Controlling Lead - CoE

Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. Join our global team to grow your expertise and develop innovative solutions that enable a prosperous and more sustainable society.

About the role

We are looking for a Controlling Lead - Center of Excellence to join our finance organization in Madrid. In this leadership role, you will oversee the controlling processes delivered through the Center of Excellence, covering Financial Planning & Analysis, Commercial Controlling, Project Controlling, Cost Controlling, and Reporting & Analytics. You will lead and develop experienced controlling professionals while ensuring that global process standards are consistently applied across the organization. Working closely with local controlling teams, business partners, and global process owners, you will help improve the quality, efficiency, and consistency of financial processes and reporting. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in an international environment by strengthening financial governance, resolving complex operational challenges, and driving standardization, automation, and continuous improvement.

What you will do

• Lead and develop the Controlling teams within the Center of Excellence, promoting high performance, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Coordinate controlling activities for the countries and clusters supported by the Center of Excellence.
• Act as the primary point of contact for operational controlling teams and manage escalations effectively.
• Oversee FP&A, commercial controlling, project controlling, cost controlling, and financial reporting processes.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and consistent financial processing and reporting.
• Collaborate with local Controlling teams, Finance Business Partners, Group Controlling, and regional and divisional stakeholders.
• Partner with Reporting & Analytics teams to standardize reports, templates, and performance insights.
• Monitor key performance indicators and service-level agreements to assess process quality and effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, optimize, and automate controlling activities across legal entities and countries.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with Global Process Owners to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Provide accurate and timely financial information and insights to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, internal controlling standards, company directives, and established financial policies.
• Maintain effective internal controls and ensure that standard operating procedures are documented and followed.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors and support the timely completion of audits.
• Support the recruitment and onboarding of qualified Controlling professionals when required.

What you need to succeed

• Required: University degree in Finance, Controlling, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Seven to nine years of experience in financial planning, analysis, or controlling, including at least five years in a leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of financial modelling, forecasting, data analytics, profitability analysis, pricing, cost controlling, project portfolio management, and revenue recognition.
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate, and develop experienced finance professionals.
• Experience managing complex controlling processes and collaborating across countries, functions, and organizational levels.
• Strong understanding of integrated ERP systems and financial reporting processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Excellent analytical, planning, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑management skills, including the ability to present financial insights to senior leaders.
• Professional proficiency in English.
• Preferred: CPA, ACCA, or an equivalent professional finance qualification.
• Experience in a Center of Excellence or Shared Services environment.
• Experience within the manufacturing, engineering, or industrial sector.
• Knowledge of Tagetik and Qlik Sense.
• Demonstrated experience standardizing, optimizing, or automating finance processes.

What we offer you

• A permanent contract.
• A competitive salary as well as participation in the variable remuneration system based on personal and financial objectives.
• Meal vouchers.
• Access to a voluntary flexible compensation scheme allowing employees to optimize their salary package, such as health insurance, transport, or childcare.
• The opportunity to lead and develop an experienced, international finance team.
• A collaborative working environment with exposure to global stakeholders and business operations.
• Opportunities to grow your career within a solid and well‑established international company.
• The chance to contribute to a dynamic organization undergoing continuous transformation and improvement.

Office location: Nuevos Ministerios (Madrid). Additional benefits may apply depending on the position and location.

Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment. We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.

Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. By supporting water and energy security, enabling the energy transition and driving the use of circular technologies, we help our customers build a better world. With more than 13'000 employees and 160 world-class production facilities and service centers across the globe, we are a globally diverse team. We value the uniqueness of all our colleagues, and we appreciate the contributions that each of us makes to the company’s success. We prioritize your health and safety and are committed to offering a work environment in which you can thrive.