Senior Business Controller

As a Business Controller, you serve as the business’s financial partner. You provide insights, analyze data, and advise the business, thereby helping to steer it toward achieving its goals. Your challenge is to keep the organization on track from a business economics perspective. Interested? We’d love to talk with you.

Where you will work

SURF is a cooperative. We work for and with our members: Dutch research and educational institutions. We develop digital services and address complex innovation challenges, thereby enhancing the quality of education and research.

We operate using both public and private business models. SURF combines the characteristics of a commercial enterprise with those of a public organization. In terms of our core activities, we serve as an ICT service provider—for instance, through the use of our supercomputer—and play a key role in innovation, such as by establishing a major Dutch AI facility and conducting research using a quantum computer. We frequently collaborate with international partners in these endeavors. Finally, we are an association for our members.

The team you will join

The Planning & Control team consists of nine colleagues and serves as the financial conscience of SURF. We act as a critical business partner, influencing policy and strategy development. We support the board and management in implementation and provide (solicited and unsolicited) advice on the allocation and control of resources as part of the P&C cycle. We also advise on the design of (financial) processes and their control. We assist in the preparation of business cases.

SURF is growing in size, and how we organize ourselves and the team evolves alongside SURF. Improving our work processes and (internal) products is an integral part of what we do. Every Planning & Control colleague contributes to this. We are enthusiastic and value strong collaboration both within and outside the team. We keep each other on our toes in a positive atmosphere. Most colleagues are part of a management team; one colleague focuses on BI development, and another focuses on managing grant flows. As a team, we make a significant contribution to SURF’s continued growth.

What you will do

You will serve as the financial sparring partner for the Advanced Solutions for Research (ASfR) unit. You will work closely with the unit director, management team members, and several program and project managers. In addition, you will support three innovation managers who focus on the SURF-wide innovation agenda and the progress of innovation initiatives. The ASfR unit provides computing power, data services, and technological innovation for researchers. From a financial perspective, you will support the planning and implementation of our services and innovation projects with the following core tasks:

• You will assist management in compiling accurate budgets and forecasts with a critical eye and thorough analysis.
• You provide solicited and unsolicited analyses, reports, and advice on business developments, portfolios, and projects.
• You prepare financial management information and provide it with a thorough analysis. You are a driving force behind a long-term perspective. In this way, you support management in making well-founded (strategic) decisions.
• You provide guidance in developing business cases. In addition, you translate financial figures into models based on multiple scenarios.
• You take initiative and elevate financial processes and products to a higher level driven by a genuine interest and curiosity.
• You have a natural advisory role and coach colleagues both within and outside the team with a collaborative approach.

Your skills and experience

• You have strong communication skills, are analytical, and are a team player. You express your explanations and recommendations in a convincing and concise manner.
• You handle deadlines well and thrive in a dynamic work environment.
• You have a critical, proactive, and flexible attitude. You know how to translate your advice into appropriate action based on knowledge and behavior.
• You work independently and know how to effectively engage business partners and team members when necessary for (team) success.
• You have a completed degree in business economics at the university level. In addition, you have extensive work experience as a Business Controller. An affinity for a project-based environment is a plus.
• You have demonstrable experience as a financial sparring partner for the executive board, management teams, and senior stakeholders.
• You possess excellent communication skills in both Dutch and English, both verbally and in writing.

Prior to starting this job, a VOG must be presented

SURF takes pleasure in doing its recruitment itself; acquisition is therefore not appreciated.