Controller – Zalando Payments (One-Year Contract)

About the role

As a Controller in Zalando Payments you will play a central role in financial steering, handling consolidation, reporting and short‑term forecasting while also controlling overhead costs. You will work closely with finance colleagues, cost‑center owners and senior stakeholders across Zalando Payments and the wider Zalando Group.

Key responsibilities

• Own consolidation and reporting of Zalando Payments’ financial performance, ensuring a complete and accurate view.
• Drive the short‑term rolling forecast process end‑to‑end, coordinating inputs from P&L owners.
• Analyse performance variances, provide insightful commentary to management and group finance.
• Take full ownership of overhead controlling – month‑end closing, accruals, variance analysis, forecasting and budgeting.
• Partner with cost‑center owners to increase transparency, challenge assumptions and support budget management.
• Investigate and reconcile data across multiple systems, identifying and resolving inconsistencies.
• Develop and maintain robust financial controls and reconciliation mechanisms.
• Continuously improve controlling and reporting processes, seeking automation and standardisation.

Required profile

• Solid experience in Controlling, FP&A or a comparable finance role within a fast‑paced, data‑driven organisation.
• Strong analytical and investigative mindset with the ability to dig into numbers and understand root causes.
• Deep knowledge of month‑end closing, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis and management reporting.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to communicate financial stories clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Confident stakeholder management skills, comfortable working with cost‑center owners and senior finance leaders.
• Fluent in English; German is a plus.

Required skills

• SAP
• Financial reporting or BI tools

What we offer

• 27 days holiday (increasing with tenure)
• Discounts on fashion, beauty and partner products
• Family support services and counselling
• Company pension scheme and employee share programme
• Health and wellbeing options, including mental health support
• Development opportunities via training platform and peer reviews
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Relocation assistance (subject to agreement)