Finance Controller - CPA

Our Client – Powering the AI Revolution

Our client offers an opportunity to join a rapidly growing business and make a significant impact on the long-term success of its global strategy. The organization is an Irish-based manufacturer, distributor, and exporter of electrical switchgear, controls, and related products and services, with a 40-year track record and a current focus on supplying the global data center industry. It operates across multiple geographic locations and offers strong career progression for ambitious professionals.

Role Overview

This is a senior finance leadership role within a high-growth, project-driven manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will lead the U.S. finance function while partnering closely with operations, production, supply chain, engineering, project management, and executive leadership. The individual will play a key role in building scalable finance infrastructure capable of supporting substantial U.S. growth in the data center sector.

Core Leadership Requirements

• Financial control and compliance
• Manufacturing and project accounting
• Working capital and cash flow management
• Commercial finance and operational partnering
• Systems and process improvement
• Leadership in a fast-scaling environment

Key Responsibilities

Financial Control & Reporting

• Lead all U.S. finance operations, including month-end close, reporting, controls, and compliance.
• Deliver accurate and timely monthly management accounts.
• Ensure robust balance-sheet reconciliations and financial governance.
• Manage U.S. statutory, sales tax, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Support annual audit processes and external advisor relationships.
• Maintain strong internal controls in a rapidly scaling environment.

Manufacturing & Project Accounting

• Oversee project accounting for large-scale, engineered-to-order manufacturing contracts.
• Monitor revenue recognition under percentage-of-completion methodologies.
• Manage work in progress, accrued revenue, deferred revenue, and project margin reporting.
• Partner with operations to improve labor utilization, productivity, and project costing accuracy.
• Drive visibility into material usage, scrap recovery, manufacturing variances, and cost controls.
• Support inventory accuracy, valuation, and operational finance reporting.

Working Capital & Cash Management

• Lead U.S. cash-flow forecasting and liquidity planning.
• Manage debtor collections, milestone billing, and customer cash conversion.
• Monitor days sales outstanding, inventory turns, and supplier payment performance.
• Support banking relationships and financing initiatives, including working-capital facilities and asset-based lending structures.

Commercial Finance & Business Partnering

• Partner with project managers and operational leaders on profitability, risk, and execution.
• Support bid reviews, commercial assessments, and contract governance.
• Provide financial insight into pricing, margins, and operational performance.
• Drive operational accountability through KPI reporting and business analytics.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Improve finance processes, controls, and reporting automation.
• Support the continued rollout and optimization of SAP Business ByDesign and Power BI reporting.
• Develop scalable reporting structures suitable for a growing, multi-site U.S. operation.
• Assist in developing integrated labor, production, and project-performance reporting.

Leadership

• Build and develop the U.S. finance team over time.
• Act as a key member of the U.S. leadership team.
• Foster a high-accountability, hands-on, solutions-focused culture.
• Work closely with Group Finance and leadership teams across Ireland and the United States.

Candidate Profile – Required Experience

• 7–15+ years of finance experience, with progression into senior finance leadership.
• Experience in manufacturing, engineered products, construction, industrial projects, or related sectors.
• Strong understanding of project accounting and operational finance.
• Experience managing working capital in project-based environments.
• Strong background in financial control and reporting.
• Experience operating in a scaling or fast-growth business environment.
• ERP experience is essential; SAP Business ByDesign experience is advantageous.

Preferred Experience

• Data center, electrical, modular construction, or industrial manufacturing exposure.
• Multi-entity or international group experience.
• Experience with percentage-of-completion accounting.
• Exposure to U.S. sales tax compliance and multi-state operations.
• Experience supporting operational KPI and Power BI reporting environments.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded and operationally engaged.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence across functions.
• Hands-on and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with executional detail.
• High-accountability and ownership mindset.

Qualifications

• CPA or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.

Key Success Measures

• Accurate and timely month-end close.
• Improved cash conversion and working-capital performance.
• Enhanced visibility and control over project profitability.
• Strong financial governance and audit readiness.
• Improved operational finance reporting and KPI accuracy.
• Scalable finance processes capable of supporting rapid U.S. growth.

What Our Client Offers

• Opportunity to join a rapidly scaling business in one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors.
• Exposure to major hyperscale and AI infrastructure projects.
• High-impact leadership role with significant autonomy.
• Strong growth and career-development opportunity.
• Collaborative international leadership environment.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Group CFO
• Works closely with: U.S. General Manager; Operations and Production Leadership; Supply Chain; Project Management; Group Finance Team; Executive Leadership Team.