Finance Manager (R&D) - Enschede

Are you currently based in or within a realistic commuting distance of Enschede, and looking for a role where being close to the site truly matters for impact and collaboration? Would you like to step into a finance role where you work closely with R&D leaders and help shape investment and spending decisions?

Company Overview

Our client is a global tyre manufacturing group with a strong international footprint across Europe and Asia. The company operates multiple manufacturing and R&D locations and serves customers in over 100 countries worldwide through well-established premium brands. Innovation, product development, and engineering excellence sit at the heart of the organisation, with continuous investment in R&D to support future growth, sustainability, and advanced mobility solutions. The European R&D hub plays a critical role in shaping next-generation products and technologies.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Finance Manager (R&D) to act as the key finance business partner for the R&D organisation based in Enschede. In this role, you will drive financial planning, performance insights, and governance to support sound investment decisions, effective cost control, and the successful delivery of innovation initiatives. You will work closely with R&D leadership, procurement, tax, legal, and accounting teams, ensuring financial transparency, compliance, and efficient operations across projects and entities.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as finance business partner to R&D leadership, supporting investment decisions, project prioritisation, and resource allocation
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis for R&D activities
• Prepare and present monthly R&D performance reports, dashboards, and business reviews, explaining results, trends, and outlook
• Perform financial evaluation of R&D projects and business cases, supporting governance and investment approval processes
• Coordinate and support R&D incentive and grant programmes (e.g. WBSO, RDA, EFRO), including eligibility assessment, documentation, and audits
• Support VAT and Corporate Income Tax compliance related to R&D activities in collaboration with Tax and Legal
• Own and coordinate the end-to-end procure-to-pay (P2P) process for R&D
• Define and oversee intercompany cost allocation and cross-charging in line with transfer pricing principles
• Manage R&D-related period-end close and statutory reporting, ensuring compliance with IFRS and Dutch GAAP
• Oversee non-raw-material procurement for R&D (lab supplies, equipment, software, professional services), ensuring budget control and policy compliance
  
  

Who We Are Looking For

• A senior finance professional with strong business partnering capabilities
• Someone comfortable operating in a complex, international R&D environment
• A proactive advisor who can translate financial data into clear insights for non-finance stakeholders
• A team player with strong stakeholder management and communication skills

Ideal Background:

• Master’s degree in Finance or related field (additional qualification in controlling or data management is a plus)
• 8–10 years of relevant experience, including 4–5 years in a similar finance business partnering or controlling role
• Strong financial analysis and business acumen
• Experience with SAP and BI tools (Power BI or similar)
• Solid understanding of data analysis and reporting
• International mindset and ability to work across cultures
• Fluent in English (Dutch is an advantage)
  
  

What’s in It for You

• A key role at the intersection of finance, R&D, and innovation
• Exposure to global projects and international stakeholders
• Dynamic and collaborative working environment
• Competitive compensation package
• At least 28 holiday days per year
• Strong focus on learning & development
• Hybrid working model with support for home-office setup

Next Steps

If you are motivated by innovation, enjoy partnering with technical and R&D teams, and want to play a strategic finance role in an international organisation, apply now with your CV. We will be happy to share more details and discuss the opportunity further.

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