Finance Director (32 hours)

About Asc Academics

Asc Academics supports decision making in healthcare with evidence based research, for both the public and the private sector. As a consultancy with global connections in market access and health economics, we combine academic rigour, business insight and creativity to uncover the economic and societal value of healthcare innovations.

We are growing fast. In 2026 we became Great Place to Work Certified™ and won the FD Gazelle Award as one of the fastest growing companies in the Netherlands. Our team of more than 40 professionals has diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and works towards one goal: better healthcare worldwide. We have a flat structure, see each other often and value a healthy balance between work and private life. Because we are internationally oriented, English is our working language.

We are now looking for a Finance Director who wants to own our finance function and help shape the next stage of our growth.

The role

As Finance Director you are responsible for the full finance function of Asc Academics. You report directly to the Managing Director. You are the person leadership turns to for financial insight, and you have a real say in pricing, profitability and strategic decisions.

This is a role for someone who likes both sides of finance. You set the direction, and you also do the work yourself. You are supported by our Financial Administrator, who handles the day to day administration under your guidance.

• Hours: 32 hours per week

• Location: Groningen, with room for hybrid working

• Reports to: Managing Director

What you will do

Reporting and control

• Own the monthly, quarterly and annual close, including the P&L, balance sheet and cash flow statement

• Give leadership accurate, timely reports on profitability, billability, recovery rate and project margins, with clear advice on how to improve them

• Prepare the annual accounts together with our external accountant and keep financial policies, procedures and internal controls up to date.

• Ensure compliance with Dutch financial regulations, reporting standards and tax laws

Planning and analysis

• Lead the annual budget process together with the department leads

• Maintain short- and long-term forecasts and explain variances between actuals and plan

• Track project profitability and work in progress, and support pricing and tariff decisions for proposals

• Identify trends, cost savings and revenue opportunities, and turn them into concrete recommendations

Cash, operations and systems

• Manage cash flow, working capital and liquidity, and oversee accounts payable and receivable

• Coordinate payroll, pension administration and insurance with external providers

• Review client contract terms and invoicing, including international clients and VAT

• Improve financial processes and systems so data is accurate and reporting takes less time

Strategy, tax and risk

• Work with the Managing Director to set annual financial goals and a financial strategy that supports the company's growth

• Define the KPIs that matter and use them to support decisions

• Develop the tax strategy and coordinate filings with external tax advisors

• Identify financial risks, put mitigation in place, and manage bank relationships and financing agreements

Leadership

• Coach and develop the Financial Administrator

• Build a reliable, well-documented finance function that the rest of the company can depend on

• Be a clear and approachable finance partner for the management team and department heads

What success looks like after one year

• The monthly close is delivered within 4 working days, and leadership trusts the numbers

• Every department lead understands their project margins and billability, and uses them in decisions

• There is a clear budget and rolling forecast that the managing director actually steers on

• Pricing decisions for proposals are backed by solid cost and margin data

• The finance function runs on documented processes, so it does not depend on one person

Who you are

• A Master's degree in Finance, Accounting or Business Economics, and preferably an RA or RC qualification

• At least 8 years of experience in finance, including several years in a leading role such as Finance Manager, Controller or Finance Director

• Experience in professional services or consultancy, where hours, utilisation and project margins drive results

• Hands-on and comfortable doing the work yourself in a small team, while thinking strategically

• Strong knowledge of Dutch tax, VAT and reporting requirements

• Strong Excel skills, experience with Exact or Power BI or similar tools is a plus

• Fluent in Dutch and English

• A clear communicator who can explain numbers to non-financial colleagues and challenge them where needed

What we offer

• A director role with real ownership and a direct line to the Managing Director

• A salary of more than 6000 gross per month, plus holiday allowance

• Pension scheme, bonus, travel allowance, laptop and phone

• Flexible and hybrid working

• The chance to shape the finance function of a growing, entrepreneurial consultancy

• A friendly, international team that cares about quality and about each other

How to apply

Send your CV and a short motivation to HR Team at HR@ascacademics.com before end of November. For questions about the role, contact Eef at 0621236118.

A first conversation will be with the Managing Director and Financial Administrator, followed by a second round with Founder/ Head of BD and HR.