Experienced Finance Operations Specialist

Our Finance division is seeking an experienced and proactive Operations Specialist to strengthen our Controlling Operations team and support the continued development of our operating model in close partnership with the Controlling Business Partner team.
We are looking for a self-driven professional who combines a strong Finance and Controlling background with a hands-on operational mindset and an affinity for data, technology, automation and AI. The ideal candidate takes ownership, is comfortable executing recurring operational activities, and contributes to improving the efficiency and scalability of our Finance Operations environment.
Importantly, this is a hands-on operational role: the successful candidate will actively execute existing operational and month-end processes, including recurring and repetitive activities, while over time contributing to their simplification, automation and transition towards more data- and AI-enabled ways of working to later continue operating in this transitioned set-up.

What would your role be?

• Execute and take ownership of key Controlling Operations and month-end closing activities in close partnership with the Controlling Business Partner team, ensuring accurate, timely and reliable delivery.

• Produce, reconcile, and distribute financial and management information, providing a meaningful basis to support business decision-making.

• Perform and oversee account reconciliations, proactively investigating and resolving discrepancies while maintaining a strong control environment.

• Take ownership across Controlling Operations activities, including recurring operational tasks, providing support to colleagues where needed.

• Act as a key liaison between Finance, Controlling, Operations, IT and other stakeholders to analyze and resolve operational issues

• Contribute to change initiatives driving simplification, standardization and automation of Finance processes, identifying opportunities to leverage data, technology and AI.

• Support the gradual transition from existing operational processes towards more efficient automated, data-driven and scalable solutions, while remaining actively involved in day-to-day operations.

• Contribute to a collaborative, accountable and continuously improving Controlling Operations environment.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in Controlling or Finance Operations, preferably in financial services.   

• University degree or equivalent qualification in Accounting, Finance, Controlling, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Strong SAP ERP expertise and solid understanding of Finance processes, data flows, and month-end closing.

• Knowledge of data warehouses such as Snowflake or Databricks and visualization and analytics tools such as Power BI or Sigma.

• Ability to translate Finance requirements into data, automation, and technology solutions.

• Strong process improvement and automation mindset.

• Strong ownership and hands-on mentality, with the ability to independently execute operational activities and drive topics forward.

• Comfortable performing recurring and repetitive operational tasks while contributing to their continuous improvement and automation.

• Resilient and reliable under time pressure, particularly during month-end closing.

• Strong stakeholder communication skills and excellent written and spoken English.

• Affinity for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a willingness to embrace AI-enabled tools and ways of working. Experience in agent orchestration, including designing and implementing AI agents using frameworks from Snowflake, OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar is a plus. 

What do we offer?

• Top work location with collaboration spaces and free lunch

• Friendly, diverse team in an open-office space

• All the latest technology to help you and your team excel and advance

• Agile environment in how we think, the way we work and our trust for each other

• Flat hierarchy with collaboration at all levels

• Campus feeling and a collaborative spirit

We are looking for talented people, not just a CV that ticks all the boxes. Even if you do not have absolutely everything we have asked for, if this role sounds like a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply.

Location Requirement

This role is based in Zurich but will move to Baar in 2030, ensuring close alignment with key stakeholders in the business.

Why Vontobel?

At Vontobel, you are building better futures for our clients and society, as well as for yourself. As a family-owned and publicly listed company with over 2,000 professionals based in 29 locations globally and headquartered in Zurich, we’re committed to long-term thinking and sustainability.

Our diverse team values unique perspectives, and we hire individuals determined to deliver in a dynamic and changing world. Even if you don’t meet all the criteria, we encourage you to apply if you’re enthusiastic about the role.

Do you want to be Vontobel?

Thank you for applying to Vontobel. We will carefully review your application and will respond to you in a timely manner.

At Vontobel, we are an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity.

We value the many voices within our teams and are committed to creating an environment where everyone who wants to be part of our performance culture can be themselves. It is based on mutual respect and zero tolerance for any form of discrimination.

If you have any questions you can contact us through our contact form.