Head of Finance (f/m/d) Shared Services

Location: Stuttgart, Germany

We Say HI* 

Head of Finance (f/m/d) Shared Services

in Ditzingen #LI-HYBRID

Thales in Germany is part of an internationally leading technology group in the defence and security, aerospace as well as cyber security and digital identity markets.  

Your Impact:

As the Head of Finance Shared Services, you will lead a high-performing team responsible for the full spectrum of finance and tax operations. Reporting directly to the CFO of Thales Germany, you will drive operational excellence, ensure compliance with best-in-class regulatory standards, and align shared services with the organization’s strategic objectives. You will act as a key partner to executive committee members and corporate functions, proactively supporting decision-making and championing continuous improvement.

Your mission:

• Lead Finance Shared Services teams, overseeing daily operations and ensuring robust finance and tax compliance.

• Collaborate closely with executive stakeholders to align finance shared services with strategic business goals.

• Drive effective delivery and continuous improvement initiatives in Finance and Controlling.

• Oversee statutory and management accounting and reporting, ensuring compliance with IFRS, local GAAP, and tax regulations.

• Coordinate internal/external audits and foster transparency, accuracy, and compliance.

• Provide expert support for accounting and tax matters related to M&A and corporate transactions.

• Ensure adherence to public pricing regulations (VO PR 30/53) and statutory statistical reporting to authorities.

• Strengthen governance and risk management frameworks in finance.

• Foster collaboration and stakeholder engagement across functions, domains, and global business units, maintaining regular partnership with Thales entities across Europe.

• Implement strategic workforce planning, talent development, and succession management.

• Champion automation and digital transformation through the integration of business intelligence tools.

Stakeholder Management:

You will serve as the main interface for internal stakeholders—including the German Executive Committee, workers councils, supervisory board, corporate finance, business support services, and internal audit—and foster strong relationships with external authorities, consultants, auditors, tax advisors, authorities, banks, and pension funds.

Innovation & Complexity:

• Navigate complexity in an international matrix organization, balancing legal and management responsibilities while meeting corporate requirements.

• Apply advanced analytical and theoretical expertise to deliver practical, high-impact solutions in dynamic business development and restructuring contexts.

• Operate independently to solve problems, consulting with senior finance leaders for solutions that go beyond established frameworks.

• Continuously improve methodologies, tools, and processes to comply with evolving accounting standards, increase productivity, and optimize management reporting.

• Drive process harmonization and automation, unlocking efficiency potential by collaborating across national and international stakeholders.

Team Leadership:

Provide effective disciplinary and functional leadership to a team of six direct reports and overall management for a team of approximately twenty staff members.

Enable integrated decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, and serve as the principal contact for regulatory authorities, executive management, and the Supervisory Board.

We are looking forward to: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Finance and Controlling.

• Extensive experience with IFRS and local GAAP accounting, audit, taxation, and public pricing regulations.

• Minimum 5 years in a finance leadership role within Finance and Controlling, with a proven record of transformation.

• Professional certifications such as Certified Public Accountant or Tax Advisor are highly desirable.

• Advanced proficiency in MS Office, SAP, and business intelligence tools.

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and analytical abilities; able to synthesize and present insights for strategic planning and executive decision-making.

• Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional, matrix teams; strong problem-solving and entrepreneurial mindset.

• Proven ability to influence and persuade stakeholders.

• Expertise in conflict resolution and strategic conceptual thinking.

• Strong service orientation and emotional intelligence for building positive client and internal relationships.

• Superior communication and collaboration skills across various domains and business units.

• Fluent in both German and English, ensuring effective cross-cultural and international communication.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.  

In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion. 
 
For our more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries we open up visionary perspectives, realise individual career paths and enable creative freedom. This is achieved with courage, versatility and the firm intention to make the demanding challenges of our time safer and more inclusive. With our sustainable value-focused management we support diversity actively. 

Say HI* – Your journey to us 

At times of change our international teams are ready to meet the complexity of today with the industry-leading technologies of tomorrow. Will you be part of it? Your Talent Acquisition contact Maria Gaissert is looking forward to your online application on our Career portal.  

 Maria Gaissert – Talent Acquisition Partnerin #LI-MG1

+49 172 8281399

*Human Intelligence