Senior finance and accounting officer

Hivos; Den Haag; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Laptop provided

Travel expenses reimbursed

Pension fund participation

Flexible working arrangement

Job summary

Hivos, based in The Hague, Netherlands, seeks a Senior Finance and Accounting Officer to strengthen the Finance and Operations team. You will lead day-to-day financial administration, ensure accurate reporting and support the Team Lead in improving financial processes across international operations.

The role requires 5+ years in finance, experience with international NGOs, Dutch GAAP knowledge, and fluency in Dutch and English. Local contract and flexible working arrangements are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in finance, including project financial management in senior finance roles.
• Experience in complex international financial environments, preferably within international NGOs.
• Sound knowledge of accounting standards; Dutch GAAP and RJ650 is an advantage.
• Experience working with ERP-based financial systems and other financial management software.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and oversee payment processes in the Global Finance Unit, with 4-eyes controls.
• Provide tailored accounting support to finance staff on financial accounting processes and (project) accounting.
• Prepare and review periodic financial reports and coordinate monthly review meetings with Budget holders.
• Monitor bookings, journal entries, and balance sheet reconciliations for reliable data.
• Support month-end and year-end closings and audit preparations.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Cross-cultural communication

ERP experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Are you a proactive finance professional with a collaborative mindset, ready to thrive in a global, multicultural environment? Hivos is seeking a Senior Finance and Accounting Officer to join our Finance and Operations team of 3 FTEs within the Global Finance & IS function, based in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Position information:

• Location: The Hague, Global Office
• Hours: 36 hours per week (100%)
• Reports to: Finance Team Lead
• Deadline: November 4th, 2026, 23.59 CET

About Hivos

Hivos is an international human rights and social justice organization founded in 1968, guided by strong humanist values. The organization is committed to promoting freedom, dignity, and equal opportunities, and to ensuring that people can actively participate in decisions that affect their lives and communities. Hivos works in partnership with civil society actors, activists, and communities to amplify diverse voices, strengthen agency, and address structural inequalities. Particular focus is placed on supporting marginalized groups to organize, advocate, and claim their rights.

Through its programs and partnerships, Hivos contributes to building inclusive, equitable, and sustainable societies where people have equal access to rights, resources, and opportunities.

Job Context

The Senior Finance and Accounting Officer is part of Finance and Operations Team within the Global Finance & IS Function and reports directly to theFinanceTeam Lead. The Senior Finance and Accounting Officer gives support to and intensively collaborates with the Team Lead regarding all finance matters and executes improvement projects within the realm of finance administration in assignment from the Team Lead. In addition, he/she/they serve as the designated deputy to the Team Lead Finance, ensuring continuity of operations and providing day-to-day oversight of key finance activities during periods of absence.

Responsibilities

In the Finance and Operations team, the execution of the day-to-day financial administration processes as well as the execution of the financial accounts takes place. It is the heart of the integration of all finance processes and other functions and provides the foundation for reliable, timely and complete financial information to enable financial decisions.

The Finance and Operations team under the lead of the Finance Team Lead is responsible for the preparation of financial reports by establishing schedules, collecting, analysing, and consolidating financial data and preparing month-end, quarterly and annual financial statements as well as for safeguarding the integrity of the global bookkeeping and financial administration including adherence to the HIVOS GAAP (RJ640/650).

The Senior Finance and Accounting Officer is the senior team player who directly supports the Team Lead in fulfilling his/her/their overall responsibilities and collaborates with Team Lead in order to realize improvements in financial processes and procedures. Areas of attention for the Senior Accountant include (non-limitative):

• Prepare and/or oversee on the payment processes in the Global Finance Unit, executing 4-eyes controls ensuring quality and timeliness of the process
• Provide tailored advice and hands‑on accounting support to finance staff on financial accounting processes, (project) accounting and financial administration
• In collaboration with the Team Lead and Treasury & Financial Controller, prepare and review periodic financial reports and coordinate monthly review meetings with Budget holders to discuss key financial developments, issues, and follow‑up actions
• Monitor the completeness and correctness of bookings and journal entries to ensure reliable budget depletion overviews in the Functions; support Budget holders in their financial management responsibilities
• Review financial balances, resolve discrepancies, and coordinate balance sheet clean‑up activities with countries/areas to ensure accurate and reliable financial data
• Collaborate with Fundraising Department for the correct execution of (monthly) private fundraising direct‑debit processes as well as correct administration and revenue recognition (including legacies)
• In collaboration with Team Lead, provide oversight in the execution of the month‑end and year‑end closings, perform checks and identify issues, and follow up with Area Finance Managers to ensure timely resolution on outstanding items during such reviews
• Propose and execute improvements in the area of Asset Management, FX management or other agreed upon improvement areas with the Team Lead
• Act as first line support on questions and inquiries from Area Finance Managers (AFMs) and Budget Holders related to financial management
• Conduct quality checks and provide on‑the‑job training to ensure accurate interpretation of partner contracts and amendments, proper liability recognition, and compliance with payment processing requirements
• Support in the interim and yearly annual audit including project audits, with preparing samples and delivering high quality audit materials on time and reviewing samples from the other countries/areas
• Provided operational support and/or act as focal point when needed for project audits and end-to-end project closure processes, maintaining data accuracy and process compliance

Person specifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.

Knowledge / Experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in finance, including project financial management in senior finance roles.
• Experience in complex international financial environments, preferably within international NGOs.
• Sound knowledge of accounting standards. Experience with Dutch GAAP and RJ650 is an advantage.
• Experience reviewing and processing payments, general ledger accounting, and managing month‑end closing activities, including balance sheet reconciliations.
• Experience preparing annual financial statements and supporting the annual reporting process, with hands‑on knowledge of end‑to‑end accounting processes (e.g., procure‑to‑pay).
• Experience working with ERP‑based financial systems and other financial management software.
• Audit experience, preferably with a Big Four accounting firm, is considered an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Dutch and English.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multicultural and international environments, demonstrating strong cultural awareness.

Key Skills / Attributes

• Financial analysis, strategic thinking and problem-solving.
• Planning and organizational skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Integrity, accountability, professionalism and ethical judgement.

What we offer

In this position you will work at the Hivos’ Office in the city center of The Hague. We offer a stimulating work environment in a professional international organization with very dedicated staff. We offer a local contract based on Hivos local labor conditions, with remuneration commensurate with the experience and expertise.

We provide a laptop and travel expenses according to our commuting policies, as well as participation in our pension fund. Flexible working arrangement to be discussed.

Background checks for final candidates

If you get selected for the final stage of the selection process, please note that professional references will be asked from your previous employers, and a safeguarding vetting will be done, in accordance with the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme’s requirements, which Hivos has endorsed.

Police clearance may be required (where the position requires it, and national laws allow it). Exceptions will only be made if there is prohibition of local legislation or when the candidate is unable to obtain police clearance due to activities on LGTB+ and Human Rights. https://www.hivos.org/who-we-are/our-organization/integrity/

Hivos is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diverse candidates – such as women and LGBTQIA+ people, persons with disabilities, and persons from negatively racialized groups – to apply.