Job ID: 40024 | Location: Pratteln, Canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland

The incumbent in this role shall assume comprehensive responsibility for the cross-regional orchestration, execution, and optimization of multidimensional production-controlling protocols across diversified global manufacturing geographies. This function necessitates the systemic integration of financial analytics with production-centric operational frameworks to ensure cost governance, performance consistency, and the facilitation of enterprise-aligned decision matrices.

Responsibilities

• Execute ongoing diagnostic evaluations of cost behavior, variance causality analysis, and multi-tiered performance indicators across a globally distributed production infrastructure, ensuring alignment with corporate benchmarks and margin sustainability goals.
• Architect, implement, and perpetuate the harmonization of automated, scalable, and audit-compliant production-controlling reporting frameworks that support real-time transparency and inter-site comparability.
• Steer the cyclical orchestration of budgetary modeling and rolling forecast iterations for production entities, leveraging predictive analytics and scenario planning to inform upstream financial consolidation.
• Lead cross-functional financial modeling for capital expenditure evaluations and operational enhancement initiatives, with focus on return on investment (ROI), internal rate of return (IRR), and payback period validation.
• Serve as the financial governance conduit within operational excellence programs, providing cost-structure diagnostics and margin enhancement insights through root cause analyses and benchmark deviation studies.
• Engage in structured collaboration with local site finance custodians and production leadership to proactively uncover, validate, and realize continuous improvement and cost rationalization potentials.
• Enforce rigorous adherence to corporate fiscal governance policies, audit-readiness protocols, and procedural standard operating procedures (SOPs) within the production control domain.
• Spearhead the end-to-end implementation and lifecycle management of ERP-integrated production-controlling toolsets, ensuring compatibility with existing digital finance architecture.
• Provide executive-level decision support via advanced financial analytics, business intelligence synthesis, and value-stream economic modeling to inform long-term production strategy.
  
  

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive responsibility in production-focused financial controlling roles within multinational industrial or manufacturing environments, with proven expertise in cost-center performance oversight and margin management.
• Direct experience operating within a matrixed Shared Service Center model, including demonstrated capability in navigating cross-functional service delivery frameworks, financial process standardization, and stakeholder alignment across geographies.
• Substantial hands-on experience collaborating with multi-site production facilities, including exposure to plant-level cost structures, throughput analysis, and alignment of financial metrics with operational KPIs.
• Proficiency in developing complex financial models for investment appraisals, process improvement initiatives, and strategic cost optimization, utilizing tools such as Excel, Power BI, and/or SAP Analytics Cloud.
• Deep functional knowledge of enterprise resource planning systems (SAP CO/FI modules), including system configuration for production controlling, variance tracking, and automated reporting generation.
• End-to-end ownership of annual budgeting and periodic forecasting activities for manufacturing cost centers, with demonstrated ability to synthesize operational inputs into actionable financial projections.
• Extensive experience in engaging with non-financial stakeholders, including production, procurement, and supply chain functions, to drive financial awareness and enable evidence-based operational decisions.
• Strong familiarity with internal control frameworks, audit requirements, and adherence to financial policies within regulated corporate environments.
• Experience contributing to, or leading, financial transformation projects—such as the rollout of controlling tools, transition to shared services, or implementation of digital reporting solutions.
  
  

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline from an accredited institution is required.
• Chartered Accountant (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CA) or equivalent professional accounting certification is mandatory.
• Additional certifications in financial planning, Lean Six Sigma, or data analytics are considered advantageous.
  
  

Clariant is a Swiss-based global specialty chemicals company, which is concentrated and developed in three business units: Care Chemicals, Catalysts and Adsorbents & Additives. Our purpose as a company is reflected in our tagline "Greater chemistry - between people and planet", which considers the principles of customer, innovation and people orientation, as well as a focus on creating solutions to foster sustainability in different industries by offering high-value and high-performance chemical specialties.

At Clariant, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to our success. We strive to cultivate a workplace where all employees feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. Our diverse workforce allows us to tap into a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and capabilities that drive innovation. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for professional growth and advancement across all levels of the organization, based on objective criteria and regardless of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, protected veteran status ,age, disability, sexual orientation or other aspects of diversity in accordance with the relevant governing laws. By bringing together talented individuals with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, we gain the agility to meet the evolving needs of our global customers and communities. Join our team to help advance our mission of fostering a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive.

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