve work problems. New alternatives may be developed to resolve problems.
- A regular volume of work and deadlines impose reasonable strain on routine basis.
- Minimal physical effort is required. Work is mostly sedentary but does require walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting or carrying objects that typically weigh less than 10 lbs.
- Ability to travel a few times per year but no more than 10%. Expected to be mínimal in terms of required travel.

Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed