Director of Finance & Operations

Since its founding in 2010, Original Beans has been a pioneer in Europe’s craft chocolate sector and a leader in regenerative business practices. As the company scales internationally, the Director of Finance & Operations ensures that supply chain, operational excellence, and financial discipline support Original Beans’ mission of producing chocolate that benefits both people and the planet.

About Original Beans

Original Beans is a premium chocolate ingredient brand supplying exceptional single-varietal couvertures and chocolate bars to leading chefs, chocolatiers, food makers, hotels, restaurants, patisseries, ice cream makers, and bakers across Europe. The company is widely recognized for its sustainable approach to chocolate production and for excellence in cocoa sourcing and flavor craftsmanship, operating through vertically integrated, regenerative supply chains. The company also has a sister brand, Ocelot, with its own factory in Scotland.

Over the past years, Original Beans has become a pioneer in Europe’s craft chocolate movement and a leader in regenerative business practices. Through initiatives such as the One Bar: One Tree program, the company restores ecosystems impacted by the cocoa industry, with millions of trees planted to date. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Original Beans maintains key commercial hubs in Germany and London. Production is handled through outsourcing partners in Europe and Peru, supported by multiple cacao supply chains worldwide. Key markets include the DACH region, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, and the United States, with additional sales through premium retail channels.

Since 2012, Original Beans has been part of family investor Kaltroco, representing one of their oldest and longest-standing investments. With a clear focus on value creation and sustainable growth rather than a sale, Kaltroco supports Original Beans in further developing and professionalizing its unique proposition.

Vacancy: Director of Finance & Operations

Original Beans is entering a phase of accelerated growth, and the Director of Finance & Operations steps in at a moment when the business is scaling internationally. The supply chain is crucial to the company’s success, spanning multiple production sites, sourcing origins, and complex pricing structures. With revenues approaching twelve million euros and plans to double or triple in the near term, the role’s mandate is clear: ensure that every operational and financial decision supports growth and profitability.

The scope covers statutory reporting, multi-jurisdiction VAT compliance, procurement, production planning, and cost pricing across the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Switzerland, and Peru. Each choice – from sourcing cacao to scheduling production – has direct commercial impact. Securing cocoa at favorable rates protects margins, and production must align with delivery timelines to meet customer commitments without straining working capital. Understanding these dependencies and translating them into reliable data is essential for keeping the business on track.

Managing this operational complexity requires a hands-on approach. The Director drives both insight and efficiency across supply chain and production processes, ensuring operations run smoothly while supporting growth and profitability. Visits to production facilities and sourcing locations provide firsthand insight into daily challenges, which the Director of Finance & Operations translates into accurate reporting and actionable forecasts. Fragmented systems are consolidated, invoicing streamlined, and visibility into cash flow, inventory, and margins established – all while ensuring that operational and financial activities uphold brand integrity, ethical sourcing, and strong supplier relationships.

The Director leads a small team of finance and operations professionals, structuring processes and systems so information flows efficiently and team members can take ownership and advance their skills. Reporting directly to the CEO (to be hired), the position combines operational oversight with solid people management to ensure discipline, transparency, and accountability are embedded across the organization. The management team currently consists of the incoming CEO, the Commercial Director, and the Director of Finance & Operations, working closely together in strategic and operational decision-making.

“You act as the link between operations and commercial strategy. Financial planning informs pricing and sales decisions, while production constraints feed directly into revenue forecasting. By setting up robust processes and controls, you ensure the business can scale efficiently without slowing down or losing flexibility.” – Sofie Troost-Kommeren, Commercial Director

This opportunity offers full ownership of operations and finance with impact across the business. The work is both hands-on and analytical: designing processes, consolidating reporting, and translating supply chain insight into actionable business intelligence. The candidate’s background may be in industry or in consulting, for example in strategy, M&A, or transaction services, provided there is an appetite to operate close to the business and take responsibility in execution. Original Beans is ready for a detail-oriented professional who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and wants to accelerate growth in a growing food business.

Interested?

Original Beans is working with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.
To express your interest, please contact Annelijn Nijhuis at annelijn.nijhuis@topofminds.com.