Finance Cost Controller

Role overview

The Finance Cost Controller is a core role within Performance & Finance Intelligence, responsible for end-to-end oversight of the cost base across the insurance entities. The role combines cost controlling, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and business partnering.

The successful candidate is expected to bring proven hands-on experience and to assume ownership of the operating expense (OPEX) cycle quickly. This includes monthly actuals, variance analysis, budget and forecast coordination, cost commitments, allocations, management commentary and direct challenge of budget owners.

The role moves beyond reporting numbers. It explains why costs are moving, identifies risks and efficiencies, recommends actions and follows those actions through with Heads of Department and senior Finance management.

Key responsibilities

• 1. Cost controlling and monthly performance
• Own monthly OPEX analysis by entity, department, project, supplier and cost category.
• Reconcile management cost reporting to the general ledger and resolve or clearly explain differences.
• Analyse actual expenditure against budget, forecast and prior year, identifying underlying drivers and financial implications.
• Distinguish structural cost movements, timing differences, one-offs, accrual effects, committed spend and emerging run-rate risks.
• Identify overspends, savings and forecast risks early and propose corrective actions.
• Prepare concise monthly commentary focused on cause, outlook, management action and expected impact.
• Maintain consistent cost-centre and cost-category reporting across the relevant entities.
• 2. Budgeting, forecasting and MTP
• Lead the annual OPEX budget process with department heads and budget owners.
• Challenge submissions, assumptions, supplier costs, headcount, projects, inflation and planned initiatives.
• Maintain controlled budget and forecast models and ensure detailed inputs reconcile to approved totals.
• Prepare periodic reforecasts using actual spend, commitments, contracts, headcount and business developments.
• Develop run-rate, sensitivity and scenario analysis for cost growth, savings measures and organisational changes.
• Maintain visibility over committed versus uncommitted spend and the full-year cost outlook.
• Support MTP and strategic planning with robust, documented cost assumptions.
• 3. Business partnering and management challenge
• Act as the principal P&FI contact for Heads of Department on cost performance and budget matters.
• Lead regular cost reviews and explain actuals, forecast, commitments, risks and opportunities clearly to non-Finance stakeholders.
• Challenge expenditure, timing, assumptions and forecast estimates constructively using data and evidence.
• Question the business need, affordability and expected value of proposed spending.
• Agree corrective actions with budget owners and monitor progress through to delivery.
• Track savings, efficiency and cost-avoidance initiatives, including owners, milestones and realised impact.
• Escalate material cost risks or weak corrective actions to P&FI leadership and the CFO.
• 4. Cost allocation, recharge and methodology
• Maintain a clear view of direct, shared and allocated costs.
• Own or coordinate review of cost-allocation and recharge methodologies for consistency, transparency and supportability.
• Validate allocation drivers and investigate material movements.
• Support entity, department, project, product and business-line cost analyses where required.
• Document methodologies, assumptions, sources and approvals.
• Work with Accounting and relevant stakeholders to resolve allocation and recharge issues.
• 5. Reporting, insight and analytics
• Prepare monthly OPEX dashboards, management commentary and recommendations for P&FI leadership, the CFO and management committees.
• Develop and maintain KPIs such as actual versus budget, actual versus forecast, run rate, committed spend, cost per policy, expense ratios, headcount and non-headcount costs and savings delivery.
• Identify trends and structural movements requiring management attention.
• Support business cases and management decisions with robust cost assumptions and scenarios.
• Contribute to the continued use and development of the P&FI OPEX analytical environment, including Power BI and Python-based analytics.
• Ensure reporting is reconciled, traceable, repeatable and decision-useful.
• 6. Process improvement and automation
• Identify manual or repetitive steps in cost collection, allocation, forecasting and reporting.
• Work with P&FI, Finance Transformation, IT and data specialists to simplify and automate recurring activities.
• Support the move from fragmented spreadsheets toward controlled dashboards, reusable models and common data definitions.
• Document OPEX processes, methodologies, controls and reporting standards.
• Promote one reliable source of cost data and reduce manual reconciliation effort.
• 7. Controls and governance
• Validate key accruals, prepayments, commitments, allocations and recharges in coordination with Accounting.
• Monitor compliance with spending policies, approval limits and delegated authority from a cost-controlling perspective.
• Maintain audit-ready support for budgets, forecasts, allocations, assumptions and material variances.
• Escalate unexplained differences, forecast risks and control concerns promptly.
• Work with Financial Controls on governance gaps while retaining management cost analysis within P&FI.

Key deliverables

Monthly performance

• Monthly OPEX dashboard and decision-oriented commentary.
• General-ledger reconciliation and material-variance analysis.
• Run-rate, commitments and full-year outlook.
• Cost risks, opportunities and corrective-action tracker.

Planning

• Controlled OPEX budget, forecast and MTP models.
• Documented assumptions and reconciled budget-owner submissions.
• Scenario analysis for headcount, suppliers, projects, savings and organisational changes.

Business partnering

• Regular review rhythm with priority Heads of Department.
• Constructive challenge supported by clear evidence and recommendations.
• Savings and efficiency register with tracked delivery.

Methodology and analytics

• Documented allocation and recharge methodologies.
• Consistent cost definitions and reporting structure.
• Continued enhancement of Power BI/Python-enabled OPEX analysis.
• At least one material reporting or collection process simplified or automated.

Success in the role will be measured through the quality and timeliness of OPEX analysis, forecast accuracy, strength of business partnering and challenge, transparency of cost methodologies, identification of risks and efficiencies, and the ability to translate financial analysis into management action.

Why this role

This is a genuine cost-controlling and business-partnering role with ownership of an important profitability driver. The successful candidate will work directly with business leaders, influence budget and spending decisions and provide the CFO and management with clear insight into risks, opportunities and actions.

The role also offers the opportunity to work in a modern P&FI environment using Power BI and Python-enabled OPEX analytics, and to contribute to the continued evolution of automated, data-driven Finance reporting.

The position provides a strong platform for future development into broader FP&A, Finance Business Partnering or Performance Management leadership roles.

Requirements

• Advanced Excel and strong financial modelling skills
• Strong Power BI skills (data modelling, DAX, dashboard design)
• Python knowledge (pandas, basic modelling, automation) is a strong advantage
• Working understanding of insurance accounting concepts (CSM, risk adjustment, LRC/LIC, PAA vs GMM) is a strong plus, or willingness to build this quickly
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data beyond surface numbers

Education and Experience

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Economics, or a related quantitative field
• 2–5 years' experience in FP&A, cost / financial controlling, or technical insurance accounting
• Exposure to IFRS 17 (or IFRS 4 / technical insurance accounting more broadly) is a strong advantage
• Experience with opex or cost management is a strong plus
• Experience preparing management, Finance Committee or Board-level reporting is beneficial

About Us

Stellantis Insurance, a distinguished subsidiary of Stellantis Financial Services, stands as a crucial pillar within the multinational automotive manufacturing corporation, Stellantis NV. Formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Peugeot SA (PSA), Stellantis brings together 14 iconic brands, deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Italian, American, French, and German automotive craftsmanship.At Stellantis Insurance, we excel in delivering tailored insurance solutions crafted to provide peace of mind in unexpected situations and ensure success on every road travelled. Whether it's coverage for Loan, Leasing, Breakdown, Car, or Mobility Insurance - we’ve got it all covered!