Financial Controller

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) The Netherlands

The company

About Finwerd Flavours & Fragrances Finwerd is a rapidly growing manufacturing company dedicated to producing high-quality flavours and fragrances for FMCG and industrial sectors. As we scale operations, we are committed to building a world-class finance engine that supports long-term growth, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making.

The function

The Financial Controller owns financial and management reporting, the month-end close, fixed assets, costing, and the receivables and payables cycles for Finwerd, so that the accounting systems (Exact Online, Blending, Smartbooks) reflect an accurate, current position and the business always has reliable visibility of cash. The role also covers budgeting and forecasting, audit and statutory compliance. It is a hands-on role in a scale-up environment: the Financial Controller builds processes where they don't yet exist and drives automation and internal-control improvement across all these areas.

Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements and management reports in line with IFRS and applicable statutory and group reporting requirements.
• Support with the annual budget, forecasts and rolling forecasts; analyze variances and provide financial insights and recommendations to the CFO and management team.
• Build financial models and business cases to support investments, expansion and new product initiatives.
• Set up and maintain financial reporting templates in Smartbooks.
• Month-End Close & General Ledger
• Review the general ledger monthly to ensure postings are made to the correct GL accounts, with the closing completed before Working Day 7.
• Investigate and clear balance sheet reconciling items on a timely basis; manage accruals, provisions and cost allocations.
• Ensure accurate and prompt processing of customer PFIs in line with approved pricing and payment terms.
• Process purchase invoices and manage bank statements in Exact Online.
• Manage purchase orders and vendor payments and oversee expense claim handling in SRXP.
• Monitor payables alongside receivables to keep the working capital cycle efficient.
• Prepare/oversee bank reconciliations for all accounts, including FX revaluation of foreign-currency accounts; oversee petty cash reconciliation at least weekly, ensuring disbursements are correctly approved, posted to the right ledger accounts and VAT correctly applied.
• Oversee cashflow planning, liquidity management and banking relationships, and propose proactive solutions for cashflow gaps and funding needs.
• Maintain the fixed asset register, reconcile it to the ledger monthly, ensure depreciation is calculated and posted correctly, and account for disposals with proper approval evidence.
• Internal Controls, Risk & Process Improvement
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls across payment, procurement, inventory and revenue cycles.
• Assess financial risks, recommend mitigations, and review and update financial and administrative policies and SOPs.
• Drive automation opportunities (e.g. depreciation posting and payment runs directly in the accounting system)

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field
• 5–7 years of administrative experience in the Netherlands
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities
• Good communication Dutch and English (written and verbal)
• Proficiency in tools like Exact online, Microsoft Office and Blending
• Translates financial data into actionable commercial and operational decisions while staying close to the detail.

Preferred attributes

• Ability to work independently and adapt quickly
• Proactive and self-driven; works independently and takes ownership while remaining team oriented.
• Resourceful and comfortable with ambiguity, changing priorities and a fast-paced, evolving business.
• Team-oriented but able to take ownership

Why join Finwerd?

• High-impact finance role in a rapidly expanding manufacturing company.
• This position offers strong career development prospects, with responsibilities expected to broaden in line with the company's continued growth.
• Opportunity to shape and strengthen the company’s financial and administrative backbone.
• A collaborative and multinational team that values excellence, innovation, and integrity.
• Talented team with every Friday homemade ice cream ;-)