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Head of Accounting (m/f/d)
lead · Audit & Accounting
Location: Stuttgart, AlemaniaWe say HI*
Thales in Germany is part of an internationally leading technology group in the defence and security, aerospace as well as cyber security and digital identity markets.
Say HI* – to your career as
Head of Accounting (m/f/d) in Ditzingen #LI-HYBRID (Ref. Nr. R0336319)
As the Head of Accounting you will lead a team responsible for the full spectrum of accounting: ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely financial accounting and statutory closing processes. Driving operational excellence and ensuring compliance with best-in-class regulatory standards and reporting directly to the Director Shared Services of Thales Germany.
Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will act as a key business partner and interface to Reporting, Tax, Financial Governance, Controlling, Treasury, and other Finance functions, ensuring alignment across the organization and supporting high-quality financial information for statutory and group purposes.
Your mission as Head of Accounting (m/f/d):
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the Accounting function, covering General Ledger, Sub-ledgers, and Financial Accounting.
Own the quarterly, and annual closing process in accordance with HGB and IFRS, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution.
Ensure the preparation of statutory financial statements in compliance with applicable accounting standards, legal requirements, and corporate policies.
Oversee internal and external financial reporting, ensuring transparency for stakeholders (e.g., executives, auditors, regulators) and act as the key accounting interface to the Reporting team
Implement robust accounting policies and controls to safeguard financial integrity.
Collaborate closely with the Tax function, ensuring accounting implications of tax matters are appropriately reflected in the financial statements while coordinating cross-functional activities.
Continuously improve accounting to enhance efficiency and quality by overseeing daily operations and ensuring robust finance compliance.
Drive effective delivery and continuous improvement initiatives in Finance and Controlling.
Serve as key contact for internal and external auditors, statutory authorities, and internal stakeholders on accounting-related matters by fostering transparency, accuracy, and compliance.
Provide expert support for accounting related to M&A and corporate transactions.
Strengthen governance and risk management frameworks in finance.
Foster collaboration and stakeholder engagement across functions, domains, and global business units, maintaining regular partnership with Thales entities across Europe.
Implement strategic workforce planning, talent development, and succession management.
Champion automation and digital transformation through the integration of business intelligence tools.
Stakeholder Management:
You will serve as the main interface for internal stakeholders and foster strong relationships with external authorities, consultants, auditors, tax advisors, authorities, banks, and pension funds.
Innovation & Complexity:
Navigate complexity in an international matrix organization, balancing legal and management responsibilities while meeting corporate requirements.
Apply advanced analytical and theoretical expertise to deliver practical, high-impact solutions in dynamic business development and restructuring contexts.
Operate independently to solve problems, consulting with senior finance leaders for solutions that go beyond established frameworks.
Continuously improve methodologies, tools, and processes to comply with evolving accounting standards, increase productivity, and optimize management reporting.
Drive process harmonization and automation, unlocking efficiency potential by collaborating across national and international stakeholders.
Team Leadership:
Provide effective disciplinary and functional leadership to a team of six direct reports.
Enable integrated decision-making, cross-functional collaboration, and serve as the principal contact for regulatory authorities and auditors.
We are looking forward to:
Master’s degree or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
Extensive experience with IFRS and local GAAP accounting, audit and taxation.
Minimum 5 years in a finance leadership role within an international group or Big Four audit firm.
Professional certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or German Certified Tax Advisor (Steuerberater) are considered a strong advantage.
Advanced proficiency in MS Office, SAP, and business intelligence tools.
Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and analytical abilities; able to synthesize and present insights for strategic planning and executive decision-making.
Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional, matrix teams; strong problem-solving and entrepreneurial mindset.
Proven ability to influence and persuade stakeholders.
Expertise in conflict resolution and strategic conceptual thinking.
Strong service orientation and emotional intelligence for building positive client and internal relationships.
Superior communication and collaboration skills across various domains and business units.
Fluent in both German and English, ensuring effective cross-cultural and international communication.
The Group invests more than €4,5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.
In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.
For our more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries we open up visionary perspectives, realise individual career paths and enable creative freedom. This is achieved with courage, versatility and the firm intention to make the demanding challenges of our time safer and more inclusive. With our sustainable value-focused management we support diversity actively.
Say HI* – Your journey to us
At times of change our international teams are ready to meet the complexity of today with the industry-leading technologies of tomorrow. Will you be part of it? Your Talent Acquisition contact Maria Gaissert is looking forward to your online application.
Maria Gaissert – Talent Acquisition Partnerin #LI-MG1
+49 172 8281399
*Human Intelligence