Business Controller

Karsten; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Travel allowance / OV card

13th month

Holiday pay 8%

Daily lunch & snacks

Well-being support

Bike lease option

OpenUp/well-being initiatives

Company outings & discounts

Easily accessible Amsterdam office

Job summary

Karsten International in Amsterdam is seeking a Business Controller to strengthen financial planning and control. You will explain what drives performance and translate analyses into practical recommendations for management.

You will be part of the Finance team and report directly to the Head of Finance. Working closely with Sales, Buying and Supply Chain, you will contribute to reliable management information, better decision-making and the continued development of our Finance function.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Economics, Accountancy or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in business control, financial control or a comparable role.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to turn complex datasets into practical insights; experience with Power BI and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills, commercial awareness and a proactive, critical and results-oriented mindset.
• Strong communication and business partnering skills, with the confidence to challenge assumptions.
• Excellent command of Dutch and English; experience in an international trading, retail or inventory-driven organisation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and further develop budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning.
• Analyse financial performance against budget, forecast and prior periods, clearly explaining variances, trends, risks and opportunities.
• Provide insights into revenue, margins, costs and profitability by customer, product, category, sales channel and business unit.
• Analyse working capital, inventory levels, slow-moving stock and cash flow, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support departments and management with financial analyses and business cases, challenge assumptions and advise budget owners.
• Develop KPIs, dashboards and reliable monthly management reports, and improve and automate reporting and controlling processes.

Skills

Excel

Power BI

Dynamics 365 BC

Analytical skills

Communication

Dutch & English

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Economics, Accountancy or related field

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Job description

Do you enjoy turning financial data into insights that help a business move forward? As Business Controller at Karsten International, you will strengthen our financial planning and control. You will explain what drives performance and translate your analyses into practical recommendations for management.

You will be part of the Finance team and report directly to the Head of Finance. Working closely with Sales, Buying and Supply Chain, you will contribute to reliable management information, better decision-making and the continued development of our Finance function.

• On-site
• Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
• 32–40 hours

Job description

Your responsibilities:

• Coordinate and further develop budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning.
• Analyse financial performance against budget, forecast and prior periods, clearly explaining variances, trends, risks and opportunities.
• Provide insights into revenue, margins, costs and profitability by customer, product, category, sales channel and business unit.
• Analyse working capital, inventory levels, slow-moving stock and cash flow, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support departments and management with financial analyses and business cases, challenge assumptions and advise budget owners.
• Develop KPIs, dashboards and reliable monthly management reports, and improve and automate reporting and controlling processes.

Job requirements

What we are looking for:

• A bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Economics, Accountancy or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in business control, financial control or a comparable role, including budgeting, forecasting and management reporting.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to turn complex datasets into practical insights; experience with Power BI and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills, commercial awareness and a proactive, critical and results-oriented mindset.
• Strong communication and business partnering skills, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and move between detail and the bigger picture.
• Excellent command of Dutch and English; experience in an international trading, retail or inventory-driven organisation is a plus

What you can expect from us:

At Karsten International you will join a supportive, ambitious team where we work hard, stay sharp, and enjoy what we do. We are growing fast, so there’s plenty of room to share ideas, take ownership, and really make an impact. We communicate openly, help each other out, and keep things direct but respectful.

What we offer

• Plenty of space for personal growth, ownership and continuous improvement
• Excellent pension scheme
• Travel allowance or OV card, 13th month and 8% holiday pay
• Daily fresh lunch, fruit, and great coffee
• Bootcamp, yoga, football team
• Option to lease a bike
• OpenUp for mental well-being + massage at the office
• Discounts on great products and fun company outings
• Easily accessible office in Amsterdam

Who we are?

Karsten International develops a wide range of products for daily use, from the latest gadgets to sustainable beauty products. In addition to working hard and delivering quality, enjoyment and collegiality are our top priorities. The team consists of driven product developers, sales experts, logistics talents, online marketing specialists and graphic designers. You will be given every opportunity to contribute to this.

Our core values (woven into how we work together)

• Efficient and cost-conscious: We manage time and resources smartly, think critically and value what’s already in place.
• Ambitious with long-term focus: We take ownership, build lasting relationships and stay humble in our success.
• Striving for the best: We measure, learn, improve—and challenge each other to exceed expectations.
• Direct and respectful: We communicate openly and treat everyone with respect, regardless of background.
• We like to have fun: We enjoy what we do and create a positive, energetic work environment.