Economic Controller – Program Management

Description

Summary: This role involves establishing financial plans, monitoring costs, analyzing deviations, managing risks, and providing financial support for industrial projects. Highlights: 1. Opportunity to manage financial plans and monitor project performance. 2. Engage in risk and opportunity management for critical contracts. 3. Contribute to continuous improvement and executive reporting. **Key functions and responsibilities** * Establish the project’s financial plan: initial budget (WBS/BoQ), target profitability and risks and opportunities, billing milestone schedule, cash flow and working capital requirements. * Perform monthly monitoring: incurred cost vs. budget (materials, hours, subcontracting), calculation of % progress and revenue recognition (PoC/IFRS 15\) when applicable. * Variance analysis: root cause (productivity, scope, mix, FX), corrective actions and Estimate at Completion (EAC) forecast. * Risks and opportunities: quantified matrix (probability/impact), contingencies and provisions, tracking of claims/VOs and their economic impact. * Support to Program Manager/PMO: participation in project reviews, change control, economic assessment of engineering/industrialization decisions. * Contract \& supplier control: financial review of critical contracts, payment/collection milestones, penalties, LC/guarantees. * Executive reporting: KPIs (EBIT per project/batch, project working capital, EAC variance), quarterly forecast and 12-month rolling forecast. * Compliance and audit: evidence of controls, support to auditors, alignment with corporate policies. * Continuous improvement: standardization of templates, reporting automation, cost models, and sector best practices. **Performance Indicators (KPIs)** * Variance vs. project budget in margin (pp). * Forecast accuracy (revenue/margin/cash) at 3 and 6 months. * Reporting cycle time (project closing). * % of materialized risks vs. plan / recovery via claims. * Working capital compliance. **Minimum requirements** * **Academic Background:** Degree in Business Administration/Economics or Industrial Engineering with postgraduate qualification in Finance/Controlling. * **Professional Experience:** More than 3 years in economic control of industrial projects (railway, automotive capital goods, energy, construction, aerospace). * **Languages:** Fluent English required; high level of French preferred. * **Competencies / Skills:** Business orientation, collaboration with Program Managers and core team, sound judgment to challenge, data-driven decision making, clear communication with engineering/operations. * **Travel:** Availability for frequent travel and long-term assignments. **Other requirements** * **Software knowledge:** Industrial ERP (SAP CO/PS highly valued), project controlling, BW/Analytics; advanced Excel (PowerQuery/PowerPivot). * **Knowledge:** Industrial cost accounting, progress measurement methods (EV/PoC), IFRS 15, supply and subcontracting contracts, risk management, change control. * **Key Competencies** + High analytical capability. + Results and profitability orientation. + Communication with technical and financial teams. + Risk management and problem resolution. + Ability to work under pressure and with large volumes of information. **[ENG]** **Key functions and responsibilities** **Main Responsibilities** * **Establish the project’s financial plan:** initial budget (WBS/BoQ), target profitability, identification of risks and opportunities, billing milestone schedule, cash flow and working capital requirements. * **Perform monthly monitoring:** incurred cost vs. budget (materials, hours, subcontracting), calculation of **% progress** and **revenue recognition** (PoC/IFRS 15\) when applicable. * **Variance analysis:** root‑cause identification (productivity, scope, mix, FX), definition of **corrective actions**, and preparation of the **Estimate at Completion (EAC)**. * **Risk and opportunity management:** preparation of a quantified matrix (probability/impact), definition of contingencies and provisions, and tracking of **claims/VOs** and their financial impact. * **Support to the Program Manager/PMO:** participation in project reviews, change control, and economic assessment of engineering/industrialization decisions. * **Contract \& supplier control:** financial review of critical contracts, monitoring of payment/collection milestones, penalties, letters of credit, and guarantees. * **Executive reporting:** preparation and monitoring of KPIs (project/batch EBIT, project working capital, EAC variance), quarterly forecast, and **12‑month rolling forecast**. * **Compliance and audit:** preparation of control evidence, support for internal and external audits, and alignment with corporate policies. * **Continuous improvement:** standardization of templates, reporting automation, development of cost models, and implementation of sector best practices. **Performance Indicators (KPIs)** * Margin variance vs. project budget (p.p.). * Forecast accuracy (revenue / margin / cash) at 3 and 6 months. * Reporting cycle time (project closing). * % of risks materialized vs. plan / recovery through claims. * Working capital target achievement. **Minimum requirements** * **Academic Background:** Degree in Business Administration/Economics or Industrial Engineering, with a postgraduate qualification in Finance/Controlling. * **Professional Experience:** More than 3 years of experience in the financial control of industrial projects (railway, automotive capital goods, energy, construction, aerospace). * **Languages:** Fluent English required; high level of French preferred. * **Competencies / Skills:** Strong business orientation, effective collaboration with Program Managers and the core team, solid judgement to challenge assumptions, data‑driven decision making, and clear communication with engineering and operations. * **Travel:** Willingness to travel frequently and to relocate for extended periods when required. **Other requirements** * **Software Knowledge:** Industrial ERP systems (SAP CO/PS highly valued), project controlling, BW/Analytics; advanced Excel (PowerQuery/PowerPivot). * **Technical Knowledge:** Industrial cost accounting, progress measurement methods (EV/PoC), IFRS 15, supply and subcontracting contracts, risk management, change control. * **Key Competencies** High analytical capability. Results and profitability orientation. Effective communication with technical and financial teams. Risk management and problem resolution. Ability to work under pressure and with large volumes of information.