Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

What does the role involve?

Together with the CEO and COO, you will drive the organisation’s further strategic and financial development. Your task is to translate the corporate strategy into concrete growth opportunities by developing scalable revenue and pricing models. This involves identifying opportunities for each market, region, entity, business unit and customer segment, based on expected customer value, revenue potential, costs, margin, cash flow, risks and scalability. These insights will be translated into business cases that reflect the perspective of both customers and Voortman Steel Machinery.

You will also develop clear investment frameworks and identify suitable financing models that align with the nature of the activities and the international context. This requires a careful assessment of the available financing options in terms of impact, liquidity and return. Based on this analysis, you will advise the Board on priorities and ensure that resources are allocated to the initiatives that contribute most to Voortman Steel Machinery’s strategic and financial objectives. This includes determining the financial and organisational conditions under which pilots can be launched and scaled. With clear go/no-go moments for each phase you will ensure that the development and implementation of new revenue and pricing models do not outpace the organisation’s ability to adapt them. Monitoring the financial performance of these models is also part of your role, as is deciding whether their rollout should be accelerated, continued, adjusted or scaled back. At the same time, you will ensure that contracts contain comprehensive agreements, provide a balanced allocation of risks and can be implemented in every country in which Voortman Steel Machinery operates. As a result, you develop revenue and pricing models that are commercially attractive, financially sound and scalable.

As CFO, you will actively contribute to the continued international growth of Voortman Steel Machinery. Part of this is developing strategic, financial and organisational plans that make clear which structure best supports the intended growth for each market and international entity. You will coordinate these activities across departments and entities without taking over your colleagues’ line-management responsibilities. The role also includes monitoring the returns, cash flow and working capital for each country and international entity, while maintaining oversight of financial, legal, tax, contractual and compliance risks.

In addition, you will be responsible for the financial management and control of Voortman Steel Machinery. This covers the international responsibility for consolidation, planning & control, reporting, accounting, treasury, audit, tax, corporate income tax and internal control, as well as the delivery of accurate and transparent reporting for each international entity. The Finance Director handles the day-to-day coordination of these activities and leads the Finance department, with whom you will work closely together. As a close partner to the Finance Director, you will act as a sparring partner, stepping in where needed, safeguarding the strategic direction of the Finance department, ensuring sound governance and handling matters with Board-level impact. Besides, representing Voortman Steel Machinery in dealing with banks, insurers, the external auditor and other financial stakeholders is also part of your role.

What makes this role unique?

This role gives you the opportunity to visibly shape the next phase of growth at Voortman Steel Machinery. You will join an organisation where entrepreneurship, innovation and decisiveness come together: ideas are not only explored, but also rigorously tested for value creation, return, risk and scalability. This gives you the space to apply your financial expertise and strategic insights to developing new propositions, building business cases and making investment decisions that directly influence the organisation’s international growth. This makes the position explicitly more than a traditional CFO role: in addition to safeguarding the financial foundation, you will help determine how Voortman Steel Machinery translates commercial opportunities into healthy, scalable and future-proof growth.

Position within the organisation

Voortman Steel Machinery develops machines, software and service solutions that enable steel-processing companies to automate and optimise their production processes. Our headquarter is located in the Netherlands. With offices in several countries, we are able to provide effective local support. The recently opened large-scale production facility in the United States demonstrates how the organisation continues to grow internationally. In addition, our LogicSteel software is developed primarily in the United Kingdom, and we operate various sales and service hubs worldwide.

As CFO, you will form the Board of Voortman Steel Machinery together with the CEO and COO, jointly guiding the development of the Global Management Team and the organisation as a whole. Your focus will be on translating the corporate strategy into concrete opportunities for new revenue and pricing models. Close collaboration with the Product Management department is key here. This department is responsible for identifying and developing software, machine and service propositions. Furthermore, you will be responsible for the Finance department and work closely with the Finance Director, who manages the day-to-day international financial operations. The HR Manager and Trade Compliance Officer also report to you. The HR Manager is (jointly) responsible for developing the HR strategy and ensuring its operational execution. The Trade Compliance Officer ensures that the organisation complies with relevant laws and regulations and monitors the effectiveness of the measures in place.

