Senior Business Controller

Senior Business Controller

Imec

Leuven, Belgium

Are you a high-potential, assertive, and tactical driven finance professional ready to step out of the traditional controlling box?

We are not looking for a typical financial gatekeeper. We are looking for a change agent – a Senior Business Controller with a minimum of 10 years of experience, but an unlimited drive to quickly master IMEC’s business model, challenge the status quo, and strategically position the organization for future success. If you see finance as a lever for strategic transformation and operational excellence, and you thrive on influencing and elevating organizational performance, this is your stage.

What you will do

You will be the critical financial conscience and strategic co-pilot for our business leaders. Your role is to inject innovative financial thinking and rigorous analysis, transforming raw data into clear, actionable strategies that reshape how we operate. You will operate at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and financial strategy, ensuring IMEC’s pioneering research is supported by world-class financial performance.

• Be the Catalyst for Growth: Quickly immerse yourself in the business to understand, challenge, and co-design the financial blueprint for future growth and efficiency while maintaining IMEC’s commitment to high quality research.
• Strategic Partnering: Go beyond reporting. Provide proactive advice on complex tactical and strategic decisions, from cost/margin optimization to multi-year investment plans.
• Influence & Drive Change: Use your assertiveness and sharp insights to constructively challenge business assumptions and push for resource allocation that maximizes return and long-term value.
• Elevate the Standard: Drive the implementation of best-in-class processes and methodologies within the finance function, setting a higher bar for accuracy, speed, and strategic relevance.

Key Responsibilities

Transformational Business Partnering

• Strategic Financial Insight: Deliver timely, accurate, and impactful financial insights that directly support critical operational and strategic decision-making.
• Investment Expertise: Collaborate closely on investment cases, pricing strategies, cost management, and capital expenditure planning to ensure business units not only meet but exceed corporate targets.
• Proactive Advisory: Act as the go-to financial expert, building trust and ensuring finance is integrated seamlessly into key business processes.

High-Impact FP&A

• Performance Leadership: Build and manage financial analysis that offer business leaders clarity and foresight.
• Advanced Planning: Lead budgeting and forecasting with a forward-looking approach aligned to IMEC’s long-term vision. Develop and monitor multi-year investment plans to strategically determine longer-term financing needs.

Continuous Process Elevation

• Operational Excellence: Identify bottlenecks and opportunities to drastically improve financial processes and reporting efficiency.
• System Enhancement: Support the implementation of new financial tools and systems to enhance data quality and accelerate decision-making across the organization.

Who you are

This role is for a candidate who is ready to accelerate their career and make a significant mark. In addition to your strong financial expertise, we highly value your ability to influence, manage stakeholders effectively, and serve as a trusted financial partner in critical decision-making.

• Assertiveness & Courage You are ready to constructively challenge current assumptions, influence senior stakeholders, and push for necessary, strategic changes.
• Business Insight & Drive Your passion for quickly mastering the business goes far beyond the P&L. You connect financial levers to operational reality.
• Communication & Clarity The ability to translate complex financial concepts into clear, concise, and actionable language for non-financial executives.
• Strategic Thinking You don’t just manage the numbers; you ensure resources are allocated to maximize impact. Your recommendations support IMEC’s international research strategy and long-term innovation goals.
• Adaptability & Resilience Thrive in a dynamic, high-tech environment and respond quickly and effectively to changing priorities and new challenges.

Skills

• Preferably 10 years of progressive experience in Business Controlling, Financial Analysis, or a similar finance role, ideally within a complex, technology-driven and international setting.
• Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Strong background in financial planning, budgeting, and analysis.
• Proficiency in financial systems and tools (e.g., ERP, advanced reporting software).
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is required.