Business Unit Controller
Company details
Ahlers is an international logistics company with headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium.
Ahlers employs 650 people in 35 locations across Europe, Asia, Russia and the CIS and offers innovative and highly efficient services in four distinct business units: Project cargo, facilitating trading activities, sustainable supply chain solutions and high value logistics.
Our goal is making the supply chain better and more efficient. The company, founded in 1909, has a track record of successfully adapting to a changing economic and political environment. An updated strategic plan was finalized at the end of 2018 and will is the basis for further growth in focused business areas. Our credo is: “solutions beyond logistics”.
Ahlers is a family-owned company, governed by a board of Directors which is preceded by Mr. Christian Leysen as chairman and member of the founding family. He is also shareholder and investor in IT & Automation companies Xylos, Bagaar and Agidens.
Job Details
Function
Due to the new strategy and growth of Ahlers, we are looking for a Business Unit Controller to join two of the four business units (Projects & Machinery / High value / Sustainable Supply Chain Solutions) at the Global headquarters located in Antwerp. The business unit controller will report to the Business Unit Managers of Projects & Machinery and High Value and to the CFO.
The primary objective is to support the business unit managers with pro-active, accurate and timely financial information to implement the group's growth strategy. He/She is the sparring partner of the Business Unit Manager regarding interpretation and analyses of the figures and decision making.
We offer a position in which you can really support the business by delivering insights that will shape our future. Therefore, you need to be a strong business partner.
Specific responsibilities of the position:
- Build (mostly from scratch) the required reports from various sources throughout the international organization. As this is a new role/function, there is a strong need for someone who likes groundbreaking work, checking and linking available data from various systems and aligning with all financial and business stakeholders what the ideal report looks like and then build it.
- Preparing the monthly and quarterly reporting for the Business Unit.
- Providing the Business Unit pro-actively with required information to support them in their decision making.
- Be a sparring partner for the Business Units.
- Monitor and report the variances between actuals, budget and forecast, and challenge the relevant stakeholders.
- Issue internal policies regarding finance related issues (e.g. cash advances, collection of trade receivables etc.)
- Define and cascade financial KPI’s throughout the organization.
- Learn to engage and challenge internal stakeholders without a hierarchical command.
Profile
Measurement / success criteria of the position:
- Building (from the ground up) various reports from all available sources and defining the processes required to have timely and relevant reporting
- Developing an adequate reporting to support the Business Units
- Optimizations of current working methodologies
- Knowledge of our business so you can actively challenge budgets, results and requests
- Fluent knowledge of our IT systems
Specific requirements for the position:
- Holds a master Degree in Finance
- At least 5 years of experience in business controlling, and exposure to an international business environment. (first experience in audit is an asset)
- Ability to challenge the status-quo and internal stakeholders, increase the productivity and improve overall standards
- Ability to cope with stress and deadlines
- Ability to treat topics confidentially and in an appropriate way
- Ability to translate financial data into a managerial tool for the business. Since this is not
simply reporting on variances but the actually building of the reports from scattered data, we require someone who likes the challenge of building tools and reports from the ground up.
- Ability to analyse financial data and provide clear and comprehensive reports for stakeholders
- A demonstrated and strong commitment to high professional and ethical standards.
- Strong business acumen and willing to build/implement structure, processes and systems to improve the business;
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to decide quickly
- Excellent communication skills: you are able to communicate effectively with stakeholders;
- Hands-on and open minded
- Enthusiastic, self-motivated and eager to drive change, a quick learner and team player;
- You are a fluent communicator in Dutch and English
- You have advanced knowledge of Excel and PowerBI
Offer
In exchange of your expertise, creativity and enthusiasm, the company offers an attractive salary complemented by fringe benefits, career opportunities and challenges abroad.
- Placed on:Fri 7 August 2020
- Location: Antwerpen
Ahlers Belgium
Noorderlaan 139 - 9e verdieping
2030 Antwerpen
Belgium