Europe Controller

Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Driscoll’s is seeking an experienced Europe Controller to safeguard the financial integrity of our Dutch and Iberian entities and lead the Europe Financial Control team. You will oversee monthly close, statutory reporting, tax oversight and audit management, combining strategic leadership with hands‑on execution.

Based in Breda, the role is office‑based four days a week with occasional regional travel. You will coach four to six finance professionals, strengthen internal controls, drive process

Qualifications

• Qualified accounting certification such as RA/RC/ACCA/CPA.
• Minimum of 3+ years post‑qualification experience in financial control or audit.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch GAAP and Dutch reporting requirements; understanding of US GAAP.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the Europe Financial Control team.
• Ensure accurate monthly, quarterly and annual closing and reporting.
• Maintain integrity of financial statements and balance sheets across the Dutch and Iberian entities.
• Oversee statutory accounts, tax and regulatory reporting, payroll accounting controls and year‑end activities.
• Lead external audits and coordinate responses to audit findings and recommendations.
• Strengthen the internal control environment and ensure key controls are documented and evidenced.
• Monitor working capital, cash flow and balance sheet trends; identify risks and opportunities.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Financial reporting

Advanced Excel

Dutch & English proficiency

Education

Accounting qualification (RA/RC/ACCA/CPA)

Tools

Excel

Office 365

ERP systems

Job description

About the Opportunity

At Driscoll’s, we are passionate about growing Only the Finest Berries™. Behind our berries is an international organization where strong financial governance, reliable reporting and continuous improvement are essential. We are looking for an experienced Europe Controller who will safeguard the financial integrity of our Dutch and Iberian entities and lead our European Financial Control team. In this senior finance leadership role, you will be responsible for financial control, reporting, statutory compliance, tax oversight, internal controls and audit management. You will combine strategic leadership with hands‑on execution, working closely with regional and global stakeholders to strengthen our processes, systems and financial control environment.

As Europe Controller, you will lead, coach and develop a team of approximately four to six finance professionals. You will create an environment built on accountability, collaboration, technical excellence and continuous improvement, while ensuring that priorities and resources remain aligned with business and reporting requirements. A typical day may involve reviewing financial reporting and balance sheet positions, supporting your team during the financial close, discussing control or compliance matters with regional stakeholders, coordinating an audit request, or identifying opportunities to improve and automate finance processes.

Responsibilities

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Lead, mentor and develop the Europe Financial Control team.
• Ensure accurate, complete and timely monthly, quarterly and annual closing and reporting.
• Maintain the integrity of financial statements and balance sheets across the Dutch and Iberian entities.
• Oversee statutory accounts, tax and regulatory reporting, payroll accounting controls and year‑end activities.
• Ensure compliance with Dutch GAAP, US GAAP, company accounting policies and local statutory requirements.
• Lead external audits and coordinate responses to audit findings and recommendations.
• Strengthen the internal control environment and ensure that key controls are documented, performed and evidenced.
• Monitor working capital, cash flow and balance sheet trends, identifying risks and opportunities and driving appropriate actions.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and challenge key accounting judgements and estimates.
• Partner with Finance, Operations, Tax, BP&A, Transactional Finance and Global Finance stakeholders.
• Drive the standardisation, simplification and continuous improvement of financial processes.
• Support ERP developments, system upgrades, automation opportunities and broader finance transformation initiatives.
• Champion the use of technology, AI and automation to improve efficiency and strengthen financial controls.

The transactional Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable teams do not report directly into this role, but close alignment with these teams is essential.

Working at Driscoll’s

Driscoll’s is the global market leader in fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, we are passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of passion, humility and trustworthiness guide our mission to delight consumers around the world.

This position is based at our office in Breda. The role follows an office‑based working policy of four days per week, and occasional travel within the region may be required.

Ready to make an impact?

Join us as our new Europe Controller and help us build a strong, future‑ready financial control organization across Europe.

Candidate Profile

You are an experienced finance leader with a strong control mindset and the ability to combine strategic thinking with operational execution. You bring integrity, sound professional judgement and the confidence to communicate complex financial matters clearly to senior stakeholders.

For this role, we are looking for:

• A qualified accounting qualification, such as RA, RC, ACCA, CPA or an equivalent certification.
• At least three years of post‑qualification experience in financial control, accounting or audit.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch GAAP and Dutch reporting requirements.
• A good understanding of US GAAP.
• Experience managing audits, compliance activities and complex financial reporting environments.
• Experience working within a multinational organization.
• At least three years of experience managing and developing a team.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• A proactive, well‑organized and improvement‑focused approach.
• Advanced Excel skills and good knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Fluency in Dutch and English, both written and spoken.
• Spanish language skills are an advantage, but are not essential.

What Makes You Successful

You look beyond the numbers and understand how strong financial control supports sustainable business growth. You are comfortable taking ownership, addressing difficult issues and bringing structure to complex situations. At the same time, you are a collaborative leader who develops talent, builds engagement and creates strong partnerships across functions and regions. You enjoy improving the way things are done and are able to translate ideas into practical, scalable solutions. Whether you are strengthening a control, supporting a system implementation or coaching a member of your team, you bring energy, clarity and a focus on results.

Driscoll’s is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll’s is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world.

Driscoll’s exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm‑to‑table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners. Driscoll’s is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.