Chief Financial Officer (CFO) (m/f/d)

Our client

Our client is a successful market leader in the field of measurement, control and regulation technology for applications in the field of electrical energy infrastructure. The company operates internationally through a worldwide partner network and recently entered a growth partnership with a leading private equity investor. As part of this development, we are looking for an experienced, entrepreneurially minded CFO (m/f/d).

Your tasks

Financial Strategy & CEO Partnership

• Serve as a true co-pilot to the CEO: challenge assumptions, validate strategic decisions, and embed financial discipline in all operating choices
• Build and lead a best-in-class FP&A function (budgeting, rolling forecasting, scenario planning), sustaining the company’s track record of outperforming budget
• Implement a best-in-class steering and incentive scheme incl. KPI management, establishing the financial framework required for a PE exit at target multiples
• Develop and own the equity story, underpinned by rigorous monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting to investors, auditors, banks, and the advisory board
• Manage bank relationships and a levered balance sheet, and oversee risk management and corporate housekeeping

Value Creation & Commercial Finance

• Accelerate the historical topline growth of >10% p.a. while further expanding EBITDA margins from the current level of >20% through the professionalization of commercial functions and enhanced operational efficiency
• Support the internationalization agenda: build-out of direct salesforce in priority markets
• Lead the financial workstream for new market entries, including business case development, investment planning, and performance tracking
• Cost and Working Capital Optimization, particularly Inventory Management
• Managing potential Add-On acquisitions with a focus on integration and implementing a defined value creation plan

IT, Data & Digital, Legal & Compliance, and HR

• IT & Digital: Direct oversight of the IT function incl. ERP ownership and system infrastructure; lead the planned IT infrastructure investment (CRM, ERP professionalization) and the broader digital transformation agenda, including automation of finance processes and data-driven business models beyond finance
• Data Analytics: Build a data analytics strategy and ensure high data quality as the foundation for data-driven company steering
• Legal & Compliance: Responsibility for all legal matters including contract management, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and coordination with external counsel
• HR & People: Leadership of the HR function, including talent acquisition, people development, compensation & benefits design, and organisational development

Your qualification

• 5+ years of progressive finance leadership, with meaningful CFO experience in a PE-backed company (preferably industrial or technology sector) and a demonstrated track record professionalizing a finance function in a comparable environment
• Previous experience in an SME environment, with a genuinely hands-on approach and a proven track record of value creation and change management, incl. measurable results
• Proactive approach to the CFO role, with the ability and willingness to develop ideas that drive shareholder value without prompting from the CEO or the private equity investor
• Previous experience leading or overseeing IT, Legal, and/or HR functions – either as direct line manager or as part of a broad CFO mandate in an SME context – is beneficial
• Strong technical foundation in accounting, treasury, tax, and liquidity management, complementing the strategic FP&A remit
• Track record of digital transformation within finance and broader corporate functions (incl. Business Intelligence / Data Analytics), with an affinity for AI-supported applications
• Experience with sophisticated pricing mechanisms and models (incl. SaaS pricing) beneficial – pricing is one of the clearest early opportunities to add value in this role
• Previous M&A experience beneficial, particularly distributor acquisitions and cross-border transactions
• Good understanding of value creation and the drivers of private equity exit valuations (e.g. always considering financial impact on margins, multiples and ROE)
• Excellent in go-to-market models of industrial product businesses, including the economics of direct versus indirect sales, distributor economics, and internationalization levers
• Good understanding of business models with own manufacturing
• Highly analytical, forward-looking, and commercially minded, with strong strategic vision
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a driven, high-energy personality
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and people management skills, incl. the gravitas and credibility to earn buy-in across the executive team, staff, and PE investors
• Pragmatic and grounded, pairing rigour with hands-on delivery, value-based integrity, and a constructive approach to change
• Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain talent, building an outstanding team
• Willingness to relocate to the company’s HQ in a major city in Bavaria and/or spend at least 3 days / week on site
• Fluent German and English language skills