Programme Finance Controller

Mensen met een Missie is an organisation for international cooperation and solidarity that aims to change beliefs that lead to hatred and violence. To do this, we’ve joined forces with around 100 partner organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. With people who have the courage to go against the current, who stick their necks out and stand up for justice, inclusion and equality.

Together we facilitate dialogue between people on each side of a conflict. We inspire consideration and discussion of harmful beliefs, so that mutual hatred and mistrust can decrease. Our team in The Hague consists of about 25 people who work daily with passion and commitment, on building a world without violence.

Employment: 28 – 32 hours per week
Start: As soon as possible
Location: The Hague
Residency requirement:
Applicants must currently reside in the Netherlands.
Applications from candidates currently living outside the Netherlands cannot be considered.

As a Programme Finance Controller, you are the financial sparring partner for our programme staff. Throughout the entire programme cycle, you are responsible for the financial management of international programme and support programme teams in making well-informed financial decisions.

You look beyond the figures alone. You analyse financial developments and partner reports from the various programme countries, identify and discuss risks, and monitor the financial progress of programmes. You ensure timely access to reliable management information and that donor requirements are met throughout programme implementation. You work closely with the Business Controller, ensuring that financial information from the programmes is aligned with the organisation-wide planning and control cycle.

You also collaborate with programme staff, colleagues within the Finance Team, the Finance & Operations Manager, international partners in nine countries, external auditors, and donors. In this way, you form an important link between programme implementation and the organisation’s financial management.

Your responsibilities include:

• Managing the finances of a portfolio of multi-year international programmes throughout the project cycle;
• Advising programme managers on budgets, financial plans, forecasts and financial progress;
• Monitoring budgets, forecasts and liquidity;
• Analysing financial reports from partners in various countries;
• Assessing cost and time allocations;
• Monitoring compliance with donor requirements throughout programme implementation;
• Identifying financial risks and advising on appropriate risk management measures;
• Ensuring that management has access to reliable and timely financial management information;
• Coordinating the financial preparation and support of internal and external audits;
• Ensuring high quality donor reporting;
• Reviewing financial donor reports before submission;
• Supporting grant applications and developing budgets for new programmes;
• Ensuring alignment between project control and the organisation-wide planning and control cycle;
• Contributing to the continuous improvement and professionalisation of project control and financial processes.

You have strong analytical skills and enjoy advising colleagues. You enjoy translating financial information into insights that enable programme staff to make well-informed decisions.
You look ahead, ask critical questions and know how to distinguish key issues from details.

In addition, you have:

• A higher professional or academic (HBO/WO) level of working and thinking, preferably with a background in Finance, Business Economics, Accountancy or a comparable field;
• Several years of experience as a project controller, business controller or financial controller;
• Experience with international grant programmes or donor funding is a strong advantage;
• Experience with budgets, forecasts, scenarios, business cases and financial analyses;
• Knowledge of (in) direct cost allocation methodologies and time allocations;
• Experience with audit processes and donor accountability;
• Good command of English; working knowledge of Dutch is an asset.

At Mensen met een Missie, project control is not just about…