Finance Business Partner Expert

About Umicore

Powering the cars of today and tomorrow. Reducing harmful emissions. Giving unique properties to high-end applications. Giving new life to used metals. As a global advanced materials and recycling group, we develop, produce, and recycle materials for a better life.

About Battery Recycling Solutions

We are a total solutions provider operating in an agile, fast-changing, and growing market. We extract critical and valuable materials from end-of-life batteries and production scrap, and we do it as efficiently as possible. As the world moves towards greater use of battery power, this has never been more important. The better we do our job, the fewer metals have to be mined from nature. This gives every chance for talented and energized people to help us shape the future of battery recycling technology and minimize our impact on the planet. Which is where you come in.

Your Key Accountabilities

The Finance Business Partner Expert is responsible for the financial controlling of Battery Recycling Solutions (BRS) and acts as a trusted business partner to the business unit. This role provides financial insights, supports strategic decision-making, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to enhance system and process maturity.

You are responsible for the financial controlling of the battery recycling business, translating financial results into actionable business recommendations for the BRS organization and management team.

Business Controlling

• Coordinate the month-end closing process, including revenue recognition, WIP calculations, and metal result accounting, ensuring accurate monthly financial reporting and analysis of the P&L, capital employed, and KPIs in line with the Group’s reporting cycle and structures.
• Ensure effective metal management and hedging practices to avoid unexpected metal exposure. Analyze boni/mali results and ensure bond sales are executed according to plan.
• Lead the annual budgeting process and quarterly forecasting cycles by consolidating and modelling input from commercial, operational, and management teams, delivering ambitious yet achievable financial targets aligned with the overall business strategy.
• Monitor cost variances and operational KPIs, including yield performance, and define clear improvement plans together with business owners to achieve agreed objectives.
• Act as the financial expert and key point of contact for the organization, ensuring that commercial and operational tools are financially sound, well-supported, and kept up to date.
• Maintain an end-to-end view and in-depth understanding of current and future business flows, system configurations, and their financial impact. Develop and document proposals for new set-ups and process improvements aimed at maximizing efficiency while minimizing complexity. Ensure alignment and transparency across support functions, including Tax, Legal, Trade Compliance, and P&T.
• Ensure compliance with the Minimum Internal Control Requirements (MICR) by conducting periodic assessments and implementing improvements where necessary.
• Foster financial awareness and business acumen across the organization by promoting a solid understanding of key financial concepts and performance drivers.

Project Management

• Act as the financial lead during the SAP aftercare phase, ensuring that financial requirements are fully embedded within the system landscape and that related processes, controls, and reporting tools are continuously optimized.
• In cooperation with BIT, drive the implementation and adoption of connected digital tools such as Anaplan and Power BI, ensuring intuitive user experiences and minimizing manual interventions.
• Proactively identify and leverage AI opportunities to automate recurring activities, enhance data-driven insights, and improve the efficiency and quality of financial processes.
• Transfer recurring reporting activities to the centralized organization where appropriate, enabling a stronger focus on business partnering, strategic support, and value-added analysis.

Who We Are Looking For

• You hold a master’s degree in finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• You have at least 5 years of experience in finance and/or controlling.
• You possess strong SAP expertise (mandatory) and excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• You are digitally savvy and embrace new technologies.
• Experience with Anaplan and/or Power BI is considered a strong asset.
• You have a data-driven mindset.
• You demonstrate a hands-on and proactive approach.
• You are a strong conceptual thinker with excellent analytical skills.
• You have experience in project management and change management.
• You act as a trusted financial business partner to senior management, supporting strategic decision-making.
• You can coordinate projects across finance, business, and other departments when required.
• You are fluent in English, both written and spoken; knowledge of Dutch is a significant advantage.
• You are willing to work 2 to 3 days per week at our offices in Hoboken (Antwerp). On the remaining days, you may work from our offices in Brussels or Olen, or from home.

What we offer

We aim to lead the way. Not just for our customers, but for our employees too. That is why we strive to create a collaborative environment in which we can all succeed, and a culture through which we can all share ideas, develop our expertise and advance our careers. We engage in building an inclusive work culture that offers equal opportunities for all employees irrespective of their diverse backgrounds. As you would expect from a world-leading organisation, we will also reward your contribution with a competitive salary and benefits. With all this and more, imagine what you could do?