Financial Controller

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases (NCEIG) is a leading provider of cryogenic pumps, heat exchangers, process systems, services, and solutions for the LNG and industrial gases industry. We are a subsidiary of Nikkiso Company Ltd, a leading industrial manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with over $1.5 B in annual revenue, 8000 + employees worldwide, and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

**Location**: Leipzig, Germany

**Summary/Objective**:
Reporting to the Finance Manager, the Financial Controller is responsible to ensure financial information is timely, accurate, complete and compliant with relevant accounting and taxation principles. Responsible for all financial and administrative functions, including financial reporting and forecasts, internal controls, payroll, invoicing, accounts payable and accounts receivable and other financial administrative activities.

**Essential Functions/Responsibilities**:

- Conduct month end close tasks, general accounting functions, balance sheet reconciliations and expense trend analysis.
- Assist and work closely with management teams in the timely production of monthly financial statements and analysis schedules for internal reporting.
- Coordinate and assist with all assigned monthly close tasks.
- Prepare monthly journal entries and account reconciliations.
- Conduct detailed review and/or completion of the monthly Percentage of Completion accounting schedule (applicable for both pump locations).
- Assist in the identification of contracts for proper revenue recognition.
- Prepare annual budgeting, quarterly and monthly forecasting.
- Compile and provide schedules to be used by internal and external auditors in their quarterly reviews and yearend audits.
- Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal and external customers.
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of key business drivers.
- Providing operating managers and accounting staff with financial guidance and management oversight.
- Performing research and analysis as required.
- Ensuring compliance with financial guidelines, company policies and control requirements.
- Assist with monthly financial reporting required by Corporate, Nikkiso and other reporting requests.
- Document processes and procedures.
- Tracking KPIs and preparing various financial reports and analysis as requested.
- Contract Financial review.
- Policy and procedure documentation.
- Analyze the product costs by product lines to ensure the reasonable gross margin shown in the income statement.
- Review the monthly financial results, prepare the analysis to compare with budget and forecast, track the variances, provide the explanations and insights.
- Lead inventory physical count, diagnose the cause of inventory variance, work with operation team to analyze the obsolete and slow moving inventory.
- Serve as a resource to other departments as needed.
- Other tasks as assigned.

**Education and Experience**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or related field is required.
- 5-8 years business experience in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred, with full cycle accounting.
- Previous management experience required, including at least 3-5 years previous Controller experience in Germany.
- Experience and thorough understanding of Percentage of Completion accounting and related procedures strongly preferred.
- Month-end close process, balance sheet reconciliations and expenses trend experience required.
- Exposure to various ERP systems is preferred; implementation experience is a definite plus.
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills is required.
- Skilled at completing and recording complex financial transactions. Able to aid in developing information for financial statements and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Proficient in using accounting software and ERP software (Navision Preferable).
- Self-motivated, hands-on and ability to learn and grow as a business professional.
- High level of organization and ability to manage deadlines and demonstrated ability to consistently manage competing priorities.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Strong commitment to providing excellence in client service and a demonstrated ability to produce high quality results.
- High level of ethics & integrity.
- Excellent communication in English and German (written and verbal).

**Supervisory Responsibility**:
This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

**Work Environment**:
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers, photocopiers, and smartphones.

**Physical Demands**:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. This would require the ability to lift files, op