Controller

What does Max Foundation do?

Max Foundation is an ambitious and fast-growing Dutch-based nonprofit organization (€4.5 million in annual programs, 3 million beneficiaries, 58 full-time equivalents) founded by Steven and Joke Le Poole to turn their son Max’s death into something positive. Max Foundation believes that no child should die from easily preventable diseases and aims to provide a healthy future for as many children as possible in the most effective and sustainable way. We have programs in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Nepal.

To maximize the impact of our funds, we focus on (social) returns and efficiency through a business-oriented approach: getting the most value for the money spent. When determining how we work and what we do, we ask ourselves: what is the most efficient and effective way? MF seeks to increase impact directly and inspire other organizations in the field to apply the lessons we’ve learned.

The organization is growing rapidly; last year we doubled our revenue and team size, and in 2020 we began operations in Ethiopia. Over the years, we have developed our unique integrated Healthy Village approach, which combines the thematic areas of WASH, nutrition, and health. We strongly believe in partnerships as a catalyst for our work and ideas. We have also established a social water enterprise in Bangladesh that provides easy, safe, and affordable water through piped water networks in homes. To date, our impact has been to connect 1,500 households to our water networks.

This is an exciting time to join Max Foundation, as the organization is preparing to take ambitious steps forward. We are an organization in transition that is building its country teams and systems to be ready to scale. The new controller would need to spend a relatively greater amount of time on building systems and coaching country teams.

The position

Role within the organization

The controller reports directly to the Business Development Director (CEO)/Co-founder and will work closely with the Director of Programs and Operations (COO) and the board treasurer. He or she provides leadership and receives support from the program finance officer and financial administration officer, collaborates with the finance teams at the country offices in Ethiopia and Bangladesh, and supports the social water enterprise in Bangladesh.

The role

The Controller's primary responsibilities are:

1. Further optimize and standardize the current financial, IT, HR, and other operational systems, and lay the groundwork for projected growth.
2. Strengthen and support the finance teams at the Bangladesh and Ethiopia country offices and the Max Social Enterprise office in Bangladesh.
3. Further focus and increased cost-effectiveness of the programs.
4. The controller is responsible for designing and implementing an audit protocol for both regular business operations and programs.
5. Provide leadership to the program finance officer and the financial administration officer
   

The controller is responsible for financial management and provides support for IT, HR, and other control systems at headquarters, our project partners, and our country offices in Bangladesh and Ethiopia. The projects are primarily implemented by Max Foundation’s own country offices. The controller will be based in Amsterdam but will also regularly visit Max Foundation offices abroad. The controller provides both solicited and unsolicited advice to management and the board.

Core responsibilities/accountabilities

• Proactively develop and establish standards for financial reporting and monitoring for headquarters, country offices (Bangladesh and Ethiopia), and our project partners.
• Prepares annual budgets for headquarters, country offices, programs, and donors; monitors actual progress; and shares outcomes and conclusions with stakeholders.
• Prepares quarterly consolidated financial reports for board meetings.
• Actively supports the Finance Managers at our country offices to help them grow into a more professional and mature organization.
• Consolidates data from various (financial) departments and prepares annual financial statements for the purpose of external reporting.
• Monitors internal reports and audits of our country offices and project partners.
• Collects financial data from country offices, prepares financial analyses, and submits financial reports to donors.
• Strives for continuous improvement of our AO/IC organization.
• Manage IT at the headquarters.
• Preparation and management of contracts with third parties.
• Strengthening the organization's cost-effectiveness.
  

Profile of the ‘ideal candidate’

Education and experience

A university degree, with at least five to ten years of work experience in finance and administration, preferably in a similar role.

Key competencies

The controller will need to combine a talent for strategic thinking with strong communication skills and turn plans into action (Thinking, Sharing, and Acting)

The following characteristics and skills are essential

1. A proactive and meticulous financial expert with a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
2. Works independently, has a broad perspective, and ensures that deadlines are met.
3. Knowledge and experience in ICT.
4. Experience working in a grant-funded, project-based environment is a plus.
5. Analytical and flexible.
6. A hands-on approach.
7. Alignment with the mission of the Max Foundation.

Languages

Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Dutch and English.

We Offer

A great next step in your career as a controller. You will work closely with a small team of professionals, each with their own area of expertise, who combine passion and professionalism to achieve the greatest possible impact: “Saving as many children’s lives as possible.” Benefits in the sector are competitive, and compensation will be in accordance with the “Regeling Beloning Goede Doelen Nederland” (Dutch Charities Remuneration Regulation).

Application

The Max Foundation is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information about the position and the organization, please contact Rick Verhoeven, a partner at Colourful People (06-267 067 57). The application deadline is November 26, 2022. Interviews will be held in weeks 50 and 51.

You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resume (PDF) via the "Apply" button on ColourfulPeople.nl