Who we are
We are an environmental consulting company. What’s our purpose? We put nature at the heart of decision-making by developing science-based solutions.
We support public and private entities that want to improve the environmental, social and economic impacts of policies, projects and investments. As a spin-off of the University of Padova and a certified B Corp; we work locally and internationally bringing scientific innovation into everyone’s life.
At Etifor we like teamwork, we work hard and we never stop being curious: being part of the team means sharing our values (read our Culture Manifesto to find out more). For us the only thing that really matters is how green your heart is: we welcome and value (bio)diversity in all its forms!
Who are we looking for?
The Finance & Controlling Manager will help Etifor strengthen its financial management by further developing management control processes, enhancing budget preparation, forecasting and financial reporting, and supporting strategic decision-making through reliable financial insights. As a member of Etifor's executive team, reporting directly to the CEO, the role will work in close partnership with the administration team and managers across the organization to further strengthen financial planning, management reporting and a culture of financial accountability, ensuring that Etifor's environmental and social impact is supported by long-term economic sustainability.
The role is expected to act as a trusted business partner across the organization, helping managers understand the financial implications of their decisions, balancing impact with economic sustainability, and preserving the entrepreneurial and purpose-driven culture that defines Etifor.
Role and responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Control
- Further develop Etifor's budgeting and management control framework, including annual and multi-year budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, cost centre reporting, financial KPIs and management dashboards.
- Monitor the financial performance and profitability of projects and business units, identifying risks and proposing corrective action
- Work closely with the administration team to design and continuously improve financial processes, ensuring accurate project accounting, proper cost allocation and compliance with statutory accounting principles, particularly for reimbursable grant projects.
- Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reporting for the Board of Directors and shareholders, working closely with the Administration Team to ensure reliable management accounts and accurate project reporting.
- Support strategic decisions through financial analysis and scenario modelling.
- Support the drafting and approval process of the financial statements in coordination with the relevant professionals.
Financial Management and Operational Coordination
- Plan the company’s liquidity needs by monitoring the cash flows managed by the administrative team.
- Support the financial planning of the hiring plan and provide strategic guidance on hiring priorities to ensure sustainability.
- Support potential investor relations, due diligence activities, investment evaluations and extraordinary corporate transactions by preparing financial analyses, business cases and supporting documentation.
- Identify and evaluate opportunities for financial and tax savings (such as tax incentives, low-interest loans, and other financial opportunities) that can improve the company’s financial sustainability and support strategic investments.
Decision Support and Organizational Culture
- Develop financial analyses, KPIs and dashboards to support strategic decision-making across projects, teams and the company.
- Promote a culture focused on financial accountability, growth, and efficiency, without compromising company's purpose-driven approach.
- Support managers in understanding the financial impact of operational decisions, promoting greater ownership of budgets and project profitability. .
- Integrate B Corp principles and ESG criteria into financial and management reporting, fostering a culture of financial accountability and long-term sustainability across all teams.
Optional / Strategic Responsibilities
- Experience, aptitude or interest in optimizing and digitizing financial processes (e.g. mapping and integrating accounting, payroll, or CRM tools), useful in the context of Etifor's ongoing digital transformation of administrative processes
- Experience with M&A processes or equity transactions (acquisitions, share transfers) is a plus
Education
Degree in Economics, Finance, Management Engineering, or equivalent.
Experience
At least 5 years of experience in Finance & Controlling or FP&A roles preferably in moderately structured and/or growing environments.
Required skills
- Budgeting: Ability to set up and monitor the company budget.
- Financial Statements: Knowledge of the principles governing the preparation of Italian statutory financial statements
- Financial Reporting: Ability to create clear and timely reports to support Management.
- Cash Flow Management: Forecasting, monitoring, and optimizing liquidity.
- Management Control: Ability to design and improve management control processes, tools and KPIs.
- Business Partnering: Ability to translate financial data into practical insights and contribute to the decision-making across different teams.
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Management : Ability to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders across the organization.
- Process Design & Change Management :Ability to design and implement financial processes, supporting organizational growth and change.
- Digital Mindset & Process Optimization: Familiarity with advanced Business Intelligence or ERP tools with experience redesigning administrative or financial workflows alongside non-finance teams.
Essential requirements:
- Fluent knowledge of Italian and English.
- Strong knowledge of the Italian accounting, tax and corporate regulatory framework
- Knowledge of project/contract accounting principles, preferably gained in service-based organizations
- Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and build trusted relationships across the organization.
- Genuine interest in working in a purpose-driven organization, balancing financial sustainability with environmental and social impact.
- Operational yet strategic mindset, oriented toward continuous improvement.
Preferred Qualifications
is considered an asset:
- Experience with grant accounting and financial reporting.
- Experience with M&A processes or equity transactions.
- Experience in financial process optimization and digital transformation.
What We Offer
The Etifor team will support your growth within the company in an international and friendly corporate environment. In particular, we provide:
- A dynamic, young, and innovative environment that values diversity and inclusion.
- Work-life balance through smart working contracts and flexible hours.
- Professional growth opportunities with tailored paths, mentoring, and numerous training and development opportunities (keep in mind that Etifor is a spin-off from the University of Padua).
- A team working at both the local and international levels to reconnect people with nature by addressing climate change and biodiversity loss issues.
- Benefit plan, that includes meal vouchers, a dedicated training budget (for both personal and professional development), and access to psychological support services.
Contract info
Start Date: November 2026
Work Location: Etifor's office in Padua at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, No. 41. We have a super-flexible smartworking policy!
Contract Type: Full-time (CCNL Commercio) permanent contract - Level I/Quadro RAL 45-55K
Hope we gave you all the information you need to consider joining our amazing team!