MICHEL GAGNEBIN
Biel/Bienne
Summary
Finance professional with over 20 years of experience in the watchmaking industry, food production, luxury goods distribution and the public sector. Expert in financial and management accounting, lead finances, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), reporting, managing industrial controlling and leading process optimization. Strong experience in team management, SAP project leadership (HR, FI, CO), cost analysis, dashboard development (Power BI, Power Query, DAX, Cognos) and continuous improvement.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Finance & Administration Manager (interim)
Hospitality School
Thun
07.2025 - 09.2025
- Full responsibility for accounting, finance and administration.
- Cash-flow planning to ensure financial continuity.
- Monitoring and planning of personnel costs.
- Preparation of the 2026 Budget and redesigned financial reporting for 3 sites and 3 accounting structures.
- Leading financial reviews, drive FP&A team meetings, and support department heads.
HR Finance Controller
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Bern
11.2023 - 06.2025
- Designed and implemented a new HR financial tracking system adopted by 10+ HR specialists, improving real-time budget visibility and reducing reporting time by 20%.
- Preparation of HR cost projections (“Hochrechnung”) with scenario modelling.
- Drafting of the four-year personnel cost plan (IAFP 2025–2028).
- Business partner for HR decisions with financial impact.
- Prepare financial reviews, drive FP&A team meetings, and support department heads.
- Steering HR controlling (bonus calculations, remuneration control, KPIs).
- SAP Key User for planning and budget reporting tools.
Finance Controller
Federal Statistical Office
Neuchâtel
06.2016 - 10.2023
- Personnel accounting, identified cost drivers, implemented BI tools & analyses to gain time and transparency by reviewing capacity analysis and scenarios valuation.
- Operate financial reviews, drive FP&A team meetings, and build documentation for department heads.
- Development of MIS and CRB360 reporting.
- Preparation of budgets and financial reports (IAFP 2016–2025).
- Project leader for SAP HR implementation (PKM).
Financial Controller
Selig SA
Zürich/Niederglatt
10.2014 - 01.2016
- Supervision of the full accounting team.
- Management of quarterly & annual inventories.
- US GAAP closing, budgets & rolling forecasts.
- Interim responsibility for payroll & insurance.
- Preparation of documents for investors (due diligence).
- Standard and contribution margin analysis.
- Recovered 8% of EBITDA during EURO/CHF Crisis by margin improvement and simplification of operations.
Industrial Controlling Manager
Zenith SA
Le Locle
07.2013 - 09.2014
- IFRS closing, budgeting & forecasting for the industrial division.
- Variance analysis and advanced industrial KPIs.
- OPEX monitoring & production capacity steering.
- Management of a team of 5 people.
Financial Controller
The Swatch Group
Biel
07.2009 - 07.2013
- Preparation of IFRS financial statements by market (~€500M).
- Manage Budgets and forecasts
- Built margin analysis by country and implemented a new reporting packaging; gained 4 days of reporting duration (aligned data collection processes).
- OPEX control and financial risk identification.
- Participation in cross-brand matrix projects.
- ICS responsibility & SharePoint dashboard development.
Production Controller
Nivarox FAR SA (Swatch Group)
Le Locle
10.2006 - 06.2009
- Controlling 3 production lines and support departments.
- Updating ERP standards, cost accounting, industrial analyses.
- Capex follow-up & development of industrial KPIs.
Junior Controller
Compex Medical SA
Ecublens
09.2004 - 09.2006
- Deployment of SOX across Europe.
- Internal audits & reporting to the US.
- Development of multi-subsidiary consolidation package.
Accountant
ABR Asile
Biel/Bienne
04.2002 - 08.2004
- Monthly closing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, treasury, payroll.
Education
Finance & Controlling Expert -
Virgile Institute
ES/HEG Business Economist -
CPLN Neuchâtel
Commercial Employee & Maturity -
EPAM Moutier
Skills
- General & Analytical Accounting
- Monthly and annual closing (Swiss GAAP FER, IFRS, US GAAP)
- Monitor Financial planning (FP&A)
- Analyze complex financial data
- Make decision and align metrics
- Monitor and secure cashflow and treasury levels
- Manage Financial reporting & dashboards
- SAP HR / FI / CO
- Industrial controlling
- Process optimization & Internal control system (ICS)
- Lead finance and administration Teams
- Business partnering for deals
- Strategic financial advisory
Languages
French
German
English
Portuguese
Spanish
Hobbies and Interests
- UEFA C+ football coach
- Hiking, swimming, sailing
- Teaching, economics, author of publications
Personal Information
Chief Financial Officer
Passionate for finances, actively looking for a new managing position.
Somewhere in Switzerland, UK, US or somewhere in Europe.
Remote and / or local, ready to travel up to 60%
Timeline
Finance & Administration Manager (interim)
Hospitality School
07.2025 - 09.2025
HR Finance Controller
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
11.2023 - 06.2025
Finance Controller
Federal Statistical Office
06.2016 - 10.2023
Financial Controller
Selig SA
10.2014 - 01.2016
Industrial Controlling Manager
Zenith SA
07.2013 - 09.2014
Financial Controller
The Swatch Group
07.2009 - 07.2013
Production Controller
Nivarox FAR SA (Swatch Group)
10.2006 - 06.2009
Junior Controller
Compex Medical SA
09.2004 - 09.2006
Accountant
ABR Asile
04.2002 - 08.2004
Finance & Controlling Expert -
Virgile Institute
ES/HEG Business Economist -
CPLN Neuchâtel
Commercial Employee & Maturity -
EPAM Moutier