Business Unit Controller

Wereldhave reinvents shopping centers. They transform the shopping experience from shopping at various stores alone to a full shopping service experience. Their centers are places where people go, not only to shop, but also to work, relax and spend time with friends and family. They now own and operate 28 center locations across the Netherlands, Belgium and France – combining leisure, entertainment, health & beauty and food & drink with more traditional retail which improves the ‘mixed used rating’. For example two Basic Fit locations opened in the last months at their shopping centers.
They choose centers close to cities – that are well connected to public transport and where free parking can be offered. The centers are anchored around food retail – each has at least one hypermarket or two to three supermarkets. The centers are places where people go, not only to shop, but also to meet and relax with friends and family.
Working at Wereldhave means that you are part of a notable and an active real estate environment. They deliberately take on a long-term approach. Their aim is to deliver attractive returns for their investors, create positive value for local communities and other stakeholders and, over time, increase the value of their investments. As a business, consumers are at the heart of everything Wereldhave does.
For the eighth consecutive year, Wereldhave received a 5-star rating from GRESB, the global ESG benchmark for real estate. This ranks Wereldhave number 2 within the space of listed European shopping center companies. Wereldhave also received its sixth Gold Award for best practice sustainability reporting from the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA). And MSCI ESG upgraded Wereldhave to an A rating from BBB for its sustainability performance.

Structure
Wereldhave is a closed-end investment company. Shares in Wereldhave are listed on the Euronext Amsterdam (AMX) stock exchange. The company has the fiscal status of an investment institution, so it pays no corporation tax in the Netherlands (other than for development activities in the Netherlands). Its Belgian investments consist of a stake of just under 70% in Comm. VA Wereldhave Belgium SCA, a
regulated real estate company (GVV/SIR), listed on the Euronext Brussels stock exchange. Investments in France are subject to SIIC (Sociétés d'Investissements Immobilières Cotées) regulations.

The Business Unit Controller position at Wereldhave is an exciting threefold position. First of all you are Controller, but you are also a Finance Business Partner. Next to this you are Manager to your unit’s Property Accountants and AP/AR colleagues.

Financial Management & Reporting
You are responsible for and are expected to improve the financial administration, reporting and planning & control procedures, whilst ensuring compliance with local legislation and group guidelines. You provide accurate IFRS and Tax (REIT and non-REIT regime) compliant financial information, the quarterly VAT declaration (including oversights VAT review) and you ensure the preparation of annual accounts.
Furthermore you:

• oversee the accounting operations of subsidiary corporations, especially their control systems, transaction-processing operations, and policies and procedures
• analyse General Ledger account results, signal budget/forecasts variances and reports significant issues accordingly
• prepare and analyse local forecasts, budgets and (KPI) management reporting (e.g. WBR, monthly operational report, etc) on a monthly and quarterly basis
• coordinate the annual and interim financial statement audits with external auditors including preparation of all supporting schedules
• are responsible for detailed review, analysis, and reconciliation of newly-acquired assets, tracking existing assets, recording depreciation, and accounting for asset disposition
• manage and ensures a correct valuation process (internal/external); reports and advises relevant stakeholders accordingly

Finance Business Partner
As mentioned before as Business Unit Controller you have a threefold position. You act as a pro-active business partner to the Business Unit Manager. You’re also regularly in contact with Leasing Managers and Asset Managers of shopping centers that are assigned to your Business Unit.
You:

• provide (financial) project control concerning the development pipeline; analyses the financial/fiscal aspects of proposed (dis)investments (economic feasibility studies), assists in the preparation of capital budgeting, monitors and reports progress (quality, timing and cost control)
• assist in the preparation of the annual (operating) budget for the shopping centres, along with monthly and full year forecasts
• work closely with the BU team to ensure accurate and timely capture of all financial and operating metrics; appraises operating results versus established objectives in terms of profitability, performance against budget, and other matters related to financial performance and operating
• effectiveness; provides active support to develop and identify additional cost savings opportunities
• support the development of improved financial performance measurement processes; recommends benchmarks against which to measure business operations
• contribute to the development of effective standard practices to achieve operational excellence across BUs; signals opportunities and proactively initiates new innovative concepts to improve internal processes, level of control, etc.

People Management
Next to being a Controller and Financial Business Partner you a responsible for managing 3-6 financial colleagues that are Property Accountants or on the AP/AR team. Wereldhave expects you to:

• define a solid team; oversee the operations of the Finance department, including the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the department's goals and objectives
• Is responsible for the development of individual employees
• Gives direct and constructive feedback about the delivered performance to your team
• Stimulates employees to join in on the thought process and to actively contribute to the development of new ideas and to learn from his/her own experiences and those of others

Relevant academic background (e.g. Master’s degree in Accounting, Auditing, or Finance; postmaster is preferred RA/RC/RE).

• Minimum of 5 years’ work experience in Accounting, Control and/or Audit using IFRS , experience from (commercial) fixed asset accounting, real estate finance or investment budget control is a plus;
• Deep understanding of financial analysis and reporting, key business metrics, forecasting, and annual budgeting.
• Well-developed interpersonal and inter-department communication skills; able to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders and team members; team player.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to steer results using (financial) data;
• Sound organizational, prioritization and time management skills to handle multiple, ongoing projects in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment; strong attention to detail.

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