CFO+

The organisation

The company sells eyewear. That sounds simple, as is the intention. Company’s aim is to breathe new life into the eyewear sector with a good dose of common sense. The company does so by making and distributing great, well-designed quality glasses accessible to everyone. And by providing the best omnichannel customer experience possible.

Since its founding, Company has grown rapidly into a leading, pan-European eyewear brand. Company operates with almost 100 stores in 10 countries. In addition, Company operates an e-commerce channel. The company designs all its products in-house and has outsourced production to high quality, experienced partners in Europe and Asia.

Company strives to minimize its environmental footprint throughout the full value chain and is a certified B Corp. Company is committed to leading the way when it comes to responsibly making high-quality, well-designed eyewear.

Company strives for a lean and efficient head quarter (Amsterdam), with a strong focus on speed, quality and scalability. Company is led by executives CEO, and CFO, together with the management team consisting of VP Commercial and VP digital.

2024 will be a transformational year for the company, during which it will achieve EBITDA-positivity and lay the foundation for another phase of rapid expansion by professionalising key business processes. Company is looking for a talented and energetic CFO+ who will guide the organization through this transformational period.

The position

Are you a strong financial leader with a broad business orientation? Do you have a demonstrable track record in optimizing business processes and integrating the right systems? Are you a strong business partner with an entrepreneurial and ‘getting it done' mindset? Do you have experience in eyewear retail or other relevant retail experience including international sourcing? Do you have affinity with people, change management and building sustainable organisations? Are you detailed driven, and highly curious, determined to identify and leverage the key business levers, and capable of monitoring action plans to achieve the committed targets? Then read on because we are looking for such a CFO+.

Tasks & responsibilities

As CFO, co-pilot and statutory director of the business, you have a strong ambition to build a future-proof, scalable finance function that will serve as the foundation for profitable international expansion.

Formally, as CFO you are responsible for Finance & control, Legal, Payroll, Business Intelligence , and you will lead the corresponding teams. Depending on your experience other HQ functions could be added. Experience with Operations & logistics is a strong plus. You will report to the Supervisory Board and the CEO and will function as a fact-based sparring partner for the CEO from a financial, strategic and operational perspective. Additionally, you are the liaison and discussion partner for external partners.
To successfully fulfil your assignment, you will develop an optimally functioning, fit-for-purpose, lean finance organisation, utilizing technology and data. Basically: you put the backoffice in order and professionalise teams. Not through setting up narrow frameworks and restrictions, but with strategic focus led by an entrepreneurial mindset. Result oriented, you will roll up your proverbial operational sleeves, accelerate and smoothly move the entire organisation to the next phase.

Candidate profile

Wanted: exceptionally high-powered professional

You earned a master’s degree in finance, business, or another relevant subject possibly. Ideally supplemented by an RC or RA degree. And you know the retail sector inside out, preferably in eyewear. You have up to 10-15 years of (broad) financial management experience and international country set-up in Retail, preferably as CFO. Complex international value chains, physical goods movement, W/C management, preparation of investment cases and rapidly opening new retail locations, is your bread and butter. You have experience in market analysis, financial reporting, Power BI, ERP implementation and managing operations. Any knowledge of the eyewear business is an obvious pre.

You are business savvy. Maybe you already have experience with funding (debt/equity) Private. Hands-on experience with M&A and/or an exit is a plus.

You are highly intelligent and analytical, with a strong growth mindset. You work in a structured, precise manner and have an eye for detail, without losing sight of strategic topics and long-term goals. You have an excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken.

Obviously talented, are high agency, empathic, energetic and hands-on. You inspire, have effective communication skills and are good at inspiring, energising and persuading others. You do not lose sleep over resistance or setbacks. On the contrary, you embrace challenges, have a high level of responsibility, are solution oriented and aim to win; settling for less is not in your mindset. You are a strong discussion partner, but are self-aware, pragmatic and flexible when needed – you can see other’s perspectives and don’t let entrenched, theoretical discussions get in the way of reaching the bigger objective. As a leader, you stand strong and stay calm under pressure. You thrive in a fast growing, ambiguous scale-up environment.

The offer

As the CFO of Company you will have broad (financial) responsibility and the opportunity to make true impact throughout the organisation. You will join an international, strongly branded scale-up with huge growth potential. The entrepreneurial spirit and young energetic atmosphere are the perfect environment for you to get excited, role up your (and others’) sleeves and transform the organisation from a well-meaning group of individuals into a lean and mean execution machine. The eyewear market is financially highly interesting (driven by macro tailwinds and high gross margins), which attracts major players looking to consolidate.

Employment conditions

• CFO+ is a full-time job
• Fixed salary is depending on the profile of the candidate, plus 40% short term bonus, and equity (investment in the company is part of the opportunity).
• Location: Company headquarters in Amsterdam

Interested?

You are invited to apply for this position by using the form below. For more information, please contact Geert-Jan Joosten at +31653788464.