Finance Manager

Are you eager to use your financial expertise to make a meaningful impact on sustainable development, climate action, and the human right to a clean environment? Do you enjoy collaborating with partner organizations across four continents, and thrive in environments where you can implement and improve financial systems? If so, this exciting opportunity at WECF is perfect for you!

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Finance Manager to play a key role in ensuring our organization runs smoothly and efficiently. This leadership role is vital to helping our team achieve our mission of creating a more just, sustainable, and eco-feminist world. You will oversee all aspects of financial management, compliance and operational support, ensuring seamless execution of our financial strategy.

This role offers a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth in a mission-driven organization dedicated to positive global change.

Who We Are

WECF (Women Engage for a Common Future) is a unique international network of over 250 organizations across 70 countries. We work to strengthen the position of women— in all their diversity — as leaders of change toward a more sustainable and equitable world. Through capacity building, advocacy, and action, we address global challenges such as climate change, environmental justice, and human rights, while fostering an ecofeminist movement. Our programs are mostly EU-funded, supplemented by grants from private foundations.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management and Control

• Budgeting and Financial Planning: Lead the development, monitoring, and management of WECF’s annual budget, including multi-year financial planning.
• Annual Reports & Audits: Coordinate the preparation of annual financial statements and external audits, ensuring compliance with all financial regulations.
• Financial Reporting: Ensure timely and accurate financial reports for directors, the Board of Trustees (BoT), and external stakeholders, including donors.
• Financial System: Oversee the implementation and maintenance of financial system, ensuring scalability and effectiveness as the organization grows.
• Cash Flow Management: Monitor the organization’s cash flow, ensuring sufficient liquidity to meet operational and project needs in alignment with director WECF NL.
• Budget Management Support: Support director WECF NL and project coordinators with grants and donor funds, ensuring proper allocation, reporting, and compliance with donor restrictions.

Legal Affairs and Compliance

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with local, EU, and international financial regulations, tax laws, and reporting requirements.
• Internal Controls and Risk Management: Develop and maintain robust internal control systems to safeguard the organization’s assets, prevent fraud, and ensure financial accuracy.
• Legal Liaison: Serve as the internal point of contact for legal matters, collaborating with legal advisory partners as well as BoT to address compliance and risk management issues.
• Financial and related Policy Development: Implement and regularly review financial policies and procedures to ensure transparency, consistency, and regulatory compliance across all offices.

 Finance Leadership

• Team Leadership: Manage the small finance team, including Project & Finance Administrator.
• Board Engagement: Serve as a member of the inter-office director team (Joint Advisory Committee – JAC), preparing and presenting financial reports to the BoT, participating in board meetings, and providing strategic input on financial matters.
• Capacity Building: Contribute to continuous professional growth of staff, particularly on budget management and compliance as well as enhance collaboration across all WECF offices.

Provide Advice on Operational Matters

• HR Payroll Assistance: Support the Project & Finance Administrator in overseeing the external administration of payroll and employee benefits, in collaboration with the director WECF NL.
• IT & Security Support: When needed and in collaboration with the director WECF NL, work alongside the Project & Finance Administrator and our external technical partner to provide basic support for the organization’s IT and security needs.

What We’re Looking For

• Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or a related field;
• Several years of experience in financial and operations management, ideally in the non-profit sector;
• Strong expertise in budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance with Dutch as well as EU financial regulations;
• Experience with actual bookkeeping and working with financial administration systems (e.g., Pluriform, Exact Online) and excellent Excel skills;
• Knowledge of Dutch accounting and annual reporting standards for Non-profit organisations;
• Experience with grant financial administration, and affinity with grant financial regulations;
• Good organizational skills and ability to independently manage multiple tasks and complete them timely in accordance with strict deadlines;
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in work outputs, including written communication;
• Hands-on, proactive, and solution-oriented attitude;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to collaborate across diverse teams in the different offices;
• Good command of English is required, and a reasonable level of Dutch is a great advantage;
• Affinity with WECF’s mission of promoting gender equality and sustainability;
• Valid work permit for long-term employment in the Netherlands.

What do we offer?

Join our vibrant international team, where you’ll enjoy a flexible schedule while working from our office in Utrecht, just a 5- minute walk from railway station Utrecht Vaartsche Rijn. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with colleagues at our sister offices in Munich, Annemasse, and Tbilisi. We offer a one-year contract with a one-month probation period,

• 32-36 hours per week with flexible working arrangements;
• A competitive salary of €4200 to €5500 per month (full-time) depending on experience, (pro-rated to 32 – 36 hours per week);
• A beautiful and inspiring workspace in the heart of Utrecht with hybrid work options;
• Pension scheme covering 50% of the total premium, full public transport commuting allowance (2nd class), and home office allowance;
• Access to relevant training and educational opportunities for professional growth;
• Personal growth through capacity-building sessions, regular check-ins with the director WECF NL, and annual reviews;
• 25 vacation days per year (pro-rata for part-time employees), plus additional paid leave for special circumstances (e.g., marriage, moving, medical appointments) and paid time off between Christmas and New Year.

When?

Start date: January 1, 2025

Deadline

Send your motivation letter and CV by November 29, 2024 to Christy Aikhorin: christy.aikhorin@wecf.org. Interviews will take place soon after, in-person at our office at Arthur van Schendelstraat 550 in Utrecht. If you have any questions, please contact Christy.

We strive to mirror the rich tapestry of society and are actively seeking individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to form a robust, inclusive team and a truly dynamic working environment.

For more information, visit: www.wecf.org,  www.wecf.nl