Plant Controller

Finance Controller

Location

Breda Plant, Netherlands

Reporting line

Plant Director / Finance Director

Job purpose

An experienced Finance Controller to steer the financial performance of the Breda manufacturing plant. The role is responsible for financial planning, industrial cost controlling, statutory reporting, and business partnering with the Plant Director and operational teams. The Finance Controller ensures financial integrity, enforces internal controls, and provides fact-based decision support to drive plant efficiency and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Reporting

• Manage the full budget cycle for the Breda plant: preparation, consolidation and monthly tracking

• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) in line with Group standards

• Ensure accurate and timely closing of accounts in coordination with the central finance team

• Develop and monitor financial KPIs, dashboards and variance analyses

Cost Control & Industrial Controlling

• Oversee industrial cost accounting: standard costs, production variances, scrap and absorption rates

• Analyse manufacturing costs (direct materials, labour, overhead) and identify optimisation opportunities

• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain and Engineering on CAPEX planning and project profitability

• Monitor inventory valuation, cycle counts and stock provisions

Business Partnering & Decision Support

• Serve as financial counterpart to the Plant Director and department heads, providing fact-based insights and recommendations

• Support investment decisions, make-or-buy analyses and cost-reduction programmes

• Lead monthly performance review meetings with operational managers

Compliance, Internal Controls & Audit

• Ensure compliance with local statutory requirements, Group accounting policies and IFRS/local GAAP

• Maintain and reinforce internal control procedures; coordinate internal and external audits

• Manage and comply with local and national reporting requirements for tax filings

• Prepare and liaise with external and internal auditors

Team & Process Leadership

• Manage and develop the local finance team

• Drive continuous improvement of finance processes and ERP/reporting tools (SAP, Power BI, etc.)

• Coordinate with Group Finance on consolidation, transfer pricing and intercompany flows

Knowledge, experience, and competence

Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Controlling or Business Administration (professional qualification CPA/CMA/CIMA is an asset)

Minimum 5 years of experience in financial controlling, ideally within a manufacturing or industrial environment

Solid background in cost accounting, industrial KPIs and budget management

Experience in working in a production environment and in an international or matrix organisation

Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, IFRS/local GAAP and standard costing methodologies

Experience in budgeting, forecasting and creating financial statements

Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP FI/CO preferred) and advanced Excel; experience with BI tools (Power BI, Cognos or equivalent)

Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable business insights

Strong communication skills; able to present complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders

Ability to work in a team and lead a team; proactive and solution-oriented

Fluent English in writing and speaking; Dutch and/or French is an advantage