Country Controller

About the role

Destinus, a Swiss defence technology company developing UAVs, is looking for a Country Controller in Zurich. The role is the senior finance owner for one jurisdiction, responsible for local accounting integrity, timely and compliant close, statutory reporting, manufacturing cost and inventory accounting, and local forecasts. It combines technical accounting authority with hands-on partnership with local operations.

Key responsibilities

• Own the monthly, quarterly and annual close, IFRS reporting to group and statutory statements under local GAAP, and manage intercompany transactions and currency effects
• Coordinate with Tax, Treasury and external advisors on statutory, VAT and tax filings, and act as escalation point for close issues
• Own operations cost accounting and inventory accounting, maintain the product costing framework (BOMs, routings, rates) and run the variance process
• Run a systematic reconciliation and substantiation program, ensure consistent use of the group chart of accounts and provide balance sheet inputs to forecasting
• Oversee local AP and AR, support DSO/DPO discipline, credit control and dispute resolution, and remediate control gaps
• Lead local forecasting and budgeting, own operational KPIs and deliver management reporting to local leadership
• Act as finance partner to the local Managing Director, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering and Program Management
• Act as local counterpart to external auditors, support lender and investor diligence, and implement group internal controls and SOPs locally
• Partner with IT and Operations on ERP (Microsoft Dynamics) and MES data integrity, and lead, develop and mentor local finance staff

Required profile

• 10+ years of progressive accounting or controlling experience, including multi-entity, multi-currency IFRS/local GAAP reporting
• Hands-on cost accounting and inventory experience in a manufacturing environment, including variance analysis and absorption
• Experience with statutory reporting and external audit in the relevant jurisdiction
• Experience leading or mentoring finance teams
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or Engineering; CPA, ACCA, CIMA or CMA is a plus
• Fluency in English and in the local language

Required skills

• Strong IFRS knowledge, including IAS 2
• ERP experience (Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle or equivalent); exposure to implementation or system redesign is a plus
• Ability to explain financial results to non-finance stakeholders