Head of Finance

Vacancy Head of Finance (1,0 FTE)

Are you interested in leading our Finance department and are curious about science? We’re looking for a motivated Head of Finance to support our large team of international, interdisciplinary researchers in the field of language and communication science.

You will lead our Finance department and execute operational financial activities. You will support other members of the Institute on finance-related topics, ensuring that our practices are not only compliant with established policies but also contribute to the realisation of top-level science within budgetary constraints. You will operate within a dynamic international environment, with a direct reporting line to the Chief Operating Officer.

Your Tasks

Leadership tasks:

• Management, development and personnel planning of the Finance Department, including supervision of three finance team members (direct reports)
• Structural planning and monitoring of the SAP system
• Management and monitoring of all budgets, including cost calculations and budget projections
• Advising the Directorate and Chief Operating Officer on budget-related matters
• Liaison between head office and institute financial controlling
• Main point of contact for all institute employees, external agencies and the organisation’s head office for all internal and external finance-related matters

Accounting:

• Financial accounting (end-to-end invoice process, VAT compliance activities, regular financial reports, payroll accounting, reconcile creditor, debtor, general ledger, clearing accounts and cost centers, etc.)
• Cost accounting (cost allocation and transfer cycles to ensure accurate cost distribution, monthly and annual cost accounting statements, financial analysis for internal and external stakeholders, etc.)
• Fixed assed accounting (monitor and reconcile inventory, fixed asset records, financial adjustments, inventory management, etc.)

Procurement and Contract Management:

• Manage procurement processes for goods and services in compliance with public procurement regulations
• Review procurement requirements and conduct tendering procedures in accordance with applicable procurement laws
• Coordinate freight forwarding, customs, and import/export activities
• Perform cost-effectiveness analyses and prepare, negotiate, and review contracts for goods and services

Your Profile

Essential:

• A degree in Accounting and Controlling, Finance or Business Administration, or a qualification as an Accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter:in) or Administrative Specialist (Verwaltungsfachwirt:in AL II)
• At least 3 years’ professional experience in financial accounting with team leadership, preferably in a publicly funded institution
• In-depth knowledge of SAP R/3 and MS Office
• Good working knowledge of written and spoken English and comfortable using English in a business/professional context

Desirable:

• A demonstrably supportive, positive mind-set and “can-do” mentality
• Working experience in a publicly funded institution
• Experience working in diverse teams
• Good working knowledge of Dutch and/or German

Your regular workplace is Nijmegen. Although hybrid working is possible, we believe this role is best performed with frequent on-site presence.

Why the MPI?

In this position, you will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to our mission to enable ground-breaking research and scientific excellence. We offer a position in a truly international organisation, within an inclusive and safe context with respect for each individual’s background and culture, and with room for individual development. A job in a dynamic environment, where every day is different, with freedom to take initiatives and express ideas, and with motivated and open colleagues that will be pleased to welcome you to our Institute.

The salary is in accordance with the German collective labour agreement TVöD (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst) and is classified in salary group E11. Depending on the experience of the applicant, the salary is between EUR 4.269,64 and EUR 6.326,77 gross per month (for full-time employment), plus a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross salary. This equates to EUR 55.334,53 - EUR 81.994,93 per year, including holiday allowance. Our offer contains a one-year appointment, with the intention of a permanent contract dependent on a successful evaluation after the first year, pension scheme, 30 days of holiday and multiple training opportunities.

Ready to apply?

Please submit your CV and a short motivation letter (no more than 2 pages) in English before 23 August 2026 directly via our recruitment portal: https://recruitingapp-5569.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/494/Application/New/2

We kindly ask you to include two references. We aim to have first and second round interviews (in English) on September 09 and 17.

For more information about our Operations Department and the role of Head of Finance, please contact the Chief Operations Officer Cedric.Gertzen@mpi.nl.

About our institute

The Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics is a world-leading research institute devoted to interdisciplinary studies of the science of language and communication, including departments on genetics, psychology, development, neurobiology and multimodality of these fundamental human abilities.

We investigate how children and adults acquire their language(s), how speaking and listening happen in real time, how the brain processes language, how the human genome contributes to building a language-ready brain, how multiple modalities (as in speech, gesture and sign) shape language and its use in diverse languages and how language is related to cognition and culture, and shaped by evolution.

We are part of the Max Planck Society, an independent non-governmental association of German-funded research institutes dedicated to fundamental research in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities.

The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunities employer. We recognise the positive value of diversity and inclusion, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We aim to provide a working environment with room for differences, where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Therefore, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Our institute is situated on the campus of the Radboud University and has close collaborative links with the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and the Centre for Language Studies at Radboud University. We also work closely with other child development researchers as part of the Baby & Child Research Center.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract

Pay: €55.334,53 - €81.994,93 per year

Work Location: In person