Head of Finance Planning & Analysis, Central Northern Europe (f/m/d)

Req ID:521714 

At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, more than 80 000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars.

Reporting to Central Northern Europe Business Performance director, the CNE Head of FP&A will be in charge of: 

Financial Planning ownership (Budget, Forecast, ROFO)

• Drive the end-to-end annual budget cycle: calendar, governance, templates, target setting, consolidation, and presentations to CNE and Group management.
• Lead monthly ROFO, bi-annual forecasting and processes: align top-down targets with bottom-up inputs, consolidate regional and cluster submissions, and monitor forecast accuracy.
• Conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses; maintain risks & opportunities (R&O) tracking; recommend actions to close gaps.
• Standardize planning methodologies and KPIs across regions/countries/sites; ensure alignment with Group strategy and timelines.
• Partner with business leaders to foster measurable outcomes of region strategy.

Financial analysis and reporting

• Oversee the closing and ensure all financial data are collected, processed, and analysed in a timely manner for monthly, hard- and semester closes.
• Monitor and approve manual system interventions in closing and planning (REM box) with Accounting
• Maintain and enhance the region financial reporting systems; drive automation and standardization of reporting (BR makers, databases).
• Simplify and standardize report content; deliver close packs and insightful analyses of P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow actuals (of your perimeter, in close alignment with other team leads).

Stakeholder collaboration and governance

• Work with region’s Finance community controllers to ensure alignment across Regions/Countries/Sites to Group strategy.
• Establish close working relationships with Group Business Performance, Accounting & Consolidation, Tax and Treasury to align actions and adherence to central processes and rules.
• Manage the region and central audit process of manual system interventions (REM box) with external auditors
• Contribute to the region’s transformation initiatives from an FP&A perspective
• Communicate clearly and credibly with senior finance leaders; prepare and present materials for leadership reviews (MBR/CBR).

Change, systems, and process improvement

• Improve and streamline FP&A processes and planning; lead change and innovation initiatives.
• Enhance planning/reporting tools and data governance in partnership with Finance Systems/IT (e.g., QlikView, Teranga, Polaris/GSI BW, Microsoft Power Apps).
• Implement best practices in master data, drivers, and KPI frameworks; strengthen controls and compliance (e.g.  cleansing of reporting entities like contract codes, managing units)

Team leadership and people development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 7 FTE FP&A analysts (out of which five local employees and two GFC members); set goals, provide ongoing feedback, conduct performance reviews, and build career development plans.
• Establish high standards for analytical quality, timeliness, and stakeholder service.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement, curiosity, and collaboration; promote cross-training and diverse approaches.
• Manage resourcing, prioritization, and capacity to meet peak cycles (closing, budget, forecast); recruit and onboard new team members as needed.

What you’ll bring

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics
• Proven track record in FP&A, controlling, or finance leadership.
• Experience in management
• Demonstrated ownership of Budget, Forecast, and ROFO processes; confident in planning governance and calendar management.
• Strong FP&A, analytical and management reporting skills; expert at synthesizing complex information into clear insights and actions.
• Solid accounting knowledge, including IFRS.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with speed and accuracy; resilient under pressure and comfortable with exposure to senior finance leaders (N+1, N+2).
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to listen, influence, align stakeholders, and resolve conflicts constructively.
• Systems-savvy with strong Excel skills and experience with financial planning/reporting tools.
• Strong problem-solver with a can-do attitude; autonomous yet highly collaborative; high integrity, courage, and curiosity.
• Comfortable working in an international, multi-stakeholder environment; strong business acumen and KPI knowledge.
• English as a must, German and French as a plus

Nice to have

• Prior project controlling experience (i.e. percentage of completion method).
• External or internal audit experience.
• Experience with automation/BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and planning platforms.

Why join CNE Business Performance team

• Lead and develop a high-performing FP&A team with global exposure.
• Own and shape core planning processes (Budget, Forecast, ROFO) and reporting standards.
• Drive meaningful impact through process excellence, analytics, and stakeholder partnership.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment, challenging the status-quo in a transformative environment
• Exposure to CNE and Group management
• A culture that values teamwork, honesty, integrity, resilience, and innovation.

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you!

Important to note

As a global business, we’re an equal-opportunity employer that celebrates diversity across the 63  countries we operate in. We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace for everyone.