European Director of Finance & Corporate Services

Opdrachtgever:

In 1992 VTech Electronics Europe B.V. established offices in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and France, specializing in learning products. Since then, VTech won many awards from recognized juries, educators, retailers, consumers and journalists.

VTech is the global leader in electronic learning products from infancy through toddler and preschool and the world’s largest manufacturer of cordless phones. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. 

With headquarters in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in China, VTech currently operates in 19 countries and regions. VTech employs approximately 20.000 employees. This network allows VTech to stay abreast of the latest technology and market trends throughout the world, while maintaining a highly competitive cost structure.

Within Europe, VTech Electronics Europe B.V. serves as a central hub for the Group’s European wholesale and marketing operations, supported by a Shared Service Centre (Finance, HR, ICT, logistics) based in Weert (Netherlands).
VTech Europe is committed to operational excellence, cross-regional collaboration, and sustained growth in a complex regulatory and commercial landscape.

For more information please check the following link:  https://www.vtech.com/en/about-us/who-we-are/

Functie-informatie:

We are initiating a search now to appoint a successor for the current European Accounting Manager (retiring July 2026). The aim is to have the successful candidate in place by May/June 2026, to allow for a handover period ahead of the retirement.

As European Director of Finance & Corporate Services, you will be a senior member of the European leadership team, reporting to the CEO in France and also to the Group CFO in Hong Kong for finance and accounting functions. You will also act as statutory director of the Dutch legal entity (VTech Electronics Europe B.V.), with legal authority to sign contracts, annual reports, and other statutory filings.

This is a broad, high-impact role with both strategic and hands-on responsibility, requiring a strong financial foundation, excellent stakeholder engagement, and the capacity to lead and drive alignment across multiple domains.

Financial Leadership & Reporting
•    Oversee managerial and statutory accounting for VTech’s European business units and legal entities.
•    Consolidate financial results, budgets, forecasts and performance reports for the European region.
•    Ensure adequate Salary and HR accounting and policies.
•    Oversee and monitor credit insurance policies.
•    Oversee and monitor license accounting

•    Coordinate the month-end close cycle, ensure consistency across BU financial controllers, and ensure compliance with internal policies and external accounting standards.
•    Monitor and manage intercompany transactions, transfer pricing, intragroup pricing, contract approvals and royalties.
•    Supervise corporate income tax, VAT / Intrastat, customs duty accounting, and other cross-border compliance requirements including transfer-pricing arrangements across Europe.
•    Oversee risk, internal controls, and compliance (e.g. GDPR, audit, environmental reporting in all countries, financial policies).

Statutory Director Responsibilities (Dutch Entity)
•    As statutory director, hold legal signatory authority for contracts, annual accounts, filings with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and other regulatory bodies.
•    Ensure compliance with Dutch corporate law, local reporting obligations, and coordinate with external auditors, tax representatives and professional advisors appointed by the Hong Kong Headquarters.

Corporate Services & Shared Services Oversight
•    Lead the Shared Service Centre (SSC) functions in the Netherlands across finance, business administration, operations, HR and logistics in a cost-effective manner.
•    Though IT formally reports to Hong Kong, you will have a dotted line into the IT team based in NL, and will coordinate on technology strategy, budget and infrastructure.
•    Interface with HR, talent management, and administrative operations to ensure alignment with financial and strategic objectives.
•    Supervise logistics and supply chain support services, in close collaboration with procurement and operations, as well as the related departments in Hong Kong.

Stakeholder Engagement & Bridge Building
•    Liaise closely with financial controllers in all European BUs to ensure alignment in financial strategy, consistency of methods and strong communication.
•    Collaborate with the CEO (France) and Group CFO (Hong Kong) on European strategy, risk management, and governance.
•    Build trust, influence, and alignment across diverse stakeholders (commercial, operations, external advisors) without relying purely on formal authority.
•    Occasionally travel (very infrequently; once a year) to key sites or stakeholders.

Functie-eisen:

Essential Qualifications & Experience
•    An academic working level, combined with a higher qualified financial educational level. 
•    Deep experience (≥ 10-15 years) in multinational organization, with exposure to cross-border / European operations.
•    Prior experience of working with or reporting to Chinese / Hong Kong stakeholders is a strong advantage.
•    Strong technical knowledge of intercompany accounting, transfer pricing, international tax, VAT / indirect tax, customs duty, and European regulatory frameworks.
•    Demonstrated capability in leading shared service, HR, IT or administrative support functions (or at least close collaboration with them).
•    Fluency in English; proficiency in Dutch and/or French preferred (or willingness to become proficient).

Leadership & Personal Competencies
•    Natural authority and gravitas: a leader who earns respect through competence, clarity, integrity, and influence rather than positional power.
•    Strategic thinker with operational grounding: able to set direction, but also dive into detail when necessary.
•    Strong communicator, collaborator, and bridge builder across cultures and geographies.
•    High integrity, sound judgment, excellent ethics, and a track record of reliability.
•    Comfortable in ambiguity, adaptive to change, and used to working in dynamic international environments.

Aanbod:

•    The role is based in the Netherlands (Netherlands office / hybrid), with frequent collaboration across Europe and with Hong Kong / France.
•    Travel is minimal (approximately once yearly) and limited to corporate or regulatory visits.
•    The expected start date is May-June 2026, with a handover period before the current incumbent’s retirement in July 2026.
•    Remuneration will be competitive for an executive-level role in a multinational environment, with bonuses, benefits, and expatriate / relocation support as appropriate.

We are committed to a rigorous, transparent and timely search process. Candidates should submit a CV (in English) and a cover letter outlining how their experience maps to the role.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to initial interviews (remote or in person), followed by a final stage involving the CEO and CFO. The target is to complete finalist selection by early 2026 to ensure smooth transition.

VTech has explicitly chosen to only include candidates who have been referred by Avance Executive® in the selection process.