Director Finance & Business Planning

Vacancy Director Finance & Business Planning

The Automotive Campus in Helmond is an open innovation ecosystem for smart, safe and sustainable mobility and energy. Firmly rooted in the automotive sector, we have grown into a place where companies, knowledge and research institutions, governments and talent work together. Here, in the heart of Brainport, partners have access to expertise, workspace, specialized test facilities and a Living Lab. It’s where new solutions are developed, tested and validated under real-life conditions, and made ready for use.

In the coming years, we want to develop the campus into a leading international Living Lab and innovation ecosystem. In addition, we are expanding from the current 18 hectares to a total of 30 hectares.

The connection between automotive, mobility, energy systems and digitalization is key. Our focus is also on entrepreneurship, talent development and the continued growth of the campus. The municipality of Helmond and the province of Noord-Brabant are set to become the new owners of the campus property: it will give the next phase a strong public foundation.

To make this happen, we are building a completely new campus organization. Tasks that are now spread across several legal entities will be brought together in one organization. The team and our way of working are now taking shape. If you join us, you will help build an organization from scratch. An organization that helps grow the campus, the surrounding area and its buildings and supports partners and the sector in taking mobility and energy solutions from innovations to real-world applications.

That is why we are looking for a

Manager Finance & Business Planning (32 to 40 hours p/w)

Are you a strategic finance partner with strengths that go well beyond accounting and reporting? Do you enjoy contributing to plans, growth, investments and the financial feasibility of the campus? Then we are looking for you.

As Finance Director, you will work with your MT colleagues to build a financially healthy Automotive Campus, from strategic, financial and social perspectives. You will be a co-architect of the investment agenda and operating budget, business cases, funding strategy and prioritization.

As the person with final responsibility for finance, you are an important strategic sparring partner within the campus. You help the organization turn ambitions and innovative plans into financially feasible scenarios, investment choices and strong business cases. You look not only at the short term, but also at long-term value, financeability, risks and social impact.

You analyze where there are opportunities for efficiency, cost savings, smart purchasing and healthy operations. You assess business cases for new build, sustainability upgrades, energy and mobility, shared facilities and test facilities, and you help think about how to finance these. You also identify opportunities for subsidies, public contributions, co-financing and other innovative forms of funding.

At the same time, you make sure the financial foundation is solid. You are responsible for budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, planning and control, and clear management reports for the management board, the Supervisory Board and shareholders. You safeguard the financial health of the organization and ensure reliable financial records, good control measures and transparent accountability.

You are a critical and constructive discussion partner. When innovative plans carry too much financial risk, you dare to push back and offer alternatives. You also assess new tenants, contract renewals and new build for financial stability, risks, and the effect on operations and returns.

You are part of the Management Team and work closely…