SPARK is an international NGO dedicated to creating opportunities for young people in fragile and conflict-affected contexts through entrepreneurship development and higher education. Location: one of SPARK's hubs: Haarlem (preferred), Tunis, Amman or Erbil; hybrid home/office. Full-time (32–40 hr) contract of 12 months with possible extension and a 3-month probation period; expected start 1 November 2026.
Job purpose: The Head of Finance and Control is a member of SPARK's Management Team and reports directly to the CEO. The role leads SPARK's finance and control strategy, governance and operational financial management to ensure strong financial health, compliance and long-term sustainability, and advises the CEO, Management Team and Supervisory Board.
Main responsibilities:
- Strategic financial leadership and governance: lead the finance and control strategy with the CEO; multi-annual planning, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management; risk oversight; internal controls and regulatory compliance.
- Financial management and reporting: consolidated budgeting and reporting (including quarterly reports to the Supervisory Board); lead annual audits and statutory reporting (including VAT); manage banking relationships and liquidity.
- Systems, processes and financial control: improve financial policies, manuals and control frameworks; enhance financial systems (including Exact Online) and automate processes; improve cost allocation, monthly/quarterly closings and balance sheet reviews; financial KPI tracking.
- Financial guidance for new business development: advise on financial sustainability, cost recovery, co-financing and exposure; guide financial structuring of major proposals, including consortium models and indirect cost recovery; provide financial and risk input to the Go/No-Go process.
- People leadership: lead and develop finance, accounting and control teams across HQ and regions; strengthen financial capacity within programme and management teams; support decentralized financial management.
Requirements:
- Experience in the international development / development cooperation sector (NGO or comparable non-profit).
- Track record with institutional donors, particularly the EU and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and understanding of their financial and reporting requirements.
- Strong grasp of organizational financial health and compliance (liquidity, reserves, cost allocation, budget vs. actuals, KPIs, dashboards).
- Experience managing external audits and statutory reporting.
- Proven people manager able to lead, coach and develop a finance team.
- 5–7 years of relevant experience, including a period in a finance leadership role.
- Fluent in English; French or Arabic a plus.
SPARK offers an international and dynamic working experience, the opportunity to take initiative, a 32–40 hr contract and market-conform remuneration depending on location.
* Application Deadline:9th October 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit a cover letter (in English) outlining your motivation and how your qualifications meet the requirements, plus an up-to-date CV including contact details of at least three professional references, through https://vacancy.spark-online.org/Tab1/LoadProfileFromVacancy/704 by 9 October 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.