Finance Director (Ref: 195450)

My client are a leading provider of high-quality pet food solutions, committed to supporting pet owners and businesses across Europe. They pride ourselves on delivering nutritious, safe, and innovative products for pets of all types, while maintaining the highest standards of sustainability and ethical sourcing. Their team-driven culture values collaboration, expertise, and a passion for pets, making us a trusted partner in the pet food industry.

We are seeking a hands-on Finance Director to lead financial performance, governance and operational control across the Netherlands and France. This role is the financial co-pilot to the General Managers and a key member of the regional leadership team. You will drive results through strong accounting discipline, operational controlling, cash management and business partnering - not from PowerPoint decks, but from being close to the business.

Business Partnering & Leadership

• Act as co-pilot to the General Managers in NL & FR.

• Be one of the top two leaders responsible for financial and commercial performance.

• Drive margin, mix and profitability initiatives across sales, supply chain and operations.

Operational & Industrial Finance

• Re-establish strong financial control over manufacturing, inventory, warehousing and transport costs.

• Partner closely with Plant Directors and Operations Controllers.

• Lead performance management across factories and supply chain.

Accounting, Governance & Control

• Own statutory accounts, audits and internal controls.

• Review and strengthen accounting and controlling processes.

• Ensure compliance with Group governance, risk and control standards.

Cash & Working Capital

• Lead working capital optimisation:

  • Reduce DSO and overdue receivables

  • Improve DPO and supplier terms

  • Reduce DII through inventory optimisation

• Partner with Group Treasury on liquidity and funding.

Planning, Reporting & Transformation

• Own forecasting, budgeting and mid-term planning.

• Deliver accurate, insightful monthly reporting.

• Play a key role in ERP transformation (Infor M3).

Experience

• 15+ years in Finance within FMCG / Manufacturing / Industrial environments.

• 5+ years in a senior Finance Director / CFO / Head of Finance role.

• Strong background in:

  • Accounting & audit (Big 4 a plus)

  • Controlling / business finance

  • Plant / industrial finance

Profile

• Hands-on, operational and pragmatic.

• Strong ownership mindset and decision-maker.

• Analytical, detail-driven and commercially astute.

• Comfortable in change, complexity and transformation.

• Excellent communicator and business partner.

Languages

• Fluent English required.

• Dutch or French is helpful but not essential.

• Competitive base salary + bonus.

• Company car and benefits package.

• Medical and pension plan.

• International exposure across NL & FR.

• High-impact leadership role in a growing FMCG business.

• Location: Utrecht, Netherlands.

• Regular travel to:

  • Netherlands production sites

  • Paris office

• Occasional European travel for Group meetings.

• This is a hands-on, in-the-business leadership role, not a corporate head-office-only position.