Finance Director

The organisation

Damen Naval is the shipbuilding division of the family-owned Damen Shipyards Group. The Naval division, with over 600 professionals, has a rich tradition in naval shipbuilding and has its headquarters in Vlissingen where its original roots stem back more than 150 years. 

For more than 50 years, Damen Naval is the dedicated shipbuilder for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Based on decades of accumulated experience Damen Naval offers navies worldwide a broad range of defence and security vessels, ranging from 100 to more than 200 meters in length. Damen Naval is the only naval original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the Netherlands. Damen Naval has delivered more than 420 vessels to satisfied customers all over the world and has earned a reputation for excellence along the way. While taking pride in heritage, Damen Naval is looking towards the future. Damen Naval offers you a career opportunity that is challenging and exciting in equal measure.

The position

Complex technological projects, billions in total investments, high standards and little room for error. This demanding environment has interesting challenges to offer a seasoned Finance Director.
You are accountable for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the Damen Naval Division; responsible for the management of the departments of legal (6p), business control (12p), financial control (10p), including payroll (5p). Direct reports are the respective Managers of those three departments. You will report hierarchically to the Managing Director of the Damen Naval Division and functionally to the Group CFO. You act as the compliance officer of the company, and you are accountable for the development of the financial and legal strategy and the ongoing development, monitoring of control systems designed to preserve company assets. You are accountable for reporting accurate financial results and responsible for maintaining financial integrity in the day-to-day business of the company and its partners worldwide.

Tasks & responsibilities

In this role, your will have the following key accountabilities:

• Developing strategic operating plans that reflect the longer-term objectives and priorities, monitoring and directing the implementation of the Naval strategic business plan.
• Ensuring that the operating objectives and standards of performance are understood and owned by the management and employees.
• Responsible for active participation in all proposals before decision bid /no bid & final contracting, including legal implications.
• Developing and executing, in cooperation with the group tax department, (inter)national financial, tax and risk reduction strategies and monitoring financial operations of subsidiary companies including foreign entities.
• Responsible for the cash pool and non-cash pool bank accounts, ensuring proper collection of receivables and providing dependable cash flow forecasting to the Naval Division as well as to the Damen Group.
• Ensuring adequate operational planning and financial control monitoring systems are in place, including reporting to relevant banks.
• Monitoring and ensuring compliance of the project with financial guidelines and control financial governance in line with internal standards and external laws and regulations.
• Liaising with the contract manager and risk manager to ensure deviations in the contract or changes are correctly processed and followed up.
• Developing and executing, in cooperation with the group treasury department, mitigation strategies for foreign exchange risks.
• Overseeing the financial operations of subsidiary companies and foreign operations.
• Responsible for driving the company’s planning and control cycle and reporting (financial) results to the board of directors.
• Executing and maintaining appropriate insurance coverage, in cooperation with the group insurance department.
• Executing and maintaining the compliance program within the company.
• Representing the company with banks, export credit agencies, accountants, and other external parties.

Candidate profile

• Master’s degree in a financial/accounting discipline with an additional Executive Master’s degree in finance or accounting. 
• Extensive understanding of financial management and wider management principles and techniques. 
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible financial experience for a major company or division of a large corporation.
• Proven experience with financial management, preferably in a related naval or defence industry or heavy equipment construction industry.
• Good understanding of the technical complexity of project realisation and the impact on risk, revenue and costs.
• Good command of the English language. Understanding of Dutch and German languages is beneficial.
• Willing to travel occasionally.
• Residing in the Netherlands or willing to relocate.

Interested?

You can apply to this position by using the link below. Damen Naval works together with JDB to fill this vacancy.