Head of Finance and Operations – IT/Energy Non-profit

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Germany.

📋 Description

• Take charge of financial management, project and grant finance, business administration, and internal business systems.

• Supervise People Operations, ensuring clear accountability and expert support for IT assistance, information security, data protection, and corporate compliance.

• Foster robust financial management within a project-driven organization, including oversight of restricted funds, project budgets, cost allocation, forecasting, financial reporting, and compliance with donor or client requirements.

• Lead a streamlined internal team and coordinate efforts with project leads, technical staff, and external specialists.

• Shape the team's structure, systems, and external support model as OET expands.

• Direct organizational budgeting, forecasting, cash management, control processes, and management reporting.

• Own the financial framework for projects and restricted funds, encompassing budgeting, cost allocation, expenditure tracking, and forecasting.

• Ensure accurate accounting, payroll, banking, tax compliance, statutory reporting, and audits in collaboration with internal colleagues and external advisors.

• Collaborate with the CEO and project leads on proposal budgets, contracts, pricing, indirect cost recovery, and significant financial decisions.

• Provide financial analysis to assist in leadership and project team decision-making.

• Manage business administration responsibilities, including contracts, procurement, vendor relationships, insurance, policies, and ongoing corporate obligations.

• Enhance finance and business systems, such as ERP, project accounting, reporting, workflows, and automation.

• Establish scalable internal IT support encompassing employee assistance, access and account management, onboarding and offboarding, business software, and vendor coordination.

• Oversee information security, data protection, organizational risk management, and business continuity in partnership with specialists and external advisors.

• Identify operational bottlenecks and devise practical solutions for a growing, fully remote organization.

• Lead and nurture a lean team across Finance, People Operations, and administration.

• Define clear responsibilities and coordinate the execution of essential operational tasks.

• Determine which tasks should be managed internally, automated, or supported by external providers.

• Collaborate with the CEO and other leaders to enhance OET’s operational model.

⛳️ Requirements

• Extensive relevant experience in Finance & Operations, typically 8+ years.

• Significant background in finance, accounting, controlling, or finance-led business operations.

• Strong expertise in project accounting, restricted funds, grants, or contract-funded work.

• Comprehensive business administration experience beyond finance, including systems, vendors, contracts, organizational processes, or people operations.

• Proven experience in building or significantly improving finance and operational systems within a growing organization.

• Confidence in liaising with accountants, auditors, banks, software providers, and other professional advisors.

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate financial and operational data into clear decisions.

• Experience in leadership roles and building effective teams.

• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English.

• High integrity and comfort in a remote, asynchronous work environment.

• Proficiency in German is strongly preferred.

• Professional proficiency in German is an advantage.

• Familiarity with German accounting, tax regulations, or non-profit administration is preferred.

• Experience in a project-based non-profit, professional services organization, technology company, or SaaS environment is advantageous.

• Familiarity with donor reporting, public grants, or multi-country projects is preferred.

• Experience with ERP and project accounting systems such as Odoo or DATEV is preferred.

• Experience in establishing internal IT support or IT service management processes is a plus.

• Knowledge of ISO 27001, data protection, or comparable governance frameworks is preferred.

• A qualification in finance, accounting, or business administration, or equivalent professional training is preferred.

• A specific university degree is not a requirement.

🏝️ Benefits

• Full-time preferred, with options for 80-100% arrangements considered.

• Fully remote, high-trust working environment.

• High degree of autonomy and the opportunity to shape the function.

• Direct reporting to the CEO with influence on organizational and financial decisions.

• Meaningful ownership of a critical function.

• Opportunity to engage with international projects, philanthropy, software, and organizational growth.

• Meaningful mission supporting critical infrastructure and the global energy transition.

• Up to quarterly work travel opportunities.