Financial Controller - German Speaking

Refined Search is working with a global merchant commodities firm specialising in energy and its associated industries, with a reach spanning over 12 offices worldwide and proprietary trading activity in most major energy markets.

The company's rigorous research, analytical approach, and entrepreneurial culture have contributed to its strong track record and growth over the past 20+ years.

While their primary business remains in proprietary trading and arbitrage, over the years the firm has expanded to offer services to third parties in price risk management, energy consulting, asset management and environmental solutions.

Backed by a significant investment firm the company continues to expand through organic growth of new initiatives and business areas along with investments and acquisitions of strategic assets which complement the existing business.

Their European finance department is seeking an experienced German speaking Financial Controller to form part of the team in its Hamburg offices although the role can also be based anywhere in Germany or London.

The position is charged with ensuring that all aspects of finance operations are designed and implemented within their German to enable organic growth within the business. We require an individual that performs consistently in a highly dynamic working environment where requirements from numerous stakeholders have to be prioritised while at the same time ensuring compliance to accounting procedures and processes. Ideally, you will be comfortable with redefining, designing and building processes from the ground up.

In your day-to-day role, you will be collaborating with business, operations and back office to ensure that the there is a seamless flow of transaction data from trading to reporting systems. The role will include inventory management, verification of invoices (i.e fossil and bio fuel) and presentation of periodic business statements. In addition, you will take responsibility for ensuring that our systems are set up to ensure all German reporting/record keeping requirements are adhered to.

Job Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design and implement processes to ensure a functional physical commodity business
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to implement an ETRM platform to cater for the niche requirements of physical commodities business.
• Providing support and establish or build trading operations, treasury, accounting and/or other support functions related to the requirements of the commercial team.
• Record keeping and processing of all transactions in line with accounting best practices in an ERP system.
• Preparation and submission of all German accounting statutory filings within timelines
• Preparation of forecasts, budgets and variance analysis
• Working with internal and outsourced providers for corporate and indirect tax submissions
• Account management including oversight of expenses, income and assets
• Preparation of monthly management accounts
• Balance sheet substantiation
• Liaising with external and internal auditors

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in accounting/ finance / economics or comparable qualification
• 7+ years' experience in a finance role within a commodity business.
• An understanding of accounting for derivatives and hedging exposure from physical and future trades.
• Experience in German and international GAAP
• Experience in maintaining and managing a general ledger system preferably within a commodity environment.
• Basic German and EU indirect and direct tax knowledge
• Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills in German and English
• Reliability, the ability to work in a team and a careful and conscientious way of working
• High level of attention to detail and affinity for numbers and analytical ability
• Problem-solving and thought partnering skills
• Strong proficiency in MS Office, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel