Director, HR & MSF & IT Controlling

RWE Clean Energy, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Finance / Controlling
Remuneration: Exempt

As the Director of HR & Management Support Functions (MSF) & IT Controlling at RWE Clean Energy (RWECE), you hold a critical high-profile leadership position, leading a team of five controllers and being responsible for the financial planning & analysis, budgeting, performance management and business partnering of three key areas: HR, Management Support Functions (MSF) and IT. You will drive transparency, financial alignment, and strategic support across all three areas. With company-wide impact and direct financial influence over essential corporate functions this role offers exceptional exposure to RWECE C-suite, senior business leadership and Group stakeholders in Germany. You will work closely with the department head (SVP, Controlling) to shape the direction of Controlling for the Americas region. As Director you act as strategic advisor to the executive leadership team, ensure strong business partnering and contribute to digital transformation and cost optimization initiatives across the organization.

• HR Controlling: You are responsible for the company-wide FTE (Full Time Employees) and personnel cost planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting. In a dynamic and growing business environment you ensure transparency and strategic alignment for FTE and personnel costs and that associated company targets will be achieved. This critical and visible role offers direct exposure to the entire RWECE C-suite and senior leadership team, providing a platform for influencing strategic decision-making at the highest level. You will work closely with the HR and the leadership team as a strategic partner and trusted advisor on compensation strategies and workforce initiatives. You actively drive change by evaluating improvement measures, giving recommendations, and providing business decision support. You will own and drive high-impact deliverables, operate with a high degree of autonomy and accountability, and play a key role in translating people strategy into business outcomes. The position offers international exposure through collaboration with the German Group Holding and other global entities.
• MSF Controlling: You are responsible for planning, budgeting, monitoring & reporting the financial performance of RWECE’s Support Functions (i.e. corporate overhead departments). This critical function ensures transparency, cost effectiveness, and strategic alignment of all support functions spend. Working as strategic partner and trusted advisor with the business, evaluating improvement measures, actively giving recommendations/appropriate challenges, and business decision support.
• IT Controlling: You are responsible for the financial planning, budgeting, monitoring & reporting for the RWECE IT & OT business. Ensuring transparency, cost effectiveness, and strategic alignment of all RWECE IT & OT investments. Working as strategic partner and trusted advisor with the IT/OT function to evaluate improvement measures, actively giving recommendations/appropriate challenges, and business decision support.

Role Responsibilities:

Executive-Level Engagement & Influence

• Serve as a key finance partner to the C-suite and senior leadership, providing insights / challenges / recommendations on cost structures, strategic initiatives, and workforce planning
• Prepare and present financial reporting, forecasts, and business cases to executive stakeholders, including Board-level and RWE Group presentations
• Act as the primary finance contact for corporate functions including HR, IT/OT, and all MSF departments, ensuring financial transparency and strategic alignment at the highest levels

Leadership & Strategic Oversight

• Lead, motivate, develop and retain a high-performing team of Controlling professionals by fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, empowerment, and data-driven decision-making
• Define and execute the controlling strategy for corporate functions aligned with company-wide strategic, financial and operational goals
• Partner closely with global counterparts to ensure alignment with group-wide standards, especially in planning, cost modelling, and internal governance

Financial Planning, Reporting & Cost Transparency

• Oversee end-to-end financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting for:
  • Company-wide FTE and personnel costs (HR Controlling)
  • Overhead costs of 14+ support departments (MSF Controlling)
  • IT & OT costs and investments (IT Controlling)
• Ensure high-quality monthly and quarterly reporting and performance tracking
• Drive data quality, consistency, transparency and actionable insights for executive decision-making

Business Partnering & Decision Support

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior functional leaders, proactively identifying cost drivers, investment trade-offs, and savings opportunities
• Deliver forward-looking analysis and scenario modelling that links operational planning with financial performance
• Support transformation and organizational design efforts with financial insight

Process Excellence & Governance

• Design and maintain robust controlling processes, models, and planning tools
• Lead and/or support cross-functional continuous process improvements and digitization of FP&A activities (e.g. implementation of SAP-based budgeting tool)
• Ensure compliance with Group policies and internal financial standards.

Job Requirements and Experiences:

• BA/BS in Finance/Accounting/Economics/Business (required); MBA or an Advanced degree is a plus, but not required
• Minimum 12 years of professional experience in Controlling, Financial Planning & Analysis, Financial or Management Consulting, or other Finance-related fields; Minimum 4 years leading a team and/or function
• Renewable energy experience is a plus, but not required
• Ability to lead, inspire, manage, develop and empower team members
• Applies problem-solving skills to align financial insights with strategic priorities; leverages excellent analytical abilities to integrate diverse and complex data into holistic insights and recommendations; manages complexity across the organization with stakeholder awareness; demonstrates proactive and creative problem-solving
• Self-motivated to drive the business, increase performance and deliver results
• Consults cross-functionally to convey complex information, challenge status quo,and solve diverse issues
• Persuasive communicator who establishes feedback culture and drives consensus building across senior leadership
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Expert in segment FP&A; implements reporting frameworks and planning strategy
• Continuous process improvement supporting the proactive pursuit of best practices, processes, standardization and tools that drive gains in efficiency, automation, and quality
• Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel (moderate to advanced); knowledge in SAP, PeopleSoft, Tableau, Power BI and other system/tools is a plus
• Integration and change management experience is a plus
• General accounting and IFRS knowledge a plus
• Language: English (fluent), German is a plus
• Other duties as assigned

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Clean Energy is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $166,000 - $250,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

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Any questions? Contact HR: rwece_recruiting@rwe.com

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Clean Energy is the third largest renewable energy company in the United States, with a presence in most U.S. states from coast to coast. RWE’s team of about 2,000 employees in the U.S. stands ready to help meet the nation’s growing energy needs. With its homegrown and fastest-to-market product, RWE supports the goal of American Energy dominance and independence. To that end, RWE Clean Energy is committed to increasing its already strong asset base of over 10 gigawatts of operating wind, solar and battery projects, focusing on providing high-quality jobs. RWE invests in local and rural communities while strengthening domestic manufacturing supporting the renaissance of American industry. This is complemented by RWE’s energy trading business. RWE is also a major offtaker of American liquified natural gas (LNG).