Head of Operational Controlling (m/f/d) Performance & Project Controlling

29 countries. Around 49,000 colleagues. 70,000 pharmacies supplied and millions of patients: Join PHOENIX! Support us in supplying the people of Europe with medicines and healthcare products quickly and reliably - and experience a job that is as diverse as it is important. Where you can proactively master challenges, implement ideas and drive change. Look forward to pure variety at a successful, future-proof family company, the market-leading pharmaceutical wholesaler in Germany and at the same time the best integrated healthcare provider in Europe.

We are looking for an experienced and business-oriented Head of Operational Controlling to lead performance and project controlling activities across our group functions. In this role, you will drive transparency on operational and financial performance, support strategic initiatives, and ensure effective steering of key projects and business priorities across the organization.

Your Tasks

Performance Controlling & Business Steering

• Lead operational performance controlling across competence centers, business units, and local functions.
• Monitor and analyze key operational KPIs including sales, margins, productivity, costs, service levels, and operational efficiency.
• Provide actionable insights, variance analyses, and recommendations to support management decision-making.
• Drive monthly performance reviews, forecasting processes, and management reporting activities.
• Ensure transparency on business performance and proactively identify risks, opportunities, and improvement potential.
• Develop and continuously improve KPI frameworks, dashboards, and reporting standards across the organization.

Project Controlling & Strategic Initiatives

• Lead project controlling activities for group as well as strategic initiatives.
• Track synergies, savings initiatives, and operational improvement measures.
• Ensure proper financial steering and governance of transformation and improvement programs.
• Collaborate closely with project managers and functional leaders to ensure transparency and accountability.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and further develop the Operational Controlling function and team.
• Act as a key business partner to senior leadership and local organizations across Europe.
• Foster a performance-driven and collaborative culture within the controlling organization.
• Ensure alignment between operational, financial, and strategic objectives.
• Coordinate closely with Finance, IT, Data & Analytics, and operational functions to improve data quality, reporting automation, and analytical capabilities.
• Promote best practices in controlling, reporting, and performance management across the organization.

Your Profile

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Finance, Controlling, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in financial or operational controlling, performance management, finance business partnering, or related leadership roles.
• Proven experience in project controlling and steering complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities with the ability to translate complex data into business insights and actions.
• Experience in international and matrix organizations; healthcare, pharmaceutical wholesale is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of controlling processes, budgeting, forecasting, and KPI management.
• Advanced skills in Excel and Power BI (or comparable BI/reporting tools); SAP and data analytics experience are advantageous.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience working with senior executives.
• Strong leadership capabilities with a proactive, hands-on, and solution-oriented mindset.
• Fluent in English; German or other European languages are an advantage.