Controller

About the role

Position Summary: The Controller is the senior financial leader for Standard Alloys and a member of the local management team, with overall responsibility for Finance, Accounting, Controlling, Cost Accounting, financial planning and reporting, working capital, internal controls, and financial systems. The role is the principal financial business partner to the General Manager, with a strong focus on manufacturing performance, cost accounting, profitability, operational decision support, and continuous improvement. The position operates within the broader KSB USA and North America Finance organization. It must work effectively with the current legacy ERP environment, improve management reporting and data transparency, and prepare Standard Alloys for a future ERP transition in alignment with KSB's ERP and IT strategy.

Reports To: VP Finance, KSB USA. Business Partner: General Manager, Standard Alloys.

Responsibilities

• Finance Leadership & Business Partnership: Lead the Finance and Accounting function and develop a capable and effective finance team. Serve as the principal financial business partner to the General Manager and management team, supporting operational and strategic decisions. Lead financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, performance analysis, working capital, credit and collections, cash-flow management, and investment analysis.
• Cost Accounting & Operational Controlling: Lead manufacturing cost accounting and controlling, including standard costing, inventory valuation, overhead absorption, manufacturing variances, and product and customer profitability. Partner closely with Operations to identify cost and productivity opportunities and translate manufacturing performance into financial impact. Analyze financial and operational performance, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend corrective actions.
• Systems, Reporting & ERP Transformation: Ensure effective financial use of the current ERP system and improve processes, controls, data quality, and internal reporting within the existing environment. Develop meaningful management reports and financial analysis using data from the current ERP and related systems. Lead Finance preparation for and actively support a future ERP transition, including processes, master data, cost accounting, reporting, controls, testing, and data readiness, in alignment with KSB's ERP and IT strategy.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with KSB Group requirements, IFRS, and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Maintain appropriate internal controls and coordinate internal and external audits. Coordinate local statutory, tax, audit, and regulatory requirements with the appropriate KSB USA and external specialists. Act as the primary Finance contact for Standard Alloys within KSB USA, the North America Region, and relevant Group functions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of finance, accounting, controlling, budgeting, forecasting, and IFRS.
• Strong manufacturing cost-accounting expertise, including standard costing, inventory valuation, overhead absorption, manufacturing variances, and profitability analysis.
• Strong analytical and business-partnering skills with the ability to translate financial and operational data into clear management information and recommendations.
• Strong leadership and people-development skills.
• Ability to work effectively with legacy ERP systems while improving processes, data quality, controls, and reporting.
• Experience developing management reports and financial analysis beyond standard system-generated reporting.
• Experience supporting or leading ERP implementation, migration, or finance-system transformation; SAP or comparable modern ERP experience preferred.
• Experience working within an international industrial organization.

Education and Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master's degree and/or CPA, CMA, or comparable professional qualification preferred.
• Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible finance, accounting, or controlling experience, including substantial experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Prior leadership: Demonstrated prior experience independently leading a complete finance and accounting function as a Controller, Finance Director, or equivalent senior finance leader is required.
• Cost accounting: Significant experience in manufacturing cost accounting and operational controlling is required.
• Systems transformation: Experience improving financial reporting in a legacy systems environment and supporting an ERP implementation, migration, or significant system transformation is strongly preferred.