Chanel Financial Controller

About Chanel

Chanel is one of the world’s most revered luxury houses, founded by Gabrielle Chanel and distinguished by an enduring vision of elegance, freedom, and modernity. As an employer, the House brings together métiers ranging from haute couture, fashion and leather goods to fragrance, beauty, watches, and fine jewelry, offering employees the opportunity to contribute to a legacy defined by exceptional craftsmanship and creative audacity. Chanel values excellence, discretion, collaboration, and long-term development, fostering an environment where talent is nurtured and heritage is continually reinterpreted for contemporary clients. Its teams are united by a commitment to quality, innovation, and the timeless spirit of the brand.

Role & Responsibilities

• Oversee P&L construction and financial cycles—including budgets, quarterly and monthly forecasts, and multi-year plans—ensuring accurate, timely reporting.
• Maintain direct contact with relevant departments, including Benelux and Scandinavia Fashion and Watches & Fine Jewellery directors.
• Forecast and monitor advertising and promotion costs and boutique expenses, and communicate risks and opportunities proactively.
• Lead financial closing cycles with accounting and other teams, ensuring reliable, timely data in information systems.
• Analyse forecast-to-actual variances and share insights with management to inform decisions.
• Analyse sales by point of sale, nationality, product line and month, investigating significant variances.
• Participate in CAPEX requests for new, relocated or renovated points of sale.
• Prepare budget, strategic and ad hoc presentations for top management with the Head of FP&A and CFO.
• Conduct ad hoc financial analysis and reporting as required.
• Partner with retail teams on finance and stock operations, and plan and lead annual stock counts.
• Serve as the main contact for European Retail Procedures, ensuring retail teams understand and apply them.
• Review cash payments monthly for compliance.
• Monitor special stock movements and petty cash; analyse cycle-count and RFID reports.
• Track staff quotas and product loans, and conduct quarterly checks on Press and Watches & Fine Jewellery stock.
• Represent Benelux and Scandinavia FP&A in global and European IT projects implementing new financial systems, including pilot initiatives.
• Lead local and European automation and simplification projects under “Future of Finance” to improve efficiency and reduce manual tasks.
• Identify process-improvement opportunities, prioritize automation and simplification efforts, and ensure users receive adequate training.
• Collaborate across departments to develop and embed new financial tools.
• Oversee consolidation, forecasting and actuals for structure costs (SMG&A) across all three CHANEL divisions in Benelux and Scandinavia.
• Challenge financial assumptions, assess risks and opportunities, and provide clear recommendations to support decision-making.
• Deliver monthly structure-cost reporting, presentations and recommendations to finance leadership and budget owners.
• Lead the development of reporting tools and dashboards to improve visibility of cost performance, key drivers and outlook.

Qualifications

• 6 to 8 years of relevant experience in FP&A, financial controlling or a comparable finance role.
• Demonstrated experience as a trusted Finance Business Partner.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Finance, Accounting, Business or Management.
• Position based in Brussels, Belgium, or Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with periodic business travel within Benelux, Scandinavia and Europe.
• Excellent English; Dutch, French or a Scandinavian language is a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Curious, proactive, dynamic, and continually seeking improvement.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to challenge.
• Rigorous and thorough.
• Positive and team-oriented.
• Thorough knowledge of information systems, especially MS Office and Excel; proficiency and curiosity regarding new IT technologies such as Power BI and Power Query.

Skills

Experience

6 to 8 years of relevant experience in FP&A, financial controlling or a comparable finance role.

Education

Degree or equivalent qualification in Finance, Accounting, Business or Management.

Benefits

Opportunities for development across the CHANEL Finance organization; direct involvement in regional financial and business strategy; collaboration with senior leaders and cross-functional teams; exposure to advanced financial systems and data analysis tools; a supportive, diverse team; international exposure and professional network development.

Culture

Chanel fosters a culture of timeless creativity, exacting craftsmanship, and quiet excellence, where employees are encouraged to uphold the house’s heritage while contributing to its continued innovation. The workplace environment is refined, collaborative, and deeply committed to quality, offering professionals the opportunity to grow within a globally respected maison that values discretion, artistry, and long-term vision.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.