Financial Controller

Due to AHEAD’s continued global expansion and the recent acquisition of Prolimax NL, we have an exciting opportunity for a Financial Controller to join AHEAD in the Netherlands. This is a pivotal hire that will play an important role in supporting our growth and ongoing expansion across Europe, while taking ownership of the local finance function within a small but growing entity.

This is a hands-on role suited to an experienced finance professional who is comfortable leading the day-to-day finance operation while also being willing to undertake transactional or administrative finance tasks during the earlier stages of growth. The successful candidate will be confident working independently, strengthening financial control, improving processes, supporting budgeting and reporting cycles, and helping lead the transition from current local systems to AHEAD’s global systems and ways of working.

Over the next 12 to 18 months, the role is expected to develop alongside the business and may offer the opportunity to support or manage a growing local finance team. Previous line management experience would therefore be advantageous, although a willingness to remain hands-on and work across both strategic and operational priorities is essential.

Role Responsibilities

Financial Control & Reporting

• Take ownership of the day-to-day finance function for the Netherlands entity whilst collaborating with the wider international finance organisation.
• Lead month-end close activities including journals, accruals, prepayments, reconciliations and reporting.
• Prepare management accounts, variance analysis, and cash flow reporting.
• Support budgets, forecasts, and reforecasts.
• Maintain robust financial controls and provide financial insight.

Operational Finance

• Oversee sales invoicing, accounts receivable, and credit control.
• Support accounts payable, cash allocation, and finance administration.
• Oversee local payroll, pension contributions, employee expenses and related finance administration.
• Undertake operational, transactional, and administrative finance activities where required.
• Work collaboratively across Finance, Sales and Operations.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement.

Compliance & Governance

• Support compliance with Dutch statutory reporting, corporate tax, VAT and other regulatory requirements.
• Support audits and maintain audit readiness.
• Maintain financial controls and documentation.
• Develop finance policies and scalable processes.

Systems & Transformation

• Support transition to global finance systems.
• Support testing, process mapping, and implementation.
• Promote consistency of reporting and controls across the Group.

Growth & Team Development

• Support development of a scalable finance function.
• Support onboarding and development of future finance team members.
• Maintain a practical and collaborative approach.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Relevant professional accounting qualification (or equivalent), or demonstrable equivalent experience gained through progressively responsible finance roles.
• Broad hands-on finance experience within a growing or international business.
• Strong knowledge of month-end close, reporting, reconciliations, and financial control.
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and audit preparation.
• Experience improving finance processes and supporting systems change.
• Strong understanding of Dutch accounting, tax and regulatory requirements.
• Strong VAT expertise, including experience managing VAT implications when purchasing products from vendors and selling products to customers within and outside the Netherlands.
• Experience managing payroll, pension contributions, and employee expenses.
• Experience working with shared services, regional or global finance teams.
• Legal right to work in the Netherlands and ability to attend the Nijmegen office regularly and the new facility in Breda from ~April 2027.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English, required for effective day-to-day communication, reporting and collaboration with the wider international finance organisation, including colleagues and stakeholders in the UK and US.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to changing business needs.

Desirable:

• Previous supervisory or people management experience.
• Experience of finance system implementation or migration.
• Experience in a multi-entity international environment.

Additional Information

Right to Work

To be considered for this role, you must be legally entitled to work in the Netherlands. Employer-sponsored work authorisation is not available for this position.

Other Duties

The responsibilities described above are intended to outline the general nature of the role and are not an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may reasonably evolve in line with business requirements.

Travel

Occasional domestic and international travel may be required to support business operations and collaboration with the wider finance organisation.