John Bower

Director - Finance

Phone number: +41 41 588 1861

Email: [email protected]

Director - Finance

John is a specialist recruiter with over 20 years of experience across several varied disciplines, 11 of which have been dedicated to Finance & Accountancy.

Originally starting in Industry recruitment, he moved to B2B Marketing and evolved into Finance, giving him a solid understanding of the recruitment process.

Now, as Director of Finance Recruitment for the Suisse Romande region, John specialises in a variety of Finance roles, including Accounting, Controlling, M&A, Tax, Treasury, FP&A, Audit, Risk, E2E Project, and Strategy.

He is highly skilled in coaching and providing career consultations for Finance & Accountancy professionals, either on a one-to-one basis or in partnership with accredited financial associations and universities. John is very thorough in his approach to providing a value-added service to job seekers.

Having worked in Switzerland for over ten years, John shares his knowledge and market insights with clients and candidates. Being able to continuously learn about people, their roles, motivations, and experience allows him to champion talent and manage expectations.

He hosts exclusive networking events for middle management to executive level Finance & Accountancy professionals operating in Suisse Romande to share market insights and develop relationships. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to John directly.

John’s Interests

John enjoys the stimulation that new technology provides. In the past, he has built a PC for his parents and has completed another PC build with his daughter.

He is a keen gamer, enjoys reading, politics, and learning about international affairs, with an interest in global news.

John's Successful Candidates

  • Finance Director
  • Finance Controller
  • Treasurer
  • Global Indirect Tax Director
  • BU Controller

Director - Finance

Interests

  • TechnologyTechnology
  • International AffairsInternational Affairs
  • GamingGaming
  • Politics
  • ReadingReading

John Bower

Director - Finance

Phone number: +41 41 588 1861

Email: [email protected]

John is a specialist recruiter with over 20 years of experience across several varied disciplines, 11 of which have been dedicated to Finance & Accountancy.

Originally starting in Industry recruitment, he moved to B2B Marketing and evolved into Finance, giving him a solid understanding of the recruitment process.

Now, as Director of Finance Recruitment for the Suisse Romande region, John specialises in a variety of Finance roles, including Accounting, Controlling, M&A, Tax, Treasury, FP&A, Audit, Risk, E2E Project, and Strategy.

He is highly skilled in coaching and providing career consultations for Finance & Accountancy professionals, either on a one-to-one basis or in partnership with accredited financial associations and universities. John is very thorough in his approach to providing a value-added service to job seekers.

Having worked in Switzerland for over ten years, John shares his knowledge and market insights with clients and candidates. Being able to continuously learn about people, their roles, motivations, and experience allows him to champion talent and manage expectations.

He hosts exclusive networking events for middle management to executive level Finance & Accountancy professionals operating in Suisse Romande to share market insights and develop relationships. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to John directly.

John’s Interests

John enjoys the stimulation that new technology provides. In the past, he has built a PC for his parents and has completed another PC build with his daughter.

He is a keen gamer, enjoys reading, politics, and learning about international affairs, with an interest in global news.

John's Successful Candidates

  • Finance Director
  • Finance Controller
  • Treasurer
  • Global Indirect Tax Director
  • BU Controller
Circle Image

Interests

  • TechnologyTechnology
  • International AffairsInternational Affairs
  • GamingGaming
  • Politics
  • ReadingReading

Clients

Testimonial

John supported me in recruiting a new person for my team (manager position), and I was very happy with how it went. 

John spent time to understand the requirements, including the cultural aspects. He rapidly returned with a short list of candidates who perfectly matched the request, so no need to further filter [the list] on my side. 

Quick and smooth process: a message describing why the candidate was selected before each interview, feedback discussion afterwards and good support to wrap up the deal. 

John also kept in contact with the selected candidate until the start date and even a couple of weeks afterwards to ensure any potential issues could be addressed. I can recommend him without hesitation.

Christopher Vanhoren, Group CFO at Allseas

More From John

 

Latest Insights from John

Associate Director Celebrating 6 Years

Associate Director Celebrating 6 Years

Our Director - Finance, John Bower, is celebrating his 6-year work anniversary with EMEA Recruitment this week. John is a specialist in finance recruitment who has developed a broad network in the Suisse Romande region. With overall recruitment exper

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Networking for Swiss Finance Professionals

Successful Networking for Swiss Finance

We understand how important networking is for Swiss Finance professionals. EMEA Recruitment is proud to host virtual and in-person networking activities across Switzerland for Finance & Accountancy professionals.   Having built a stron

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Swiss Recruitment: Onward to 2021

Swiss Recruitment: Onward to 2021

2020 did not follow any previously established pattern in the Swiss recruitment world. In Q1, we already had started seeing some drop-off in candidate movement related to APAC and the (at the time distant) pandemic. Q2 was an interesting moment. T

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When Should Salary be Discussed in the Recruitment Process?

When Should Salary be Discussed in the Recruitment Process?

