1358 SAP Finance and Controlling Expert

About Our Client:

Our client is an international industrial group operating within the high-volume consumer goods manufacturing sector. The mandate sits within a sizeable manufacturing operation in Central Poland, forming part of a wider multinational group structure.

Following a post-acquisition integration and SAP implementation, the local finance and controlling environment requires stronger performance visibility, more reliable product and customer margin analysis, clearer forecasting discipline, and a more robust SAP-based controlling model.

The assignment is positioned as a highly focused SAP Finance Advisory mandate. The core priority is direct hands-on SAP CO-PA experience in a manufacturing environment, with the ability to work operationally in SAP from day one, assess current configuration gaps, and define a practical improvement roadmap for manufacturing controlling.

Project Description:

The SAP Finance Advisor will support a business-critical finance transformation project within a major Central Poland manufacturing site. The role requires a senior finance and controlling expert who can work directly within SAP, assess the current CO-PA setup, identify configuration and data-quality gaps, and help the business rebuild reliable visibility on product, customer and margin performance.

The Advisor will work functionally with Group Finance and operationally alongside the local finance leadership team. The assignment requires both technical SAP controlling expertise and the maturity to operate in a sensitive advisory role without creating unnecessary friction with the local organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assess the current SAP FI/CO/CO-PA setup in a manufacturing controlling environment.
• Review profitability analysis logic, including product, customer, product-line and profitability segment structures.
• Analyse standard cost logic, product costing, production order settlement and production variance treatment.
• Assess cost centre structure, profit centre logic, allocation rules, master data quality and integration with operational data.
• Review integration between finance and manufacturing-related data flows, including MM/PP interfaces where relevant.
• Identify why current SAP-based controlling does not provide sufficient visibility into real margins and performance drivers.
• Define a structured SAP improvement roadmap covering priorities, corrective actions, expected benefits and handover requirements for the SAP/IT function.
• Build reliable interim management information using available SAP data, raw extractions, Excel or Power BI where SAP outputs are incomplete or not yet optimised.
• Support margin analysis by customer, product and product line.
• Develop topline and EBITDA bridge analysis, including volume, mix, price, FX, raw materials, fixed and variable cost variances and one-off effects.
• Support the redesign of forecasting and budgeting processes based on improved SAP-enabled controlling logic.
• Transfer methodology to the internal controlling team and support sustainable knowledge transfer.

Interim Manager Required Skills:

The mandate requires a senior SAP Finance Advisor with proven hands-on SAP CO-PA experience in manufacturing.

Mandatory requirements:

• Direct operational experience with SAP FI, CO and especially CO-PA in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience working with product costing, standard cost, cost centre structures, allocation logic and production variance analysis.
• Ability to work directly in SAP, not only interpret reports generated by SAP.
• Experience identifying SAP controlling configuration gaps and translating them into a structured corrective action roadmap.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing controlling, including margin by product, customer and product line.
• Ability to connect finance data with operational data from production, procurement, logistics and inventory.
• Experience working with imperfect SAP environments, including raw SAP extractions, Excel-based workarounds and Power BI or similar reporting tools.
• Strong ability to distinguish whether issues come from SAP configuration, poor master data, weak process ownership, local usage gaps or organisational capability.
• Polish mother tongue and fluent English are essential.

The ideal candidate is not only a senior finance leader, but a hands-on SAP manufacturing controlling expert who has already worked in environments where SAP CO-PA, product costing, standard costing and production variances had to be reviewed, corrected or rebuilt after implementation.

The right Advisor will be able to enter the plant quickly, understand the current SAP and controlling setup, identify what is missing, and help Group Finance gain reliable visibility into business performance.

Ideal background:

• Former Head of Controlling, SAP Finance Transformation Lead, Plant Controller, Finance Director or Senior Finance Advisor.
• 15+ years of experience in manufacturing, packaging, industrial FMCG, automotive, chemicals, materials or related production sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in SAP FI/CO/CO-PA improvement projects.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting, product costing, standard costing and variance analysis.
• Experience in multinational or post-acquisition environments where local finance structures had to align with group reporting expectations.
• Ability to operate pragmatically and deliver usable management information quickly, even where systems are not yet fully optimised.
• Collaborative advisory style, able to support local management while reporting functionally to Group Finance.
• Maturity to work in a sensitive environment where the local finance organisation may perceive external advisory support as challenging.

Key Requirements:

• SAP CO-PA, SAP FI, SAP CO,
• Manufacturing Controlling, Product Costing, Standard Costing, Production Variance Analysis,
• Cost Centre Structure, Allocation Logic, Margin Analysis,
• Forecasting, Budgeting,
• Post-Acquisition Integration, Finance Transformation

Type of Assignment:

Interim

Scope of Interim Assignment:

Post Acquisition Integration, Finance Transformation, SAP Finance Advisory, Manufacturing Controlling

Functional Area of the Interim Manager:

Finance and Controlling, SAP Consulting

Location:

Central Poland

Duration:

6 months

Start Date:

Why work with us?

CE Interim delivers proven executive interim leaders within 72 hours across borders, cultures, and industries. We specialize in high-impact interim management for private equity firms, family offices, and global corporations facing moments of transition: digital transformation, market entry, operational turnaround, post-merger integration, or crisis.

What sets us apart is not just the speed or depth of our network, it’s how we lead. Every engagement is personally guided by a CE Interim managing partner: former CEOs, CFOs, or COOs who’ve been on your side of the table, steering organizations through high-stakes decisions.

With a global talent pool and operational reach spanning Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, we don’t fill roles, we build trust, lead transitions, and deliver outcomes.

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