Finance Director

The organisation

Normec Group is the organization for Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC). Since its founding in 2015, Normecs mission has remained unchanged: supporting clients with sustainable innovation and improvement in a changing world, so they can pioneer safely, quickly and (cost) efficiently. Contact with clients is personal and involved, in any of the 30+ office locations in Europe. With intelligent, thorough and independent research and reporting, the company combines the expertise of 4,500 passionate professionals with excellent, IT-driven services. This is how Normec sets the standard.

Thanks to a successful buy-and-build strategy Normec has become one of the fastest growing companies in the Netherlands. In 2020, Normec was acquired by Private Equity party Astorg. This allowed growth to accelerate even further. After acquisition, Normec ensures a strong balance between centralisation and autonomy while retaining, for example, decentralised administration per entity. As a result, there is still an SME entrepreneurial spirit within Normec. CEO Joep Bruins: 'We exist and grow through knowledge and skills, but we excel through drive.'

The total turnover in 2023 was € 425 million with a healthy EBITDA; for 2024 Normec expects to achieve an EBITDA growth of 40% through organic growth and M&A.

Normec is now focussing on four sectors (all between 20-35% of the group), which are independently managed within the Business Lines Foodcare, Healthcare, Life Safety and Sustainability. Sustainability has twelve business units (700 FTE, active in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and UK) and a turnover of approximately € 150 million. Most business units focus on 'long-term positive impact' on health and the environment, such as improving soil quality, surface water quality and air research. Some focus their services on a fair labour market. Recently, Normec has entered the UK market with the integration of two labs. In the future M&A acquisitions outside Europe are also an option.

The robust growth and average of ten acquisitions per year, results in a dynamic working environment at Normec. And a matching corporate culture: entrepreneurial, purpose-driven and ambitious.

Employees work at a high level and independently. There is great mutual trust: everyone is given the space for entrepreneurship and the freedom to make decisions.

Normec is managed by an Executive Board that consists of three members: CEO Joep Bruins, CFO Robert Wolff and COO Britt Schuurs. In addition, there is a Management Board, consisting of twelve members: four Business Line Managing Directors (MD’s), the General Counsel, the CIO, the CHRO, the CTO and the CSO. Coaching leadership characterizes the entire Board. There is no top-down approach. Instead, leaders support their teams to achieve the best results together. In a dynamic environment this requires an open mind, attention to streamlined integration, a pragmatic, action-oriented approach and attention to managers and employees. Within Normec, people have an eye for each other.

Each MD manages the relevant Business Line together with its own Finance Director and Sales Director. The Business Lines also have their own staff (marketing, communications and HR). IT support is centrally organised within Normec Group. MD Sustainability is Mariska van Schaik. The challenges are many, but nothing beats being part of the solution in combination with M&A plans. For this Business Line Normec Group is looking for a new Finance Director.

The position

Are you a senior Financial who enjoys international travel and working in a 'work hard, play hard' environment? Do you have knowledge in accounting and can you get to the heart of the business challenge after one look at the financials? Are you an empathetic leader who motivates people with humour and perspective to achieve exceptional results? And do you have the drive to financially shape exponential growth within the Sustainability market segment together with an outspoken, authentic board with a strong entrepreneurial track record? Then read on: Normec Group is looking for a Finance Director for the Sustainability division.

Tasks & responsibilities

As Finance Director you are financially responsible for Normec Sustainability and the underlying entities (business units).

On a daily basis, you work closely with your colleagues in the MT. You provide functional leadership to six Finance Managers / Controllers who are responsible for the finances within the entities; on average, three people per BU are involved in the administrative processes.

The Finance Managers / Controllers work under the responsibility of the local MDs. Through regular consultation you are aware of financial issues and result expectations. Based on this, you initiate improvements and discuss them with the BUs.

You will also be supported by Group Reporting and Group Business Control. These two teams focus primarily on financial reporting, business control, more complex accounting issues and the integration of new entities. In the event of a new acquisition, you, together with the Group Finance Director and Group Business Control, take the lead in integrating the company into the Normec standards (HR, Marketing, IT, Finance and Legal). After completing this first phase, as a Finance Director you will take over the integration.

The entities under Normec Sustainability are themselves responsible for the financial reporting. But the financial employees must work according to the same Normec standards: that makes the consolidation of the figures easier.

Your most important task for the coming years is to further integrate and connect the various entities. Although on paper they work in a similar way, in practice they are different. Each entity has its own methods and habits; the companies are in different locations and the overarching Normec feeling is still in its early stages. With your leadership you will create solidarity and clarity. You don't send emails, you just call and visit. You spar together on the spot and bring people into contact with each other to learn from each other.

Result areas

• Together with the MD and Commercial Director, you build on rapid growth, organically and through acquisitions.
• You ensure integration of new entities; in consultation with the Group Finance / Business Control, you ensure a smooth transfer.
• You help entities to further tighten financial processes; as a linking pin between all entities, you monitor the Normec templates.
• To do this, you set up financial reports, set up KPIs and integrate them into an overarching dashboard.
• You roll out the Normec key controls to the new entities and update key controls to existing ones.
• You further develop the planning & control cycle, including forecasting, together with Group Finance.
• You help the MTs of the entities with focus, budgets and actions, so that they achieve the targets.
• You are a sparring partner for the entities and encourage the exchange of knowledge and experience.
• You initiate improvements to increase the performance of the units and implement these together with the MD.

Candidate profile

You have completed an academic education in finance (for example accountancy or business economics), and have a CPA or RA degree. You started your career in audit and maybe you also worked in the transactions services or consulting practice. In the following years, you developed into a solid business partner with international financial (end) responsibility and broad controlling, preferably in a scale-up environment. Now you are finance manager or controller, with a total of at least twelve years of experience. Experience with PE and M&A is a big advantage.

You have broad financial and tax-legal knowledge. And you are used to head a complex, international, growing organisation. You have knowledge in AO/IC, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), data structures, Business Intelligence, and cybersecurity. And you are well acquainted with relevant legislation and regulations, or quickly acquire any missing knowledge.

You have relevant experience with organisational development, which will be useful for your broad responsibilities as CFO. You understand the business, proactively use improvement opportunities with organisational sensitivity.

You have an entrepreneurial nature, are highly driven and proactive. As an analytical, curious thinker, you have a keen eye for process design and efficiency. Your work style systematic, level-headed and solution oriented. At the same time, you are a connecting team player: communicative, accessible, and convincing. You easily gain the trust of the people around you. They can rely on you: you say what you do and do what you say.

You are a business partner for the MD of the BUs, the MT, and the board. And you enjoy switching your communication between different (organisational) levels. You have an affinity with the dynamic environment of a complex scale-up and can cope with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset. As a hands-on leader, you maintain an overview and set priorities, while together with the team you continuously balance building for the future and managing current results.

The offer

This role offers you a unique opportunity to make an impact at an international company that is growing exponentially in the sustainability segment. And in which you can participate. In this position you will have the opportunity to learn a lot in a broad role with final financial responsibility. The road ahead is not mapped out: this is your opportunity to put your expertise to work in your own way. Your role requires you to make things transparent and improve processes: exactly your cup of tea. You will collaborate with talented people who are modest about their own track record and driven to move the business forward in an international environment.

Employment conditions

• Full-time
• €130.000 - 150.000 plus bonus, lease car and the opportunity to participate in Normec Group
• Location: Utrecht with 25-30% international travel

Interested?

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