Advisor Finance Reporting & Accounting - Future Team Lead

Kardex is a global partner for automated storage and material flow solutions. With more than 3,000 employees worldwide, we combine Swiss engineering quality, innovation, and industry expertise to help organizations improve the way they store, manage, and move materials.

As part of our continued growth, we are establishing Kardex Business Services in Lisbon to provide scalable, high-quality services across our international organization.

This is an opportunity for an experienced Finance professional to join Kardex Business Services at an early stage and help establish our Finance Reporting & Accounting capability in Lisbon.

You will initially operate as a senior, hands-on Finance specialist, taking ownership of selected accounting activities as they transition from existing Kardex entities into the Lisbon Business Services organization.

During the first months, you will combine three important responsibilities: performing accounting activities, documenting the processes and controls for future team members, and helping to recruit and onboard additional junior colleagues.

As the Finance Reporting & Accounting scope in Lisbon expands, the position is expected to progress into responsibility for leading a team of approximately three to five people. The role is therefore particularly suited to someone who already works independently, has gained coordination, mentoring, or deputy experience, and is ready to take the next step towards formal people leadership.

Establish and transition Finance operations

• Take ownership of selected accounting activities as they transition into Kardex Business Services.
• Personally perform transactional accounting and Record-to-Report activities during the initial setup and stabilization phase.
• Work closely with colleagues in Switzerland and across other European entities to ensure effective knowledge transfer and business continuity.
• Translate transferred knowledge into clear process documentation, working instructions, and control procedures.
• Support the structured handover from the current role holder, including onboarding and knowledge transfer in Zürich.
• Ensure that accounting activities are completed accurately, on time, and in accordance with Kardex Group policies and applicable accounting requirements.

The initial scope may include:

• General Ledger accounting
• Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
• Intercompany accounting and reconciliations
• Bank and balance-sheet reconciliations
• Employee expense accounting
• Month-end and year-end closing activities
• Selected Record-to-Report processes

Improve and standardize ways of working

• Review existing accounting practices and identify opportunities to simplify, harmonize, and improve processes.
• Help establish consistent Group processes while respecting relevant country-specific accounting requirements.
• Identify opportunities for automation, digitalization, and stronger process controls.
• Contribute to the continued development of Finance processes within SAP S/4HANA (SAP Fiori).
• Work with Group Finance, local Finance teams, and process owners in an international matrix organization.
• Support the development of operational KPIs and service levels for the growing Finance Reporting & Accounting function.

Help build and develop the team

• Help define the capabilities required within the future Lisbon team.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of additional junior Finance colleagues.
• Support their onboarding and provide training on accounting processes, SAP S/4HANA, controls, and working instructions.
• Gradually transfer activities to new team members while maintaining the appropriate level of quality and oversight.
• Progressively assume responsibility for organizing priorities, coordinating work, and supporting service delivery.
• Grow into formal responsibility for leading and developing a team of approximately three to five Finance professionals.

• At least five years of relevant professional experience in Finance and Accounting.
• Strong practical accounting expertise, including transactional accounting, reconciliations, and closing activities, together with an understanding of their impact on financial reporting.
• Profound practical experience working with SAP S/4HANA Finance (SAP Fiori).
• The ability to understand end-to-end Finance processes and identify opportunities for standardization, automation, and improvement.
• Experience with international accounting frameworks, and accounting requirements across different European countries.
• Experience working within an international, multi-entity, or matrix organization.
• The ability to work independently and take end-to-end responsibility for assigned processes.
• Professional proficiency in English and Portuguese.
• Professional German-language skills are highly desirable, as the role involves close collaboration and knowledge transfer with colleagues in Switzerland.
• Experience within Shared Services, Global Business Services, Finance transformation, or process migration would be valuable.
• Previous formal people-management experience is welcome but not essential. We are equally interested in candidates who have taken on deputy, coordination, training, or mentoring responsibilities and can demonstrate their readiness to progress into people leadership.

How you work

• Remain operationally hands-on while taking a broader view of processes and their impact.
• Balance accounting delivery, process documentation, and team-building activities.
• Take responsibility from knowledge transfer through stabilization and continuous improvement.
• Work accurately and independently in a growing and evolving environment.
• Build constructive relationships across countries, entities, and reporting lines.
• Question unnecessary complexity while respecting regulatory and business requirements.
• Communicate openly, honestly, and respectfully.
• Contribute to a collaborative, service-oriented working environment.

Working arrangements

• The position is based at the Kardex Business Services office near Parque das Nações and Oriente in Lisbon.
• The position will initially report to the Head of Group Finance & Controlling, based in Switzerland. As Kardex Business Services develops, the reporting line is expected to move to the Head of KBS in Lisbon.

What Kardex offers

• The opportunity to help establish a new Finance capability in Lisbon.
• A development path towards leading a team as the function grows.
• International exposure and direct collaboration with Group and local Finance teams.
• The opportunity to influence processes rather than simply inherit established ways of working.
• Structured onboarding and international knowledge transfer.
• Learning and development opportunities through the Kardex Academy.
• Access to the Lyra Employee Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation and locally applicable benefits.
• A stable international environment built on trust, collaboration, and innovation.

Please submit your CV and application in English, as English will be the primary language used throughout the international selection process.

If this opportunity reflects both the experience you have built and the leadership step you are ready to take, we look forward to learning what you could bring to Kardex.