A few weeks ago, we put out a poll via LinkedIn, asking the question: “At what stage of the recruitment process should salary information be made available?”  This was clearly an emotive topic, as the poll received over 3,300 votes and 9

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The Work from Home Data is Coming In

The Work from Home Data is Coming In

Nick Bloom, a professor at Stanford University, has been confirming what a lot of our LinkedIn polls have been telling us for some time now: the corporate world appears to have settled into a “three work, two home” split of hybrid work.

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John Bower JOBS

130-150k CHF + package
Posted 2 months ago

On behalf of our international client, we are seeking a Senior Finance Controller to join their finance team. This role focuses on a newly acquired group of companies, ensuring effective financial accounting and high-quality management information for reporting purposes.

With responsibility for the integration and ongoing improvement of three sites, this Senior Finance Controller role will suit someone seeking strategic exposure, autonomy, and career development.


Key Deliverables:

  • Oversee financial accounting activities for all legal entities, including global intercompany accounting and consolidation for closing
  • Drive productivity improvements and achieve operational excellence against benchmarks
  • Support the integration process alongside the Group CFO and Group Controller
  • Supervise and coach a team of accountants, fostering a positive work environment and promoting employee development
  • Compile, analyse, and report financial data to aid strategic decision-making, performing variance analyses on key financial metrics
  • Ensure compliance with internal accounting policies and procedures, and perform assigned internal controls in a timely manner


Candidate Requirements:

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Management
  • Experience: Background in Finance/Accounting/Controlling roles, preferably with industrial companies and international exposure, confidence with finance essentials - accruals, COGS, cost centre allocation, business partnering
  • Ability to travel 20%
  • Languages: Fluent in German (B2 minimum) and English; proficiency in French is desired
  • Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in MS Excel, including pivot tables and functions
  • Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication abilities
  • Personal Attributes: Ability to work under pressure, adaptability to different cultures, self-starter, deadline-driven, critical thinker

EMEA Recruitment is committed to promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. We act as a neutral third party in the recruitment process, basing our candidate searches on skills and experience. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sex, relationship status, disability, race, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation.
130,000 CHF
Posted 3 weeks ago

On behalf of our international client, we are seeking a dynamic Controller to join their Group Controlling team.

This role is ideal for someone looking to impact business strategy and operations in an international environment, enhancing financial transparency and contributing to overall business success.

Key Responsibilities of the Controller:

  • Support strategic projects and initiatives under the guidance of the Regional CFO
  • Enhance cash management strategies and optimize working capital
  • Analyse and identify profitability opportunities across various business dimensions
  • Execute cost control measures and manage Forex exposure
  • Oversee the creation and revision of financial reports, including budgeting, forecasting, and audit reviews
  • Lead corporate finance projects and drive efficiency programs


Candidate Profile:

  • Master’s degree in Finance or Economics is required; professional certification (CPA or ACCA) is preferred
  • Exposure to financial controlling, FP&A, or external audit, with prior experience in the shipping or logistics industry essential
  • Proficient in advanced Excel and SAP, capable of executing complex analyses
  • Analytical and critical thinker with a results-oriented approach
  • Capable of working under pressure and managing tight deadlines
  • Proactive and self-starting with excellent communication skills and team management experience

Additional Requirements:

  • Excellent command of English, both written and spoken; proficiency in another European language is a plus
EMEA Recruitment is committed to promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. We act as a neutral third party in the recruitment process, basing our candidate searches on skills and experience. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sex, relationship status, disability, race, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation.
140,000 CHF + bonus + benefits
Posted 2 months ago

We are seeking a talented Consolidation/Reporting Manager for our international client to play a pivotal role within the Group reporting team. This position offers significant exposure to senior leadership and a broad view of the organization, enabling strategic insights and robust career development.
 

The main responsibilities of the Consolidation/Reporting Manager are:

  • Financial Reporting: Ensure the timely and accurate delivery of financial closing
  • Communication and Coordination: Participate in closing calls, document proceedings, and guide discussions on financial results
  • Transaction Monitoring: Keep track of significant financial transactions, coordinating documentation and discussions with key business units
  • Quarterly and Annual Reporting: Deliver high-quality balance sheet reviews and ensure analytical insights are captured
  • External Reporting Collaboration: Work closely with external reporting and technical accounting teams to ensure efficient data flow and accurate financial documentation
  • Audit and Compliance: Maintain relationships with external auditors, ensuring timely and accurate compliance with all audit and financial assurance processes


The skills required of the Consolidation/Reporting Manager are:

  • Education: University degree with a qualification in Accounting (CPA)
  • Experience: Financial reporting and accounting, including significant experience in audit, global consolidation, and financial reporting systems. Experience in external reporting or compliance in a multinational context is desirable
  • Skills: IFRSs, ability to perform analytical reviews and provide comprehensive financial commentary
  • Language: Fluency in English, both written and spoken
  • Global Perspective: Ability to work effectively in an international environment, coordinating with teams globally

EMEA Recruitment is committed to promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace. We act as a neutral third party in the recruitment process, basing our candidate searches on skills and experience. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sex, relationship status, disability, race, religion/beliefs, or sexual orientation.