Group Financial Controller

Position

The Group financial controller reports directly to the Group Finance Director and becomes part of a small Group Finance team. The role combines group consolidation and financial reporting with responsibility for accounting standards, internal controls and the further professionalisation of Finance.

An important part of the role is the global consolidation of Foodera. With multiple entities, countries, currencies and accounting environments, this requires a strong technical accounting background. The Group financial controller ensures that financial information from the different businesses is accurate, consistent and delivered on time.

There is also a clear improvement agenda. IFRS needs to be further embedded across the group, accounting principles need to be applied consistently and the internal control environment needs to mature. Reporting should become faster and more reliable, reducing reporting cycles to approximately five working days for all entities.

Foodera also wants to change the way Finance operates. Historically, parts of the organisation have been relatively reactive. The ambition is to create a culture in which people take ownership, meet deadlines, solve problems themselves and escalate when progress stalls. The Group financial controller is expected to contribute actively to that change.

The buy-and-build strategy brings additional complexity. New businesses need to be incorporated into Foodera's consolidation, reporting and accounting standards. The Group financial controller will therefore also be involved in acquisition accounting, including Purchase Price Allocations, opening balance sheets and the financial integration of newly acquired companies.

This is a hands-on role. The Group financial controller will not have a large own team, but works closely with local Finance Directors, Accounting Managers and Controllers across the different businesses. This requires someone who can set standards, challenge where needed and get people on board without relying on formal authority

Personal profile

Foodera is looking for a technically strong finance professional who is pragmatic and comfortable in an organisation that is still developing. Someone who brings structure, but does not need everything to be fully defined before taking action.

The right candidate takes ownership and works independently. When something is not right, he or she addresses it rather than waiting for instructions. The same applies when deadlines are missed or progress gets stuck: issues are discussed directly and escalated when necessary.

This requires more than technical expertise. The Group financial controller needs to build effective relationships with finance colleagues across different companies and countries, while also being able to challenge existing ways of working. The style is straightforward and practical, with a clear focus on getting things done.

EXPERIENCE

• Strong background in financial accounting and financial control
• Proven experience with international, multi-entity consolidation
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and financial reporting
• Experience working with multiple currencies and international finance teams
• Experience with internal controls and financial governance
• Big Four experience, preferably followed by a role in an international “corporate” environment
• Experience with acquisition accounting, PPA and post-acquisition integration is a strong advantage
• Experience in manufacturing, engineering, project business or another internationally complex environment is preferred
• Experience with Lucanet or comparable consolidation software is an advantage

COMPETENCIES

• Technically strong and analytical.
• Hands-on and pragmatic.
• Proactive and takes ownership.
• Independent and decisive.
• Focused on quality, pace and results.
• Able to bring structure to an environment in change.
• Strong stakeholder and influencing skills.
• Comfortable challenging others and escalating when needed.
• Able to work effectively without formal authority.
• Comfortable in an international PE-backed, buy-and-build environment.

Remuneration

Foodera offers a role with substantial international exposure and direct involvement in the further development of Group Finance. The organisation is still being built and further acquisitions will continue to change its scope and complexity. This gives the Group financial controller room to improve how Finance works across the group and to see the direct result of those improvements.

The position reports directly to the Group Finance Director and offers exposure across Foodera's businesses and management teams. For someone who wants to broaden beyond technical accounting over time, there are opportunities to develop towards a wider Finance Director or Business Control role.

• Competitive base salary, depending on experience and background.
• Variable compensation in addition to the base salary.
• Permanent employment contract.
• Based in Montfoort, The Netherlands.
• International scope, working with finance teams in The Netherlands, United States, China and India.
• Hybrid working arrangements and required presence in Montfoort to be agreed.

Foodera Technologies

Foodera is an international group of companies developing and manufacturing technology for the food processing industry. The group brings together established businesses including Kiremko, Idaho Steel, Reyco Systems, Tummers and Van der Giessen, each with its own expertise, market position and history.

Foodera currently generates approximately €400 million in revenue and €46 million EBITDA, employs around 800 people and operates from seven locations across the Netherlands, the United States, China and India. Further acquisitions are expected as part of its buy-and-build strategy.

The group has grown quickly and Finance needs to develop with it. The individual businesses have different systems, processes and local finance organisations. IFRS has been introduced, Lucanet is used for consolidation and for planning, and there is still work to be done in reporting, controls, data quality and the consistent use of systems.

The challenge is to bring more structure and consistency at group level without losing the entrepreneurial character of the individual businesses. With further acquisitions expected, the complexity will continue to increase.

Location

Montfoort (international), travel on occasion.