Energy modulated electron beam therapy with conventional clinical accelerators has lagged behind photon IMRT despite its potential to achieve highly conformal dose distributions in superficial targets. One of the reasons for this is the absence of an automated collimating device that allows for the flexible delivery of a series of variable field openings. Electron-specific multileaf collimators attached to the bottom of the applicator require the use of a large number of motors and suffer from being relatively bulky and impractical for head and neck sites. In this work, we investigate the treatment planning aspects of a proposed 'few-leaf' electron collimator (FLEC) that consists of four motor-driven trimmer bars at the end of the applicator. The device is designed to serve as an accessory to standard equipment and allows for the shaping of any irregular field by combination of rectangular fieldlets. Using a Monte Carlo model of the FLEC, dose distributions are optimized using a simulated annealing (SA) inverse planning algorithm based on a limited number of Monte Carlo pre-generated, realistic phantom-specific dose kernels and user-specified dose-volume constraints. Using a phantom setup with an artificial target enclosed by organs at risk (OAR) as well as using a realistic patient case, we demonstrate that highly conformal distributions can be generated. Estimates of delivery times are made and show that a full treatment fraction can be kept to 15 min or less.