About us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 119 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 26,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all.

As we move forward, our consumers will be at the heart of what we do, evolving to needs and expectations and committing to a more meaningful contribution to harm reduction by building a successful NGP business. Integral to our long-term success is our sustainability strategy, behaving responsibly and supporting our ambitions, all underpinned by high governance.

Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

The Role

A vacancy has arisen for the role of Factory Controller (FC) at our Factory in Langenhagen reporting to the Head of Finance Operations Europe and the Factory Manager based in Langenhagen

The FC will head the Factory Finance team. The role will be an integral part of the Factory Leadership Team and the European Global Supply Chain Finance Team.

The FC provides financial and commercial expertise, driving transparency of financial performance and linking it to the non-financial performance KPIs of the factory. The FC works closely with the Factory management team to understand the performance levels and to leverage that knowledge to support robust business decision making. Working with the Factory management team, the FC embeds a culture of regular reviews of progress and delivery of outcomes from various investment and efficiency initiatives linking them to improved performance in the Factory.  The FC works closely with the Regional Finance team and other Global Supply Chain teams to leverage knowledge, experiences, best practices and learning from internal/external benchmarks.

The FC ensures a robust control environment in the factory and compliance with Imperial Brands Global policies and procedures. The factory controller also ensures compliance with all local legislation in areas such as VAT, Local GAAP, Taxes etc working closely with the Regional Finance team and CoEs in the Global Finance organization.

The FC leverages the support from Finance Shared Services and Global Business Services, ensuring the factory Finance team is focussed on business partnering and supporting the factory team to succeed.

Key Accountabilities

• Accurate and transparent recording and reporting of monthly factory performance with clarity on underlying performance drivers.
• Provides actionable reporting allowing for course correction and/or acceleration of positive performance developments. Links Financial and Non-Financial performance allowing for the right conversations to happen with different stakeholders in the factory and the Region.
• Understands GSC initiatives and works closely with GSC CoEs to drives continuous improvement
• Lead the Finance team in the factory ensuring delivery of objectives and driving personal and professional development of colleagues.
• Supports the Factory team in formulating investment proposals to the Regional team, anticipating stakeholder challenge and proactively addressing these to ensure speed of approvals to drive value.
• Ensures focus and action behind working capital forecasts and robustness of balance sheet reviews.
• Maintains a stable control environment, avoiding surprises from Local and Group Audits, avoiding distractions for the Factory management

The successful candidate

• Has a master in finance/ economics or equivalent qualification
• Has a minimum 5 years experience working as Factory Controller in an International FMCG environment
• Well versed with the use of SAP/Major ERP and maximising the benefit of systems
• Ideally used to working in an environment supported by Finance Share Services, Global Supply Chain services.
• Has strong analytical skills with the ability to quickly comprehend and explain complex matters.
• Has attention to detail whilst being focussed on driving the high level performance levers
• Is well versed with local GAAP and IFRS
• Has relevant leadership skills to influence and has a mindset of collaboration and winning as a team
• Has a demonstrable track record of managing and developing people
• Is well versed with verbal and written English and German
• Has the ability to connect and communicate with all stakeholders
• Has excellent planning and organizational skills, ensuring efficiency and adherence to timelines
• Ideally has worked in a matrix management structure and able to balance the requirements of both reporting lines, focussed on doing what is in the best interest of the company
• Is proactive, self-driven and result minded

What we offer

Imperial Brands offer a competitive package of salary, bonus scheme, pension, holidays as well as hybrid work.

Next steps

Interested applicants should apply with their CV highlighting their suitability for the role.