VP Finance, Legal & Regulatory Benelux

The VP works closely with other members of executive management and WK support functions to achieve top-line growth, profitability, balanced capital structure and strong control environment. Functional responsibilities include financial and management reporting, control, treasury, internal audit, financial planning and analysis, budgeting and information systems, business development support, strategy support, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and WK practices and policies and maintaining the financial relationship with internal partners including */dxg and GBS.

The VP Finance oversees the finance function for LR in the Netherlands and Belgium, together ca. €215m in revenue. The function also oversees the financial operations for the legal entity Wolters Kluwer NV Belgium, including TAA (ca. €90m revenue) and LSW (ca. €6m revenue). 

Responsibilities:

• Financial Strategy and Planning: Develop and implement financial strategies to support the business objectives of LR Benelux. Lead the annual budgeting, long term strategic planning (VSP) and periodic forecasting processes.
• Management Reporting: Oversee the preparation and presentation of accurate and timely financial & management reports, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements. Fully accountable for financial statements of Wolters Kluwer Benelux (P&L, B/S, cashflows).
• Statutory Reporting: Oversee the preparation and presentation of statutory accounts & reports in compliance with company law and country (Netherlands and Belgium) regulations (VAT, tax, workers council).
• Pricing: Collaborate with sales to make sure that inflation and value is reflected in pricing, take part in public tenders and meetings as director of Wolters Kluwer NV, decide together with management on future business models.
• Risk Management, BCM & Privacy: Identify and manage financial risks, ensuring robust internal controls and compliance with all relevant stakeholders, regulations and policies including privacy and business continuity management.
• Manage Multiple P&Ls: Oversee and optimize financial performance across the Benelux geographic markets and profit and loss statements, ensuring tailored strategies align with local market dynamics, and ensuring harmonization of systems & processes.
• Financial Oversight: Provide comprehensive financial oversight and support to international operations, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives while addressing Benelux challenges and opportunities.
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of finance professionals, both and indirect, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement. Be part of the LR Benelux Management team and play an active role in mentoring and challenging the team members individually and improving the team in general.
• Decision support: Collaborate with senior management and other departments to provide financial insights that allows management to make optimal decisions.
• Cost Management: Monitor and control costs to ensure efficient use of resources and alignment with financial goals. Drive savings through local and cross Division operational Excellence program
• Optimize finance systems and processes: contribute in integrating activities, and simplify organization structures. Harmonize systems and processes within BeNeLux in order to create more transparency for management and reduce costs.
• Investment Analysis: Evaluate potential investments and strategic initiatives, providing financial analysis and recommendations to support business decisions.
• Stakeholder Management: Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including external auditors, regulatory bodies, government and financial institutions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Foster collaboration among regional finance teams to drive consistency in financial reporting and performance metrics across all operating units, facilitating knowledge sharing and best practices.

Education:

Minimum:   Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, or related discipline

Preferred:   Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related discipline

Experience & skills: 

Minimum Experience: 15 years FP&A experience with a min 10 years leading teams and responsibility for financial operations for a revenue line of business

• Superior analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to synthesize findings from multiple sources and complex analysis to develop fact-based, actionable recommendations supported by thought leadership
• Capable of being a leader, team player and individual contributor in a flat management structure, and effectively team up with and leverage colleagues across the company
• Proven ability to influence, advise, and thoughtfully challenge colleagues, regardless of seniority, leveraging strong interpersonal skills and superior conceptual and analytical problem solving
• Strong written and oral presentation skills suitable for senior executive and Board-level discussions
• Experience with growing and diversifying a business through organic growth, corporate development initiatives, and change/expansion through alliances, joint ventures, and acquisitions (including M&A)
• Evaluate, the attractiveness and viability of potential acquisitions and divestments, execute and integrate acquisitions 
• Working within a business that is heavily impacted/driven by technology and digital transformation
• Using financial and operational analysis and insight development to improve business performance and profitability
• Proven track record of managing financial operations with a deep understanding of local regulations and market conditions.
• Extensive experience in financial strategy development that accommodates diverse business models and P&L structures, ensuring sustainable growth in various markets.
• Demonstrated excellence in managing finance, accounting, budgeting, control, and reporting.
• Strong analytical skills and experience transforming a strategic vision into an operational model.
• Strong commitment to developing team members. 
• Sound knowledge about IFRS (or similar) and Internal Control reporting

Other Knowledge, Skills, Abilities or Certifications 

Minimum:

• Expert in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Familiarity with SAP
• Must be capable of multitasking, prioritization, decision making and able to manage multiple systems, data sets and priorities.