Europe Regional Accounting Manager

WRI Europe Stichting; Den Haag; Hybrid; EUR 63,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Generous leave days

Flexible working hours

Job summary

WRI Europe Stichting is seeking a finance professional to join our Europe Operations Team on a one-year contract with renewal potential. The role is hybrid, requiring 8 days in the office per month, and you can be based in The Hague or London.

You will support day-to-day accounting, reporting and budgeting activities, coordinating with the Global Accounting team and program coordinators to maintain accurate financial statements and timely close processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance; professional accounting qualification an advantage.
• Full-time experience with accounting processes, year-end close and audit procedures.
• Experience with budgeting, financial analysis and forecasting.
• Experience preparing dashboards for non-finance stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Perform monthly and quarterly reconciliations for Europe entities.
• Support monthly and year-end close including journal entries and accruals.
• Coordinate expense tracking and vendor invoice processing.
• Prepare cash-flow forecasts and monitor positions for Europe entities.
• Assist with budget monitoring and variance commentary for core teams.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Forecasting

Monthly close

Dashboards

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

ACCA/CPA/CMA (advantage)

Tools

Workday

Time & Expense

ERP systems

Job description

This is a hybrid position that requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in The Hague or London. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. This will be a 1 year contract initially with the possibility of renewal.

About the Program:

The WRI Operations Department strives to make all global offices capable and low risk, enhancing their operational capabilities, establishing sustainable growth through a bond of mutual respect, collaboration and sharing knowledge across the sisterhood of WRI offices. This is done by targeting standards of performance, and measuring efficiency and effectiveness across all the offices. You will be part of a relatively new and growing European office and will help ensure that systems and processes are robust now and in the future. WRI Europe currently has staff based in three locations in Europe: the Netherlands, the UK and Germany.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the Regional Manager, Accounting and Finance – Europe, you will focus on the operational and analytical work that underpins our regional finance function. You will take responsibility for many of the day-to-day accounting, reporting and budgeting activities so that the Regional Manager can concentrate on strategic development of structures, systems and stakeholder engagement. You will work closely with the Global Accounting team and Program Coordinators (PCs) across the institute and will be an integral member of the Europe Operations Team. You will support the efficient operation of the Europe accounting function and help WRI maintain accurate and timely financial accounts.

Accounting and Finance (50%):

• Prepare and perform first-line review of monthly and quarterly reconciliations for WRI Europe entities (e.g. bank, balance sheet, intercompany, payroll, tax/VAT)
• Support the monthly and year-end finance closure, including preparing and posting journal entries, accruals, prepayments and reclassifications
• Coordinate and monitor expense tracking, ensuring correct coding, approvals and documentation in line with policies
• Process and/or review vendor invoices for Europe entities, Purchase Order review, ensuring accuracy, completeness and appropriate supporting documentation
• Prepare and help execute payment runs, ensuring timely settlement of obligations and alignment with cash-flow plans and authorization matrices
• Assist with preparing cash-flow forecasts and monitoring cash positions for WRI Europe entities
• Support the Regional Manager with budget monitoring, including preparing standard budget-versus-actual reports and basic variance commentary for core team budgets

Internal Coordination and Alignment (20%):

• Support the daily financial management and accounting operations for WRI Europe, acting as a key operational contact point for internal stakeholders on finance questions
• Contribute to the further development of the WRI Europe Accounting and Finance function by proposing improvements to daily processes and controls, particularly around reconciliations, close routines and expense handling
• Help ensure that systems, policies and processes are documented, consistently applied and aligned with organizational strategy and values
• Assist the Regional Manager and the Europe Operations Director to help monitor compliance with Europe statutory requirements and internal WRI finance policies
• Support preparation of information for internal and external audits, including reconciliations, samples and documentation

Systems (20%):

• Support the configuration of accounting and budgeting systems for WRI Europe, ensuring they are set up to support day-to-day processes (invoice flows, payment runs, reconciliations)
• Help ensure that global systems are appropriately configured to meet local regulatory and reporting needs in Europe
• Help monitor data quality in the ERP and related systems (e.g. vendor master data, chart of accounts, project codes)

Other Work (10%):

• Contribute to the maintenance of the Accounting Handbook for WRI Europe, especially sections related to monthly close, reconciliations, expenses, invoicing and payments
• Identify opportunities for system and process improvements and support their implementation, with a focus on efficiency and standardization of daily accounting work
• Support the maintenance of dashboards and operational reports (e.g. open items, overdue invoices, unposted expenses) for the Europe Operations Director and Regional Manager
• Assist with ad-hoc analysis, reconciliations and reporting
• Provide backup support for selected tasks of the Regional Manager or accounting staff

What will you need:

Education:

• You have completed bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related field
• An accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA, CPA, CMA or equivalent) is an advantage

Experience:

• You have full-time, relevant experience with accounting processes, year-end closing work and audit procedures
• You have a demonstrated understanding of accounting principles and monthly closing procedures
• Experience contributing to the set-up of policies and processes
• Demonstrated competence in budgeting, financial analysis and forecasting
• Experience preparing dashboards or management reports for non-finance stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to interpret financial information for a non-technical audience
• Experience collaborating effectively with a distributed team
• Experience managing and mentoring teams is an advantage
• Experience with Workday, Time & Expense and online payment processing systems – or similar ERP and expense tools – is an advantage
• Experience working with donor-funded projects or grants within an international NGO is desirable
• Experience with system implementation, automation, testing and troubleshooting in collaboration with external vendors/consultants is a plus

Requirements:

Existing work authorization is required for candidates based in the UK, as WRI is unable to sponsor visas in the UK.

Potential Salary:

• If based in the Netherlands: €63,000 – €79,000 (excluding 8% vacation allowance)
• If based in the UK: £54,000 - £68,000

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure

About Us:

World Resources Institute works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. Our mission and values: WRI's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care. These values shape how we work with one another as well as what we work toward, and they call on all of us to help create an environment where people are welcomed, respected, and able to contribute as their full selves.

Our culture:

At WRI, we believe that a more inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace helps all of us do better work and better serve our mission. We are committed to advancing gender and social equity and to fostering an environment where people of all identities and backgrounds feel they belong, are valued, and are treated with dignity and respect. Creating this kind of culture is a shared responsibility across WRI.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status. Our People team carefully reviews all applications. WRI is a trusted partner for change. Using research-based approaches, we work globally and in focus countries to meet people’s essential needs; to protect and restore nature; and to stabilize the climate and build more resilient communities. We aim to fundamentally transform the way the world produces food, uses energy and designs its cities to create a better future for all. We work across several topics affecting people, nature and the climate. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to promoting a diverse workplace.

If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for employment, please contact WRI’s Human Resources department at 202-729-7851. EEO is the Law | Pay Transparency Policy