What we offer

Voortman Steel Machinery is a true family business with an informal and entrepreneurial culture. People know each other and the lines of communication are short. There is plenty of room to take responsibility, show initiative and bring ideas to life. Our core values – entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, passion for technology, dedication and collaboration – form the foundation of how we work together. They are reflected in the pride with which we develop high-quality technology, in the way our teams strengthen one another, and in our shared drive to help customers move forward. The result is a working environment where ambition, commitment and job satisfaction come together naturally.

In addition to a professional, entrepreneurial and close-knit working environment, we offer:

• A competitive salary that reflects your knowledge and experience;

• An attractive pension scheme with ASR, in which you and Voortman jointly build up your pension capital;

• A lease car for business and private use;

• A key role in realising our strategy, with international impact;

• A modern workplace on our Voortman Campus in Rijssen.

What do you bring?

We are looking for an entrepreneurial, strategic and decisive CFO with a master's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration or a related field. A professional qualification such as RA, RC or CPA is a must. You have at least five years of experience as CFO, Divisional CFO, Senior Finance Director, Head of Finance or Director Corporate Finance, preferably within an international original equipment manufacturer (OEM), industrial technology company, technically complex B2B organisation or top-tier consultancy firm. Experience within an entrepreneurial family business, or an organisation of comparable size and complexity, is a plus. You also have experience leading a finance department or team. In addition, you match the following profile:

• Strategic and analytical capability: you have strong analytical and strategic skills and proven experience in understanding complex data and business models. You are able to translate information into clear strategic and financial logic, transparent well-reasoned assumptions and well-founded decisions. You can set direction, formulate long-term goals and guide colleagues in achieving them.

• Business model innovation: you have proven experience in identifying growth opportunities and developing new (scalable) revenue, pricing and contract models, backed by solid business cases and scenario analyses. You also have extensive experience in developing financing models and structuring capital allocation based on (expected) returns, risks and strategic contribution.

• Decisive and results-driven: you make timely, well-considered decisions based on the information available, and once you have made a choice, you stand by it. You are persuasive, able to build support, and skilled at carefully guiding internal and external stakeholders through strategic change. You actively steer towards concrete results and deliver demonstrable positive financial impact.

• Change management and situational awareness: you have experience in driving internal change and implementing new revenue and pricing models, as well as adjusting them in time. You excel at translating new models into clear, manageable processes and roles, ensuring a structured, step-by-step implementation, and supporting colleagues through change. You remain calm under pressure and in complex situations, keep sight of the bigger picture and switch quickly. You also have a keen sense of internal dynamics en weigh different interests carefully. Furthermore, you also have a sound understanding of cultural and organisational differences in an international context.

• Connecting and communication skills: you are involved and able to build and maintain lasting professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as banks, auditors and insurers. You communicate clearly, keep people informed of relevant developments in good time and are approachable. Furthermore, you can explain complex topics in an understandable way and tailor your communication to your audience. You also have excellent spoken and written communication skills in both Dutch and English.

• Inspiring leadership: your leadership is focused on growth, trust and development. You coach, inspire and give direction to your team, while leaving room for ownership and responsibility. You intervene where needed, encourage collaboration and help colleagues achieve their potential. In doing so, you contribute to an environment where people feel involved and work towards shared goals.

• Independent and reflective attitude: you have an independent, critical and constructive mindset, are open to feedback, can critically evaluate your own actions and are eager to keep learning.

Interested in this role?

Are you the entrepreneurial and decisive Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who knows how to translate strategy into value, bring new revenue models to life, help drive international growth and steer the organisation with vision and a focus on results? Then we look forward to receiving your application. Upon receipt, your application will be carefully reviewed and we will contact you within two working days. In case there is a potential mutual match, we would like to schedule an initial interview at our office in Rijssen, followed by a potential second and third interview. In preparation for the third interview, we would ask you to complete an assessment that provides insight into your cognitive abilities, motivations and personality. With your consent, the results are then discussed with you, followed by a case study. A reference and background check also forms part of the application process. Would you like to know more about the position, Voortman Steel Machinery or the application process first? Please contact Guus Regelink at g.regelink@voortman.net or +31 6 26 39 38 50.