Senior Specialist, Commercial Finance & Finance Controlling
South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.
Our Corporate Functions team is the “enablement engine” of South Pole. Behind the scenes, we provide the business with world-class solutions and best practices that sustain business growth and success. We cover key areas such as Finance, HR, Office Management, Legal, IT, Operations, etc. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you!
Job summary:
The Senior Specialist, Commercial Finance and Project Controlling supports the financial planning and profitability monitoring of projects and commercial initiatives. The role focuses on project economics, cost and margin analysis, development of standardized business models and financial reporting. The position requires strong analytical thinking, accurate data management and the ability to translate financial outcomes into clear recommendations for business and project teams.
Main tasks & responsibilities:
Project Controlling and Financial MonitoringAnalyse project profitability and cost structures, identifying financial drivers, risks and
improvement opportunities.
Monitor project performance using standardized tools, ensuring reliability and consistency of input data and assumptions.
Prepare variance analysis and performance reports to support monthly reviews and forecasting cycles.
Assess financial impacts of changes in project scope, timelines or pricing, providing scenario analysis for decision-making.
Business Modelling and Commercial Support:
Develop structured business models to support pricing discussions, client proposals and internal investment decisions.
Collaborate with commercial and delivery teams to review commercial terms and evaluate their financial implications.
Contribute to the monitoring of the sales and issuance pipeline and support revenue forecast updates.
Data Quality, Reporting Tools and Process Improvement:
Build and maintain templates, dashboards and analytical tools to streamline reporting and enhance data accuracy.
Coordinate with regional finance teams to harmonize data collection standards and reporting
methodologies.
Identify inefficiencies or inconsistencies in financial processes and propose practical
improvements supported by clear reasoning.
Forge strong partnerships:
Cultivate strong relationships with key stakeholders across global business units to ensure
alignment on financial objectives and strategies.
Act as a strategic advisor to business leaders, providing financial insights and recommendations
that drive operational efficiencies and mitigate financial risks.
Requirements:
- Fluent in English, written and spoken.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
- 2 to 4 years of experience in Finance, Project Controlling, FP&A, Audit or Business Analysis.
- Strong proficiency in Excel, including advanced formulas and structured financial modelling.
- High familiarity with Google Workspace tools (Sheets, Slides and Drive).
- Ability to work with complex datasets and communicate findings clearly and concisely.
- Analytical and structured approach, high attention to detail, ability to challenge assumptions constructively.
- Strong understanding of financial principles
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
What we offer:
At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer; we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation.
We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make and South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
- Department
- Corporate Services
- Locations
- Florence
Florence
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Work-life balance
From flexible working hours to flexible workplace (home office), with above-average vacation allowances, we strive to make the work and family life puzzle an easy one for our employees.
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Flexible Vacation Benefits
Options to buy up to 5 extra days of time off.
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Life Insurance
Available to all employees across the world.
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Care for your Wellbeing
Access to mental, physical and financial wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program (TELUS Health).
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Parental leave
Should any of our employees need to take time off the Iceberg as a result of a new addition to their household, we are happy to be able to offer competitive Paid Parental leave to support them during this time.
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Compassionate Leave
Sometimes life is unpredictable, and when unfortunate events occur, we want to give you peace of mind so you feel fully supported during this time.
What makes us unique
At South Pole, we are first and foremost a purpose-driven Company. People join us because they believe in our mission and want to be part of a community that fights together for our shared values and beliefs. But that is not the only reason why working at South Pole is such a rewarding experience.
- We know that our vision to help create a greener world is both bold and challenging. To achieve it, we settle for nothing less than the absolute best. We form a Community that is stronger than the sum of its parts.
- Entrepreneurial at heart. It’s not just our founders who are entrepreneurs. We actively promote an innovative mindset at all levels of the organisation, where each and every employee is encouraged to challenge the status quo and empowered to make decisions.
- Growing employees in a growing company. With a team of smart, passionate and engaged colleagues, as well as increasing demand from our clients, opportunities to learn, develop our skills and grow our careers are endless.
- All for one, and one for all! Above all other things, what truly drives our dedication and commitment to our purpose is our colleagues. We learn from each other and grow together. Because that is who Penguins are.
About South Pole
Our story began in Zurich, with 5 friends* in 2002. They had a belief and a vision to shape and change the future of the world through climate empowerment, education and projects with their non-profit organisation; MyClimate. These ‘social entrepreneurs’ went on to pioneer climate change with the introduction of South Pole in 2006*. More than 20 years on, with the support of some of the most passionate and talented entrepreneurs around them, who are empowered to all play their part and with their founding belief in aligning purpose with passion, people and profit, they have created South Pole, an organisation that has gone onto positively impact the lives of over 20 million people across the world through its projects, saving over 20,000 km2 of forests from deforestation.
*Patrick Bürgi, Thomas Camerata, Renat Heuberger, Ingo Puhl, and Christoph Sutter
*2006 Joined by Marco Hirsbrunner and Christoph Grobel
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