Finance Operations Manager

About the role

Are you a people-focused finance leader who thrives on building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence and continuously improving processes?

At Alfen, Finance Operations plays a critical role in supporting our growth ambitions and ensuring we remain a reliable partner for our customers, suppliers and employees. To strengthen our finance organization, we are looking for an experienced Finance Operations Manager who combines strong leadership with operational expertise and a passion for continuous improvement.

In this role, you will lead a team of approximately 7 to 10 professionals across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Credit Control, Billing, Payroll and selected General Ledger activities. You will create an environment where team members are empowered to take ownership, act independently and develop their capabilities, while remaining actively involved and ready to provide hands-on support whenever required.

As Finance Operations Manager, you are responsible for the performance, efficiency and scalability of our operational finance processes. You drive KPI management, optimize end-to-end workflows, strengthen internal controls and identify opportunities for automation and system enhancements. You play a key role in further professionalizing the finance function and supporting Alfen's continued growth.

You report directly to the Group Finance Director and work closely with stakeholders across Finance, HR, Procurement, Supply Chain, IT and the wider business.

A key element of the role is partnering closely with the Accounting & Control Manager, who focuses on financial control, external reporting, group FP&A and cost management. Together, you ensure a seamless connection between finance operations and financial control, creating one integrated finance organization capable of supporting Alfen's next phase of growth.

What will you do?

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach and develop a team of 7 to 10 professionals across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Credit Control, Billing, Payroll and General Ledger activities.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, ownership, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Build team capabilities and ensure employees can operate independently and confidently within their areas of responsibility.
• Act as an escalation point and provide hands-on support when operational challenges require deeper expertise or additional leadership.
• Develop future talent and create a scalable team structure that supports Alfen's growth ambitions.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure accurate, efficient and timely execution of all finance operations and payroll processes.
• Safeguard a flawless and compliant payroll operation, recognizing that timely and accurate salary payments are fundamental to Alfen's reputation as a top employer.
• Monitor operational performance through clearly defined KPIs, service levels and quality metrics.
• Drive improvements in productivity, process quality, compliance and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Ensure strong controls, compliance and risk management across all operational finance and payroll activities.
• Maintain focus on working capital performance through effective management of payables, receivables and collections.

Process Improvement & Transformation

• Drive continuous improvement across Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, Payroll and Record-to-Report processes.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process optimization, standardization, automation and digitalization.
• Lead finance systems improvements and support future ERP and finance transformation initiatives.
• Use operational KPIs and process insights to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Improve process efficiency while maintaining a strong control environment.

Business Partnership

• Partner closely with Business Unit Controllers to improve billing quality, invoicing effectiveness and proactive management of unbilled revenue.
• Build strong relationships with Supply Chain and Procurement teams to optimize procure-to-pay processes, vendor performance and invoice processing efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with HR and the Payroll Specialist to ensure payroll processes remain compliant, efficient and future-ready.
• Act as a sparring partner for the Accounting & Control Manager to align operational execution with reporting, compliance and performance management requirements.
• Provide management and senior leadership with insights into operational performance, service levels, process risks and improvement opportunities.

What do you bring?

We are looking for a hands-on finance leader who enjoys developing people, improving processes and creating a high-performing service-oriented organization.

In addition, you bring:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience within finance operations, shared services, accounting or transactional finance environments.
• Proven experience leading teams of operational finance professionals.
• Strong expertise in Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Billing, Credit Control and Payroll processes.
• Experience managing KPI-driven teams and service delivery organizations.
• Demonstrated success in process improvement, automation and finance transformation initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build partnerships across Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and the business.
• A pragmatic mindset with the willingness to dive into operational details when needed.
• Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English.

What do we offer?

At Alfen, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of our finance organization while contributing to the energy transition.

You can expect:

• A highly visible leadership role reporting directly to the Group Finance Director.
• Responsibility for critical finance and payroll processes that support the entire organization.
• The opportunity to shape, develop and professionalize the Finance Operations function.
• Close collaboration with senior finance leadership and business stakeholders.
• Significant influence on process improvement, automation and finance transformation initiatives.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• 27 vacation days and 13 ADV days.
• Hybrid working opportunities.
• Excellent PME pension scheme with a substantial employer contribution.
• Extensive learning and development opportunities.
• An entrepreneurial and collaborative environment where your ideas can make a real difference.

Interested?

Do you have the leadership capabilities, operational expertise and continuous improvement mindset to build a best-in-class Finance Operations function?

Apply now and help us create a scalable, data-driven and future-ready finance organization that supports Alfen's continued growth.