Overview

A commercially focused Group CFO role in a PE-backed international group that has grown quickly through recent acquisitions. As Group CFO, you will turn the shareholder’s value-creation plan into concrete results in each country, bring three country organisations together into one group, and drive commercial performance. You will steer results and help create them, rather than only report them.

About the Company

Our client is the full-service partner of independent entrepreneurs in a regulated, non-cyclical retail sector. The company brings these entrepreneurs together and provides them with the scale, tools, and commercial support of a larger organisation, while allowing them to remain independent. The offer combines joint purchasing from suppliers and manufacturers, proprietary software, a national partnership, training and a shared commercial vision.

The company has a very loyal base of affiliated members, built on long-standing relationships. This gives it a stable financial base. The model is built on partnership: the group’s success is directly linked to the success of its members.

Since a private equity investor became majority shareholder, the group has expanded internationally. It made two acquisitions in short succession and now has a platform in three Western European countries. It has fewer than 100 employees, spread roughly evenly across the three countries. Further add-ons within the existing markets are possible, but this is not a classic buy-and-build. Value creation will come mainly from commercial growth, together with the affiliated members.

The culture combines ownership and ambition: high standards, with the guidance and support teams need. It is a small organisation without a large staff, where everyone, including the CFO, is hands-on.

Role & Responsibilities

The current finance function grew out of a domestic Finance Director role. That role has since also taken on one of the international entities, which has its own local finance team. With the most recent acquisition and the group’s growth plans, the company now needs a Group CFO.

The role is broader than a traditional CFO remit and strongly focused on value creation, including developing the organisation’s culture further. You will work closely with the CEO and an engaged PE shareholder. The shareholder expects the CFO to be the person who turns its plan into results in each country.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Performance Management & Culture

• Translate the growth plan and targets into clear objectives per country, and take joint ownership of delivering them with the country organisations.
• Strengthen execution: deliver predictably on deadlines and forecasts, and drive growth in all three countries.
• Develop a culture of ownership and ambition further, setting high standards and leading by example.

Growing Together with the Members

• Understand how the group contributes to its members’ results and how both sides grow together.
• Work with the commercial teams to find and capture value-creation opportunities based on data and KPIs.

One International Group

• Deliver timely, accurate and comparable reporting on financials and KPIs across all three countries, allowing for differences in finance maturity per country.
• Integrate the most recent acquisition and build strong relationships with the country organisations from a clear group perspective, supporting and challenging local teams.
• Manage the external financiers professionally, and support any further acquisitions within the existing countries.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an experienced, commercially driven and hands-on CFO with a private equity track record. You steer on results and value creation, have led an international finance organisation, and feel at home in a small, ambitious organisation without a large staff.

Key Requirements

• Academic level of thinking, preferably with a degree in Business Economics, Accountancy, Finance or similar.
• An experienced CFO: core CFO responsibilities take little of your bandwidth, leaving room to think strategically and steer results.
• Demonstrable private equity experience and a strong value-creation mindset.
• Experience leading an international finance organisation, preferably including France and/or the UK.
• Strong commercial affinity, ideally gained in a model with affiliated entrepreneurs, members or franchisees.
• Experience managing external financiers.
• Fluent Dutch and English; French is an important advantage.

Core Competencies

• Conceptually and analytically strong: a true leader who is also hands-on.
• Firm grip on figures and reporting.
• Commercial drive: entrepreneurial and results-oriented, with the ambition to keep building.
• Sees the strength of a loyal, stable customer base and uses it as a foundation for growth.
• Strong communicator who builds relationships easily with country organisations, commercial teams and members.
• Sets high standards and leads by example, with an eye for the support teams need.

Practical Details

• Location: Noord-Holland (HQ), with regular travel to the UK and France.
• Organisation size: Fewer than 100 FTE across three countries.
• Reporting line: CEO.
• Team: Finance functions across three countries, at different levels of maturity.
• Languages: Dutch and English (fluent); French is a strong advantage.
• Start date: As soon as possible, Q1 2027 at the latest.

What Our Client Offers

• A broad Group CFO role with a strong commercial and value-creation focus.
• A key role in building one international group from three country organisations.
• Close collaboration with an engaged PE shareholder.
• A stable business with a loyal customer base, at the start of a new growth phase.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: €200K–€250K.
• Variable remuneration.
• Possible participation in the management incentive plan (MIP).