Business Controller

BDR Thermea Group; Apeldoorn; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension package

36 holiday days per year

Home-office budget

Product discounts & insurance packages

Job summary

BDR Thermea Group is seeking a Business Controller R&D to join the Group Finance & Control team in Apeldoorn. This hybrid role partners with stakeholders across R&D and Development Units to provide financial insights, analyses and reporting that support informed decision‑making, cost control and profitability.

You will support budgeting, forecasting, monthly performance reviews and business cases for new product development, and contribute to harmonising processes and professionalising R&D

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of relevant work experience in controller roles.
• Strong analytical skills and understanding of business drivers.
• Advanced Excel, data analysis, and large datasets.
• Structured, detail-oriented, and proactive.
• Excellent English communication with international stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver financial analyses and insights to support decision-making within R&D.
• Monitor R&D performance through KPIs and variances between actual, budgeted and forecasted results.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and monthly reporting processes across multiple R&D locations.
• Analyse CAPEX, project costs, and people-related costs with local finance teams.
• Contribute to the evaluation of business cases for new product development initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

English proficiency

Structured & detail-oriented

Proactive mindset

Education

Master's degree in Finance, Business Economics, Accounting, or related

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Turn financial insight into innovation for the next generation of sustainable heating and cooling solutions

Your role

As our next Business Controller R&D, you will join the Group Finance & Control team and partner closely with stakeholders across BDR Thermea Group. Together with the Business Controller Development Units (DU), you will provide financial insights, analyses, and reporting that help R&D leaders make informed decisions and drive efficiency, cost control, and profitability.

You will support budgeting, forecasting, monthly performance reviews, and business cases for new product development (NPD) initiatives. In addition, you will contribute to improvement projects focused on harmonising processes and further professionalising R&D finance across the group.

This is a hybrid role based in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. We value flexibility and collaboration and encourage colleagues to spend at least two days per week in the office. You will receive support for your home office set-up and travel costs. Limited international travel is occasionally required, offering opportunities to connect with colleagues and business partners across our global organisation.

Your team

You will be part of a close-knit business controlling team of four colleagues, based in Apeldoorn. Together, the international team partners with both our Development Units and Operations organisation, creating a unique opportunity to gain insight into how innovation, manufacturing, and business performance come together. Regular team meetings, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional collaboration provide plenty of opportunities to learn, grow, and build a broad professional network.

In this role, you will work closely with the Business Controller DU, who will provide day-to-day guidance and coaching, while reporting to the Senior Business Controller. As you grow in the role, you may also have the opportunity to broaden your scope by supporting controlling activities within Operations.

Your key tasks

• Deliver financial analyses and insights to support decision-making within our Development Unit R&D.
• Monitor R&D performance through KPIs and analyse variances between actual, budgeted, and forecasted results.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and monthly reporting processes across multiple R&D locations.
• Analyse CAPEX, project costs, and people-related costs, and collaborate with local finance teams to resolve issues.
• Contribute to the evaluation of business cases for new product development initiatives and support continuous improvement projects.

What you bring

• 2-4 years of relevant work experience in a related role, such as controller, junior controller, business controller, finance business partner or equivalent.
• Strong analytical skills and a genuine interest in understanding how businesses operate.
• Advanced Excel skills, including data analysis and working with large datasets.
• A structured and detail-oriented approach combined with a proactive mindset.
• Excellent communication skills in English and the ability to work effectively with international stakeholders.
• A Master's degree in Finance, Business Economics, Accounting, or a related discipline.

Nice to have:

• Experience working with Power BI for data interpretation and performance analysis.
• Interest in emerging technologies such as AI and Large Language Models (LLMs).

We recognise that talent comes in many forms. If you meet most but not necessarily all of the criteria above, we would still love to hear from you.

What we offer

• A permanent contract.
• In addition to a competitive salary, you will receive a strong pension package.
• Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with 36 holiday days per year (based on a full-time contract). Of these, 30 days are freely selectable, and 6 are fixed company closure days.
• Benefit from flexible hybrid working policies and a home-office budget.
• Enjoy discounts on our products and insurance packages.
• Join a company in the heart of the energy transition and build a flourishing career with us!