Opex Business Controlling Manager

Essilor Luxottica Group; City of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global eyewear company in the UK seeks an Opex Business Controlling Manager to oversee financial planning and reporting. This pivotal role involves managing budgets, ensuring timely reporting, and providing strategic recommendations to senior leadership. Candidates should be qualified accountants with 5–10 years of relevant experience and excellent financial analysis skills. Join us and contribute to a diverse and inclusive team.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years experience in cost control, financial reporting, planning & analysis.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks to meet deadlines.
• Experience in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead OPEX Budget / Forecast process and submission.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Present financial insights to senior management.

Skills

Cost control

Financial reporting

Planning & analysis

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Influencing skills

SAP proficiency

Advanced Excel skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)

Tools

SAP accounting system

Excel

Job description

If you’ve worn a pair of glasses, we’ve already met.

We are a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. We offer our industry stakeholders in over 150 countries access to a global platform of high-quality vision care products (such as the Essilor brand, with Varilux, Crizal, Eyezen, Stellest and Transitions), iconic brands that consumers love (such as Ray‑Ban, Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Vogue Eyewear and Costa), as well as a network that offers consumers high-quality vision care and best-in‑class shopping experiences (such as Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Salmoiraghi & Viganò and the GrandVision network), and leading e‑commerce platforms.

Join our global community of over 190,000 dedicated employees around the world in driving the transformation of the eyewear and eye‑care industry.

Your #FutureInSight with EssilorLuxottica

Are you willing to pioneer new frontiers, foster inclusivity and collaboration, embrace agility, ignite passion, and make a positive impact on the world? Join us in redefining the boundaries of what’s possible.

You’ll be joining the EssilorLuxottica Group as Opex Business Controlling Manager within the UKI Wholesale Controlling team. This is a key role in the Finance team developing and maintaining financial planning, management reporting and analysis. The role is critical in delivering accurate, timely and concise information to Senior Leadership to facilitate sound decision making.

Responsibilities

• Lead OPEX Budget / Forecast process and submission, planning the robust reviews with key stakeholders to ensure assumptions are consistent and cost estimates accurate and justified.
• Understand and manage risks & opportunities to the Budget / Forecast.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Review monthly spend by category vs PY & Budget/latest forecast, and challenge deviations to understand the impact of the main cost drivers.
• Implement best practices in expense tracking, reporting, and analysis to enhance financial control.
• Seek cost reductions and opportunities of cost optimization when possible. Challenge unjustified spends, contracts, supplier selections, etc.
• Present financial insights and recommendations to senior management, supporting strategic decision‑making.
• Ensure adherence to internal financial controls, procedures and deadlines.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams on projects and initiatives as required.
• Develop and manage direct reports to achieve their objectives.

Qualifications

• A qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• 5–10 years experience in cost control, financial reporting, planning & analysis.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence and work effectively with senior management and cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks across a variety of functions to meet deadlines.
• Able to operate independently with high levels of personal accountability with experience of operating in a fast‑paced and evolving environment.
• Proficiency in SAP accounting system and advanced Excel skills.

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and provide equal opportunities to all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes us unique.