Area Controller Europe South at Sika in Madrid, Madrid provincia

Company Description

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 103 countries around the world, produces in over 400 factories, and develops innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and transportation industries toward greater environmental compatibility. In 2024, Sika’s around 33,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 11.76 billion.

Job Description

Join us in a pivotal area finance leadership role with responsibility across Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France. This position offers the opportunity to steer financial performance, strengthen governance, and act as a trusted partner to senior management. You will play a crucial role in harmonizing standards and elevating finance capabilities across the Area. The role is located in any of the 4 countries in the Area: Spain, France, Italy or Portugal.

• The Area Controller Europe South is responsible for the financial governance, performance oversight, and technical leadership of the Finance organizations across the Europe South Area (Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France).
• Operating as a regional finance leader, the role ensures consistency, quality, and compliance of financial reporting, controlling standards, and governance across countries, while acting as a key business partner and sparring partner to the Area Manager. The role is co-responsible for the financial performance of the Area and acts as a quality gate between local entities and EMEA / Group Finance.

Key Responsibilities

Area Financial Performance & Governance

• Oversee and challenge the financial performance of the Europe South countries, with a strong focus on Sales, Material Margin, Opex, EBITDA, and ONWC.
• Act as a quality gate for financial information reported from countries to Area, EMEA, and Group, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and transparency.
• Identify financial risks, deviations, and red flags across countries and escalate when required, acting as a link between local management and EMEA / Group Finance.
• Ensure alignment of local financial practices with Group, EMEA, and Area Europe South standards and policies.

Business Partnership at Area Level

• Act as the primary financial partner and sparring partner to the Area Manager.
• Actively contribute to Area management decisions as part of the Area leadership trio (Area GM, Area HR, Area Finance).
• Challenge business assumptions, performance drivers, and action plans with fact-based and data-driven analysis.
• Support strategic initiatives, restructuring topics, and performance improvement programs at Area level.

Governance of Local Finance Managers

• Provide functional leadership and technical guidance to local Finance Managers in Europe South, particularly on accounting, controlling, and financial governance topics where local General Managers may lack technical depth.
• Ensure local statutory, tax, treasury, and governance topics are properly managed, being informed and involved in key decisions while maintaining local accountability.
• Act as a reference point and escalation level for complex financial, accounting, tax, and audit-related matters.
• Promote consistent application of finance standards and best practices across countries.

Planning, Forecasting & Benchmarking

• Oversee and challenge country budgets, forecasts, and long-term plans, ensuring coherence at Area level.
• Define benchmarks, performance comparisons, and best practices across Europe South to foster continuous improvement.
• Support countries in translating benchmarks and insights into concrete action plans.

Compliance, Internal Controls & Audit Oversight

• Ensure a strong culture of governance, compliance, and internal controls across the Area.
• Oversee and support countries in internal and external audit processes, ensuring issues are addressed consistently and timely.
• Ensure alignment with Group and EMEA governance requirements, acting as an early warning system for compliance risks.

Finance Organization & Talent

• Shape and develop the finance organization across Europe South.
• Support definition of roles, succession planning, and identification of key talents within local finance teams.
• Promote knowledge sharing, capability building, and professional development of Finance Managers and their teams.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field is a must
• 10+ years of experience in finance, controlling, or financial management, ideally in an international or multi‑country environment.
• Proven track record in regional or area financial leadership roles, preferably in matrix organizations.
• Strong technical background in accounting (IFRS preferred), controlling, and financial governance.
• Deep understanding of financial statements, KPIs, and performance drivers (Sales, Margin, Opex, EBITDA, ONWC).
• Strong expertise in planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling.
• Solid knowledge of internal controls, compliance frameworks, and audit processes.
• Comfortable working with complex data sets and generating insight-driven analysis.
• Advanced proficiency in ERP systems and financial reporting tools (e.g., SAP, Hyperion, Power BI, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience developing finance teams across multiple countries.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to act as a sparring partner to senior leadership.
• Experience navigating complex organizational structures and balancing local vs. regional vs. group priorities.
• Strong understanding of commercial drivers and ability to link operational performance to financial impact.
• Experience supporting transformation, restructuring, and performance improvement initiatives.
• High integrity, reliability, and commitment to governance and compliance.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, able to translate financial insights for non-financial stakeholders.
• Hands‑on, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset with excellent problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and operate in dynamic environments.
• Fluent in English (mandatory) and proficiency in one or more local Area languages is an advantage.

Additional Information

• We offer intensive training and interesting perspectives for anyone who wants to build a career
• Sika is like a global SME: With subsidiaries in more than 100 countries around the world. This begins in Switzerland and breaks down borders allowing exciting prospects all around the world
• The chance to bring new ideas, interesting areas for development, and taking responsibility early on are some of the key factors that drive Sika's pioneering spirit

We look forward to your application. For this position visa sponsorship is not offered and only direct applications will be considered. For any further information please reach us at inbox.hr@ch.sika.com

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training. We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.