Interim Business Controller

With over 3 million people that regularly work out, going to the gym is by far the most popular sport in the Netherlands. Fit For Free and SportCity jointly became one of the biggest chains of health clubs in the country and are now private equity-owned. The Business Controller creates more visibility in terms of performance – e.g., through automated and standardized reporting processes – and becomes a true sparring partner for the business.

About Fit for Free & SportCity

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned athlete or totally new to the gym, Fit For Free and SportCity have everything you need. Their gyms offer the highest quality equipment, innovative formats, affordable memberships, and professional instructors.

In 2009, Fit For Free and SportCity teamed up. Their strategy is to increase the market share in the Netherlands rapidly. Over the past ten years, the two brands doubled their revenue through impressive organic growth and selective acquisitions. Fit For Free now operates 93 clubs across the country and has about 330,000 members. SportCity has over 20 gyms and a total sum of 55,000 members.

In September 2018, the private equity player Bencis Capital Partners acquired Fit For Free and SportCity. His strategy is focused on growth, not cutting costs. Bencis has put new leadership in place and is looking for a strategy that supports their growth and development. This will enable further (international) expansion and allows Fit For Free and SportCity to continuously improve the quality of their gyms and services.

Vacancy: Interim Business Controller

The Interim Business Controller is primarily responsible for providing visibility on performance metrics such as growth, member satisfaction, asset utilization, retention, and cost efficiency. He or she will manage the monthly reporting process and own the budgeting, planning, and control cycle. This makes it a very satisfying role for results-driven professionals.

The Business Controller will be part of the business control team and works together in close cooperation with the business owners, the CFO, and the financial control team. He or she will report directly to the Head of Business Control.

Building from scratch and adding value

The key challenge is to lead the business control department towards a more professional and automated working method. The Business Control team will introduce automated processes, dashboards, and tools to create real-time reporting with forward-looking insights. This is an opportunity to build new processes from scratch and add real value to the business.

The Business Controller supports and challenges the business with relevant and to the point management information. This professional does not just provide the numbers but acts as a sparring partner for business owners. The Business Controller develops and analyzes KPI dashboards, reviews budgets, conducts analysis and monitors synergies.

Candidate profile

• Master’s degree
• 5+ years of experience in finance / M&A / Business Control
• Strong communicator
• Expert in modeling, BI and Excel

Length of Assignment:  3-6 months

Fit for Free works with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.
Contact Ian Dove at ian@topofminds.com for more information.