Plant Controller & Manufacturing Business Partner (ODM Cost)

Location: La Ciotat, France

About the Role

At Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe, we are looking for a commercially minded finance professional to join our Manufacturing Controlling team. This is a unique opportunity to combine hands-on plant controlling responsibilities with a broader European business partnering role focused on Other Direct Material (ODM) costs.

In this position, you will work closely with plant leadership, manufacturing, engineering, and procurement teams to drive financial performance, identify improvement opportunities, and support strategic decision-making. You will play a key role in budgeting, forecasting, performance analysis, cost optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives across our manufacturing operations.

If you enjoy turning data into insights, influencing business decisions, and working in a dynamic production environment, we would love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

Business Partnering & Performance Management

• Act as a trusted finance business partner to plant management and manufacturing leaders.
• Support the development of long-term manufacturing performance plans and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Analyze key operational drivers including efficiency, material usage, staffing levels, changeover performance, and investment requirements.
• Identify performance gaps, risks, and opportunities and help drive corrective actions.
• Provide financial insights to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, procurement, and plant teams to improve business performance.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Coordinate annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning activities.
• Support the development of manufacturing cost assumptions and investment plans.
• Lead financial analysis of cost-saving initiatives and productivity projects.
• Provide regular performance reporting and financial forecasts to management.

Financial Control & Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely month-end and year-end manufacturing financial reporting.
• Analyze variances against budget, forecast, prior year, and targets.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, controls, and financial procedures.
• Support fixed asset, inventory, spare parts, and raw material accounting processes.
• Review and approve purchase requisitions and invoices in line with delegated authorities.

Manufacturing Controlling Excellence

• Develop and utilize benchmarking tools to monitor ODM costs and performance.
• Drive standardization, harmonization, and continuous improvement across manufacturing controlling processes.
• Deliver meaningful reporting and variance analysis to support operational performance reviews.
• Support manufacturing management with cross-plant comparisons and cost optimization initiatives.
• Participate in business reviews and improvement projects aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
• Act as a subject matter expert in manufacturing controlling and support continuous improvement of reporting and analytical tools.

What We're Looking For

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of experience in Controlling, Financial Analysis, or Accounting.
• Experience within a manufacturing or production environment is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to partner with operational stakeholders and translate financial information into actionable business insights.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Proactive, results-oriented mindset with a continuous improvement approach.
• Strong business partnering and relationship-building capabilities.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Team player with a collaborative and hands-on attitude.
• Professional working proficiency in English; additional European languages are an advantage.

Technical Skills

• Experience with SAP or a similar ERP system.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities.
• Experience with planning, reporting, or business intelligence tools is an advantage.

Why Join Ardagh?

• Opportunity to work in a highly visible role with direct business impact.
• Exposure to both site-level and European manufacturing finance activities.
• Collaborative international environment with opportunities for professional growth.
• Be part of a company committed to operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today and help shape the future of manufacturing performance at Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe.

About Ardagh Metal Packaging

Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) is a leading supplier of sustainable, infinitely recyclable metal beverage cans to brand owners globally. An operating business of sustainable packaging business Ardagh Group, AMP is a leading industry player across Europe and the Americas, with innovative production capabilities, 23 production facilities, more than 6,000 employees and recorded revenues of $4.8 billion in 2023.

AMP is 76%-owned by Ardagh Group and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker AMBP.

About Ardagh Group

Ardagh Group is a global supplier of infinitely recyclable metal and glass packaging solutions, producing packaging for brand owners around the world. We have grown to a team of approximately 20,000 people with revenues of more than $9 billion. Today we have a presence across the Americas, Europe and Africa.

· Ardagh produces many of the beverage cans and bottles that contain your favourite beverages.

· Our packaging is manufactured from metal and glass - permanent materials that can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality.

· Ardagh produces more than 60 billion containers per year (more than 160 million containers per day).

The future we’re creating for Ardagh is built around our four Core Values of Inclusion, Trust, Teamwork and Excellence. We offer exciting and rewarding opportunities for talented and creative people. If you have ambition and want to make an impact with your career, come and join our team - you’ll enjoy the journey!