Senior Director, Cost Management

The Senior Director, Cost Management leads the Controlling function responsible for managing costs across PEX, Marketing Expenditures (MAEX), Tech, Supply Chain, Workplaces, back-office overheads and COSV. The role drives disciplined planning, transparent reporting and cost productivity to support profitable growth, and acts as a strategic business partner to Functional Leaders and other Finance Leaders as a member of the NAM Finance leadership team. The position leads a team of 15–20 people that aligns stakeholders on spending priorities, challenges investment decisions and presents clear, actionable recommendations.

• Lead NAM cost controlling across PEX, Marketing Expenditures (MAEX), Supply Chain, Workplaces, T&E, Tech and COSV, owning the consolidated spending view and ensuring accurate, timely and transparent reporting with clear accountability for budget owners.
• Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts and long-range cost planning, aligning spending assumptions with workforce and FTE plans, marketing commitments, technology investments and business priorities.
• Establish cost targets, spending guardrails and regular performance reviews with functional leaders, constructively challenging spending proposals and agreeing corrective actions while protecting strategic priorities.
• Present concise, decision-ready financial narratives to senior leadership, translating analysis into clear spending drivers, risks, opportunities, investment trade-offs and recommended actions supported by effective dashboards and presentations.
• Partner with Budget Owners and other Finance Leaders to ensure consistent cost governance, including investment business cases, approval discipline, commitment tracking and post-investment reviews.
• Build trusted relationships across NAM and Global functions, influencing decisions without direct authority, resolving competing priorities and leading cross-functional cost productivity and reinvestment programmes with measurable financial outcomes.
• Lead process and reporting transformation across Finance, Non-Trade Purchasing and business functions, standardising data, simplifying workflows and strengthening controls and spending visibility.
• Set and execute an AI and automation roadmap for cost controlling, prioritising use cases such as variance analysis, forecasting support, spend anomaly detection and management commentary, and partnering with Tech and data teams to pilot and scale approved solutions
• Measure benefits and ensure data confidentiality, reliable outputs and human accountability.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Controlling team, strengthening business partnering, executive communication, analytical judgment and practical AI capabilities through coaching, succession planning and continuous improvement.

• Deep expertise in finance, accounting, controlling and FP&A, with strong command of cost drivers and governance.
• Proven ability to lead budgeting, cost consolidation, driver-based forecasting and large-scale savings and reinvestment programmes, balancing financial discipline with business growth.
• Proficiency in financial planning and front-end reporting tools.
• Experience leading team transformations, particularly with approved generative AI and analytics tools for financial analysis, scenario development and executive communication, including the ability to frame effective prompts and critically validate outputs.
• Critical thinking to ensure quality presentation of financial information in support of recommendations and analysis.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive presence, with the ability to build trust, challenge constructively, negotiate trade-offs and align senior leaders across functions in a complex matrix organisation.
• Excellent presentation and financial storytelling skills, with the ability to turn complex data into concise executive materials, deliver clear recommendations tailored to the audience and respond confidently to challenge and questions.
• Ability to assess employees' capabilities and develop their strengths and development gaps, and to motivate, delegate and coach effectively.
• Strong management and coaching skills and experience in leading multi-cultural teams in a fast-moving environment.
• Innovative, action-oriented and solution-minded team player.
• Proven experience leading cost controlling or FP&A with significant budget accountability, partnering with senior functional leaders and presenting financial recommendations to executive audiences.
• Advanced degree or qualification in Business, Finance, Accounting or Economics.
• Minimum 10–12 years of broad-based Finance and cross-functional experience with progressive responsibility.
• Minimum of 5–10 years management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading finance process improvement and adoption of digital, automation or AI-enabled solutions, with measurable benefits and appropriate governance.

• Hybrid work policy requiring attendance in the office Monday through Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on Friday each week.
• For work requiring a high degree of collaboration or an in-person presentation, in-office attendance is required even on Friday.

• Robust and progressive medical coverage, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options.
• Dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Adoption support, including surrogate and fertility support.
• Short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance.
• Enrolment in adidas' 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match.
• Education assistance for full-time employees.
• Generous leave policies, including 14 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Eligibility to earn an annual bonus based on company performance.
• Prorated flexible time off accruing at 0.4388 hours per day, increasing with years of service.
• Twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.

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