Remote only

Head of Finance & Control

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Erbil, Iraq Full-time Remote Finance & Accounting Due 07/10/2026 (14 days left)

Position: Head of Finance & Control
Location: One of SPARKs hubs: Haarlem (preferred), Tunis, Amman or Erbil. Hybrid home/office based.
Expected start date: November 1st, 2026
Duration: 12 Months with possible extension and 3 month probation period
Position type: Full-time employment

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.

As a strategic partner to the CEO, Management Team, and Supervisory Board, the position provides high-quality financial insight, risk management, and decision support while strengthening financial systems and finance teams across the organization.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership & Governance

Together with the CEO, leads on the finance and control strategy for SPARK
Advise the CEO, Management Team, and Supervisory Board on financial performance, risks, and opportunities
Lead multi-annual financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management
Maintain organizational risk oversight and mitigation measures
Ensure strong financial governance, internal controls, and regulatory compliance

Financial Management & Reporting

Oversee consolidated budgeting, financial reporting (including quarterly reporting to the Supervisory Board), and performance monitoring
Lead annual audits and statutory reporting (including VAT and regulatory submissions)
Manage banking relationships and organizational liquidity
Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality financial information across SPARK.
Provide effective and timely communication of critical financial information and recommendations regarding the financial results and condition of the organisation, including relevant trends, forecasts, risks and opportunities, to the MT and the Supervisory Board

Systems, Processes & Financial Control

Strengthen and continuously improve financial policies, manuals, and control frameworks
Enhance financial systems (including Exact Online) and automate processes where possible
Improve cost allocation, monthly/quarterly closings, and balance sheet reviews
Drive strong management reporting and financial KPI tracking.
Guide and review all formal finance related procedures, safeguard proper alignment with other procedures and compliance within the organisation.
Ensure that SPARK meets critical regulatory and legal compliance benchmarks.

Financial guidance for new business development

Advise on financial sustainability, cost recovery, co-financing, cash flow and financial exposure.
Guide the financial structuring of major proposals, including cost allocation, consortium models and indirect cost recovery.
Provide financial and risk input to the Go/No-Go process, with final decision-making owned by the CEO.
Assess key financial, contractual, liquidity and co-financing risks.

People Leadership & Organisational Support

Lead and develop finance, accounting and control teams across HQ and regions
Strengthen financial capacity within programme and management teams
Support decentralized financial management while ensuring consistency and control
Enhance collaboration within the team and with other teams in the organization

Profile and Requirements

Experience in the international development / development cooperation sector (NGO or comparable non-profit setting)
Track record working with institutional donors, particularly the EU and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ) — understands their financial and reporting requirements
Strong grasp of organizational financial health and compliance: knows what to steer on (liquidity, reserves, cost allocation, budget vs. actuals) and how to measure it (KPIs, financial dashboards, regular management reporting)
Experience managing external audits and statutory reporting
Proven people manager — able to lead, coach, and develop a finance team; doesn’t need to be highly senior, but must be capable of confidently running the finance function
5–7 years of relevant experience, including a period in a finance leadership role
Fluent in English. French or Arabic a plus

SPARK Offers

International and dynamic working experience
Opportunity to take initiative and realise your ideas
32 – 40 hour employment contract
Remuneration will be market-conform depending on location

How to apply?

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents (in English):

A cover letter outlining their motivation and demonstrating how their qualifications and experience meet the requirements of the position.
An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV), including the contact details of at least three professional references.

Applications must be submitted through the SPARK vacancies page, no later than the deadline mentioned on the website.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. As interviews may take place before the closing date, early applications are strongly encouraged.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not received a reply, we regret to inform you that we have continued with other candidates.

SPARK is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage qualified women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. Recruitment and selection are conducted in accordance with SPARK’s safeguarding, integrity, and equal opportunity policies.