Senior Controller

Would you like to step into a role where your financial insights directly shape multimillion-euro supplier negotiations? Do you bring commercial finance experience from FMCG or Retail and want to apply it in a high-impact, international environment?

Company Overview

The organization operates as a buying alliance within the retail and Food Reatil space, bringing together multiple member companies to jointly optimize procurement activities, supplier negotiations, and purchasing power. The alliance manages significant financial flows across suppliers and member entities and requires a strong, well-controlled finance function to ensure transparency, accuracy, and trust across all stakeholders.

The finance team plays a critical role in safeguarding financial integrity across the alliance, covering accounting, financial controlling, settlements, and reporting. Given the multi-company setup and transaction-heavy environment, robust financial processes, controls, and clear financial oversight are essential to support sustainable growth and effective collaboration between members.

Position Overview

As Senior Controller, you will be responsible for the integrity of the financials and the robustness of the controlling and accounting framework. This is a hands-on role with end-to-end responsibility across financial reporting, accounting, period close, and internal controls. You will act as a key sparring partner to senior finance leadership, ensuring that financial data is accurate, compliant, and decision-ready.

The role suits a controller who enjoys being close to the numbers, understands accounting in depth, and can translate complex financial information into clear insights for the business. Ideal for someone with experience in Food retail.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Controlling & Reporting

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in line with accounting standards
• Prepare balance sheet reviews, P&L analysis, and cash flow reporting
• Perform variance analysis and explain deviations versus budget and forecast

Accounting & Compliance

• Oversee core accounting activities, including general ledger, accruals, provisions, and reconciliations
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements
• Act as a key contact for internal and external auditors and coordinate audit processes
• Maintain and further strengthen the internal control framework

Planning & Forecasting

• Support budgeting and forecasting cycles from a financial controlling perspective
• Monitor financial performance against plans and highlight risks and opportunities
• Contribute to financial models and scenario analyses where required

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, controls, and reporting efficiency
• Support optimization of financial systems and data quality (ERP, reporting tools)
• Ensure consistency and reliability of financial data across entities and stakeholders

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with finance leadership and relevant internal stakeholders
• Translate financial outcomes into clear insights for non-finance colleagues
• Act as a trusted finance partner with a strong focus on accuracy and clarity

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in financial controlling and/or accounting, ideally in a complex, transaction-driven environment
• Mandatory experience in the food retail industry
• Strong technical accounting foundation with hands-on experience in period close, financial reporting, balance sheet control, and audits
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with ERP systems (e.g. SAP) and BI tools is a strong plus
• Structured, detail-oriented professional who takes ownership and communicates in a clear, concrete, and straight-to-the-point manner
• Fluent in English; no visa sponsorship available

What’s in It for You?

• A key finance role within a complex retail & FMCG buying alliance
• Exposure to an international, multi-entity environment with established retail partners
• Significant ownership in shaping and strengthening financial controlling, accounting, and governance
• Close involvement in financial oversight of procurement flows, settlements, and performance
• Competitive compensation package with scope for long-term development

Next Steps?
If you are interested in the Senior Controller role, please reach out directly or send your CV. I will be happy to walk you through the details, share more context, and assess whether the role aligns with your experience.

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