De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek is an international law firm that is deeply rooted in the Netherlands. De Brauw advises more than 70% of the largest multinationals with headquarters in the Netherlands. De Brauw specialises in high-quality legal advice in complex transactions, proceedings and regulatory issues for companies and financial institutions. Over the years, De Brauw has built up a large and close-knit international network of renowned law firms. About 650 individuals are on staff at De Brauw in Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Shanghai and Singapore.

Purpose of the Job:

The Financial Controller is responsible for ensuring robust financial management, accurate reporting, and effective control processes across the organization. Acting as a key business partner, this role translates financial data into actionable insights, supports compliance, and drives continuous improvement in financial operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting & Control

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial statements and management reports
• Maintain and improve internal control systems and compliance with policies

• Provide proactive insights on cost control and operational efficiency

2. Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted advisor to business professionals and senior management
• Build strong relationships across finance, legal, HR, R&C and ICT
• Support cross-functional initiatives with financial effectiveness and efficiencies

3. Compliance, Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements
• Identify financial risks and propose mitigation strategies
• Support audit processes and regulatory reporting

4. Process Improvement & Technology Enablement

• Drive adoption of automation and analytics in finance processes
• Collaborate with IT/data teams to improve data quality and accessibility
• Evaluate and implement modern financial tools and technologies

Requirements of the Job

Education & Experience:

• At minimum a degree and professional ability at higher professional education level (HBO), but preferably a Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics or a related field

• 4–6 years in financial control or audit or related field
• Additional education/training in data analytics, digital transformation, or operational efficiency projects is a plus

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong understanding of financial best practices, accounting principles, and regulatory requirements in the Netherlands and internationally
• Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English, both written and spoken
• Collaborative, proactive, and result-oriented mindset
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Good interpersonal and customer-focused attitude
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Passion for financial systems and software, and data analysis tools
• Change management or transformation experience is a plus

Challenges

• Balancing short-term performance with long-term strategic goals
• Navigating complex service offerings and client-specific requirements
• Ensuring data consistency and quality across systems
• Driving adoption of new tools and ways of working in a traditional environment
• Technological speed: Urgency to transform the internal support departments towards the new era of automation, AI adoption and operational resilience

Best Practices

• Systems Integration: Using integrated management software for unified financial and timesheet data
• business control, legal professionals, business support (PA's) and other business professionals
• Continuous Monitoring: Regularly monitoring financial and productivity indicators
• Guardian of data quality and constancy in financial definitions and reporting
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with business, legal, HR, and IT
• Data-Driven Culture: Promote analytics in daily decision-making
• Transparent Communication: Deliver clear, actionable insights to stakeholders