Finance and Risk Controller

Position: Finance and Risk Controller

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Based in: The Hague, Netherlands

Start Date: April/May 2025

Salary: Korn Ferry level 16 (EUR 66,900–92,000 gross yearly salary)

The Van Leer Foundation is an independent Dutch organisation working globally to contribute to inclusive societies where all children and communities can flourish. We bring together people with different perspectives and support them to achieve large-scale impact. Our support consists of a unique combination of funding, networking, training, technical support and knowledge.

The Controller is responsible for regularly assessing our grant-making system and providing the Management Team evidence-based information for decision-making and recommendations on design, budgeting, grant-making and control improvements.

Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as well as Finance, ICT and Programme teams, you will execute and improve financial and administrative functions. This position also manages analysis on policy compliance, risk exposure, costing of our philanthropic activities and the overall financial position of the Foundation.

The Controller plays a vital role in maintaining the financial integrity of the Foundation, ensuring compliance with regulations, to use control activities to improve the integrity of the Foundation’s systems and processes to limit risk and improve efficiency and providing valuable insights for strategic decision-making.

1. Financial management

• Prepares financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Supports the philanthropic programming and general foundation OPEX budgeting process.
• Assists our in-country offices and partners with financial analysis.
• Assesses budgets for mission-related investments/expenses and supports effective budget negotiation for project delivery and identifies financial project risks together with project owners.
• Analyses and aligns costing and financial aspects of budgets including providing support with disaggregation of costing data and a costing analysis for programmes.

2. Reporting

• Prepares in alignment with the Manager Finance & Accounting the accurate and timely recording and reporting of financial data, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, and business results according to applicable accounting guidelines.
• Reports provide insight into the status of the organisation and contribute to decision-making regarding business operations.
• Provides economic analyses, research, and advice on all matters with potentially significant financial implications for the Foundation.
• Provides evidence-based information for decision-making and recommendations on design, budgeting, grant-making, and control improvements.

3. Risk compliance and control

• Manages risk and controls including updating and monitoring the risk control framework to ensure all-round compliance including for SFDC grant management and P&C systems.
• Manages the analysis on policy compliance, risk exposure, costing of our philanthropic activities and the overall financial position of the Foundation.
• Manages the internal audits and coordinates with external auditors and tax advisors. Acts as key consult during annual audits regarding evidence of controls, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations including P&C, GDPR, Audit (RJ640).
• Reports risks to the Management Team.
• Supports monitoring and updating of data-driven dashboards.

4. Stakeholder management

• Informs and manages expectations within the organisation up to the management level and the Board of Trustees. Also has a network outside the organisation, for example with regulatory and supervisory bodies.
• Manages expectations and needs and represents the organisation.

5. Process optimalisation

• Drives development and improvement of business processes, including change management related to systems.
• Monitors proper execution of administrative actions and evaluates existing processes with relevant stakeholders.

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business, other field requiring significant risk or financial analysis and control
• 5-10 years of relevant work experience with demonstrated skills in one or more of the following: audit, financial analysis, systems and process improvement projects
• Strong analytical abilities – qualitative and quantitative research skills including data gathering and analysis
• Able to communicate information and insights in an insightful and structured way, especially using visual mediums such as charts and graphs
• Good understanding of risk and control management design
• Affinity with managing projects through their life cycle

Organisational competencies: Teamwork; learning ability; result-oriented

Job specific competencies: Integrity; creativity; problem analysis; discipline

• Salary: EUR 66,900–92,000 gross yearly salary (37.5h), including 13th month;
• A good working environment in the centre of The Hague;
• Room for personal input and flexibility;
• Flexible working hours;
• The possibility to work on a hybrid basis (office/home) with minimum of 2 days in the office in discussion with manager;
• Good pension scheme;
• A laptop;
• Travel allowance (free 2nd class woon/werk verkeer, NS trein or tram);
• Personal fitness allowance EUR 500 per year.

• Inside the Foundation: Management Team, Programme Team, Finance Investment & Accounting, ICT, People & Culture
• Outside the Foundation: Auditors, Assurance services, Dutch Tax Authority and Consultants, Financial Services