Electrical & Corporate Sector Controller EMEA

The opportunity:

Eaton is transforming Controllership across EMEA. The function has moved from an individual plant and geographic structure into a sector-aligned structure, with selected accounting processes transitioned into shared service delivery centers. The next phase will build a more commercial, insight-led organisation and embed continuous improvement across processes, standards and service delivery.

As the senior accounting and controls authority for the Electrical and Corporate Sectors in EMEA, the Controller will lead approximately 100 people across 10-15 locations, ensure accurate reporting and compliance, and partner with sector leadership across a global matrix. The role is deputy to the VP Controller EMEA and offers meaningful succession potential.

What you’ll do:

Lead accounting, controls and compliance

• Hold day-to-day accountability for US GAAP accounting across the Electrical and Corporate Sectors, with oversight of Payroll and Statutory Accounting for locations where these are not managed by the respective Center of Excellence.
• Ensure accurate, timely reporting and compliance with US GAAP, SOX, local GAAP, statutory, tax and regulatory requirements.
• Lead internal and external audits, control reviews, balance sheet governance and reconciliation standards, maintaining the highest ethical standards.

Transform Controllership and service delivery

• Continue the transition to a centralised, sector-aligned organisation with clear accountability, consistent standards and effective business support.
• Partner across Controllership to optimise the operating model and continuously improve accounting processes through automation, simplification and standardisation.

Build commercial partnership and insight

• Partner with sector leadership and business finance teams to translate accounting and controls into business insight, constructive challenge and decision support.
• Support strategic initiatives including tax planning, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and system implementations.

Lead a distributed, matrixed organisation

• Lead and develop approximately 100 Controllership professionals, building capability, accountability and consistent ways of working.
• Operate effectively across a global matrix, partnering closely with the VP Controller EMEA and strengthening the broader EMEA Controllership leadership team.

Success will be reflected in accurate reporting, strong controls, actionable business insights, more efficient processes and an organisation equipped to support operational performance and strategic change.

What you'll bring:

• Deep expertise in accounting, financial reporting and controls, including US GAAP, SOX and multinational statutory requirements.
• Significant finance leadership experience in a multinational manufacturing organisation, with a demonstrated track record of leading and developing a large, geographically dispersed team.
• Experience operating in a global matrix and influencing senior business, finance and functional leaders.
• A record of leading Controllership, shared-services or accounting transformation, including standardisation, simplification, automation and continuous improvement.
• Strong commercial judgement and communication skills, with the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insight.
• High ethical standards and a demonstrated commitment to developing people and organisational capability.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant finance, accounting and Controllership experience.
• Excellent command of English; additional European languages are advantageous.

How you'll lead:

Eaton’s Culture Model calls on leaders to Win Together, Think Big and Act Boldly. In this role, that means:

Win Together - Build trust across sector leadership, finance, GFA, shared services and external partners. Align teams around clear accountability, common standards and high-quality service.

Think Big - Shape Controllership into a commercially relevant, insight-led function supported by scalable processes, controls and service delivery.

Act Boldly - Challenge weak controls, inconsistency and unnecessary complexity. Surface issues early and lead practical change across processes, standards and capability.

Across all three, you will combine accounting credibility with enterprise leadership, sound judgement and a continuous-improvement mindset.