Guerlain Purchasing & Development Controller

Overview

Guerlain is a storied French maison of perfumery and cosmetics, renowned for craftsmanship, refinement and high‑end product innovation. As part of a major luxury group, the brand combines heritage savoir‑faire with a strategic drive to elevate product and brand positioning at global scale.

Role & Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end procurement performance reporting: design, produce and present monthly dashboards (by spend category, currency, supplier, FX impacts, variances, inflation and negotiated gains).
• Monitor and analyse perimeter spend (operating expenses, tooling, transport) and subcontracting costs in close collaboration with buyers and industrial logistics.
• Calculate purchase costs and standard costs for bought items, challenge standards and explain variances at reference level.
• Lead and govern the full Value Analysis (Analyse de la Valeur) process to optimise the basic catalogue: define scope, prioritise actions, measure operational and financial impacts and track implementation.
• Quantify and communicate gains delivered by Value Analysis initiatives; drive stakeholder alignment to realise savings.
• Coordinate and supervise the annual budgeting and reforecast cycles for the procurement perimeter: define scope, contributors and timelines, consolidate inputs and challenge assumptions.
• Perform routine budgetary control: validate purchase orders and expense claims, support month‑end/year‑end closing controls and analyses.
• Support costing of product innovations in partnership with project managers and industrial controllers; simulate inflation scenarios and assess purchase price updates.
• Drive initiatives to digitalise procurement controlling, optimise reporting processes and improve performance analysis tools.
• Coach and challenge operational teams on spending commitment processes and procurement governance; act as a credible business partner to buyers, development and operations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (Bac+5) from a business school or equivalent, with a specialization in corporate finance.
• Advanced proficiency in English (fluent) — working proficiency required.
• Advanced Excel skills and proven ability in financial modelling and dashboarding.
• Proven mastery of procurement performance analysis and Value Analysis (Analyse de la Valeur).
• Experience with SAP or equivalent ERP, ideally with exposure to MM and CO modules.
• Excellent analytical rigor, autonomy, proactivity and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong interpersonal skills: capacity to lead, mobilise and challenge cross‑functional teams.

Skills

Experience

Minimum 3 to 5 years of demonstrated experience in management control or financial controlling, preferably in an industrial environment or with exposure to industrial cost control and procurement.

Education

Master’s degree (Bac+5) from a business school or equivalent, specialization in corporate finance or controlling.

Workplace

Culture

The maison combines deep heritage craftsmanship with an ambitious modernization agenda; employees operate in a high‑quality, design‑driven environment where operational excellence and creativity intersect. The culture values cross‑functional collaboration, continuous improvement and a results‑oriented approach to preserving luxury standards.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.