Senior Business Controller

The Opportunity

At Hitachi Energy, our purpose is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded Senior Business Controller to serve as a strong and effective business partner to our business unit leadership team. This role will focus on driving financial performance, providing strategic insights, and ensuring robust controlling practices for the global HVDC product group.

You will lead planning, forecasting, financial analysis, and controlling activities end-to-end—ensuring transparency, compliance, and timely closings while enabling decision-making across global line functions and manufacturing units. This role suits a hands-on finance leader with deep business acumen, project controlling experience, and the ability to influence stakeholders across countries and cultures.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Own planning & forecasting for your area of responsibility, serving as the key interface to the Business Manager and business unit leadership.

• Prepare accurate forecasts for the global HVDC product group and ensure reconciliation with project execution plans.

• Evaluate financial implications of decisions across line functions, factories, and R&D activities; recommend actions to drive value.

• Drive appropriate cost structures and productivity optimization, enforcing effective controlling across line functions.

• Eliminate under-absorption: Proactively identify root causes of under-absorption in any line function and implement corrective actions.

• Lead budgeting cycles and monitor financial parameters against budget throughout the year; maintain all appropriate controlling tools.

• Provide data-driven insights on progress and performance to support timely and high-quality decision-making.

• Standardize controlling practices across manufacturing units and line functions globally; coordinate regular cost reviews and monitor ongoing cost control initiatives.

• Ensure compliant reporting aligned with local and global guidance; perform timely balance sheet and income statement reviews.

• Safeguard financial data quality and ensure on-time monthly/quarterly/yearly closings per defined standards and schedules.

• Strengthen transparency in financial reporting and disclosures; define and implement internal controls for financial and non-financial operations.

• Lead audit readiness: Provide documentation on time and handle audit queries with all stakeholders for the HVDC P&L and Balance Sheet.

Your Background

• Education: Financial degree (or equivalent) as a basic qualification.

• Experience: 12+ years in business controlling with strong exposure to FP&A and project controlling, ideally in similar/equivalent industry environments.

• Proven leadership and stakeholder management across local teams and global units.

• Strong planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control competencies—including absorption analysis.

• Ability to anticipate change, deliver on targets, and manage performance in dynamic contexts.

• High standards for data quality, process compliance, and financial integrity.

• Global Exposure: Demonstrated experience working across countries and cultures; comfortable operating in a global matrix environment.

• Personal Attributes: Structured, analytical, proactive, and collaborative—able to influence and challenge constructively.

• Deliver Results – Prioritize, Act, Achieve: Results orientation; drive to exceed goals and improve business practices for higher performance levels.

• Strategic Orientation: Define plans that align with broader strategy; contribute beyond own area.

• Collaborate – Listen, Value, Engage: Actively demonstrate teamwork; facilitate collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups.

• Innovate – Challenge, Create, Change: Lead change initiatives; define a compelling case for change and mobilize individuals to adopt it.

More About Us

We offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support your well-being, financial security, and professional development. Depending on experience and location, benefits may include:

• Pension plan, Insurance

• Bonus Plan

• Company car or Cash Allowance

• Flexible working arrangements (e.g., 3 days from home / 2 days office)

• Learning and development opportunities

• Additional leave programs depending on country policies (40 days in the Netherlands)