Finance Manager

Step into a world of unparalleled opportunities with the Vasco Buying Alliance, a dynamic international partnership uniting Coop, Superunie, Colruyt. Together, we harness the strength of our collective buying power to create exceptional value for our partners and customers in Europe. At Vasco, we don’t just set the standard – we redefine it. Our commitment to reliability, sustainability, results, connection, and creativity drives everything we do. If you’re passionate about making an impact, collaborating on a global scale, and shaping the future of retail, Vasco is where your journey begins.

Position Overview:

You will be a key player in overseeing and optimizing the financial and operational performance of the alliance. You will act as a financial strategist enabling informed decision-making by delivering accurate analyses, forecasts, and actionable insights while ensuring robust financial operations and compliance. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you will ensure alignment between financial goals and business strategies, contributing to the alliance's overall success.

You will report to the General Manager of Vasco and work in Amsterdam, collaborating with multiple partners across international markets.

1. Strategic Business Control

• Design and implement financial strategies directly aligned with business goals, ensuring measurable outcomes and tracking performance over time.

• Analyze market trends, partner performance and operational data to support strategic decisions.

• Conduct scenario planning and sensitivity analyses to evaluate business risks and opportunities.

• Evaluate operational effectiveness and profitability metrics, driving strategic adjustments to enhance performance.

• Facilitate the setup and process of black box exercises to ensure a functional framework, while delegating the comparison of Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) and price analysis to the Vascobuyers. These exercises aim to assess partner assortments and support operational and strategic alignment.

2. Financial Analysis and Reporting

Internal Business Operations:

• Prepare detailed internal financial reports, including variance analysis, budgeting, and forecasting, to provide actionable insights for day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making.

• Develop and monitor internal key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate and improve the operational success of the business.

• Ensure compliance with Dutch financial regulations, tax laws (especially in the area of international VAT), and corporate governance standards within the company’s internal processes.

• Maintain robust financial controls to safeguard the company’s financial health.

External Stakeholder and Partner Focus:

• Present financial results and insights to external stakeholders, providing clear narratives that support partnerships, investments, and long-term strategies.

• Collaborate with Vascobuyers and partners to define, challenge, and monitor their objectives, goals, and KPIs, ensuring alignment with MK’s overarching corporate objectives.

• Establish and oversee reporting frameworks tailored to external partnerships and stakeholder requirements.

3. Budgeting, Forecasting, and Planning

• Lead the annual budgeting process and quarterly forecasts, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.

• Collaborate with all stakeholders to create achievable, impactful budgets and plans.

• Provide financial modeling and analysis to support strategic initiatives and business cases.

• Ensure consistency, accuracy, and strategic alignment in financial plans.

4. Business Partnering and Decision Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership, delivering insights that integrate financial performance with operational and strategic objectives.

• Drive collaboration across departments and teams, ensuring financial goals are cohesively aligned with broader business priorities.

• Provide decision support through advanced financial modeling, scenario analysis, and development of robust business cases for strategic initiatives.

• Act as a key enabler of informed decision-making by translating complex financial data into clear, actionable strategies for stakeholders.
  

5. Financial Operations and Management

• Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable, receivable, payroll, and cash flow management.

• Ensure the accuracy of financial transactions, adherence to policies, and compliance with regulations.

• Establish and refine financial processes for optimal operational efficiency.

• Implement risk management controls to protect the organization’s assets and reputation.

• Contact person for the 3 members of Vasco regarding all financial transactions (e.g. quantity and value deviations delivery vs. invoice), periodic invoicing and ensuring financial cash flows.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROFILE:

We are seeking a versatile, experienced and data-driven Business Financial professional with strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills. You are a problem solver, adept at balancing operational efficiency with strategic insights, and have a passion for delivering tangible results. You thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, balancing strategic vision with practical execution.

Key Experiences and Skills:

• Analytical Thinking: Proficiency in financial modeling, data interpretation, and forecasting.

• Strategic Insight: A proven ability to align data-driven recommendations with broader business goals and strategies. This includes the capacity to challenge stakeholders, such as Vascobuyers and partners, on their objectives, goals, and KPIs, ensuring alignment with overall business priorities. The role also requires designing and implementing robust reporting frameworks to monitor and assess performance effectively, enabling continuous improvement and strategic adjustments.

• Financial Expertise: Demonstrated ability in financial reporting and compliance, with a Strong knowledge of financial regulations and risk management practices including knowledge of Dutch financial laws, tax codes including international VAT, and compliance requirements, with the ability to interpret and apply them effectively in a business context.

• Operational Savvy: Experience in overseeing day-to-day financial operations in a small business setting with a strong understanding of business operations, cost structures, and profitability drivers.

• Collaboration: Skilled in partnering across departments and building strong relationships.

• Communication: Excellent ability to present complex financial information in a clear and actionable manner.

• Educational Background and Expected Knowledge:
  A strong foundation in finance, accounting, or economics, typically demonstrated by a bachelor's or master’s degree in one of these fields. Additional certifications such as CPA, CFA, or ACCA are highly desirable. Familiarity with Dutch financial regulations, international VAT systems, and cross-border compliance requirements is essential.

Values:

• Reliability: Consistently dependable and trustworthy in all professional dealings.

• Sustainability: Committed to sustainable procurement practices that benefit both the organization and the environment.

• Result-Driven: Focused on achieving tangible results and driving continuous improvement.

• Connection: Values building strong, lasting relationships with suppliers and stakeholders.

• Creativity: Brings innovative solutions to complex procurement challenges.

This role offers the unique opportunity to shape the financial backbone of a growing company, combining strategic and operational finance to drive sustainable success.

Robert Walters Netherlands is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.