Business Control Advisor

Company Description

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises (SNV themes).

Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with technical and process expertise and methodological rigour. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all.

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion are fundamental to who we are and what we do. This is reflected in our vision, mission, and strategy, which set out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030.

Our CARE principles—Committed to Impact, Adaptive to Context, Respecting Differences, and Expertise in Practice—are at the heart of who we are and the work we do. These principles are embedded in our vision, mission, and strategy, which serve as our compass guiding us towards 2030.

For more information on SNV, please refer to our website: www.snv.org

Job Description

We are currently looking for a Business Control Advisor

• Contract duration: One-year initial contract with possibility for extension
• Location/ duty station: The Hague, the Netherlands (SNV does not sponsor a visa for this role)

Who you are

You are a seasoned finance professional with strong FP&A, business control, analytics and stakeholder partnering experience. You combine strategic judgement with hands-on analytical capability and you are comfortable engaging senior leaders, challenging assumptions and translating complex financial information into clear decisions and actions. You bring curiosity for digital transformation, automation and AI-enabled finance, while remaining grounded in the realities of a project-based international organisation. You lead through expertise, influence, coordination and coaching rather than relying on formal authority.

Position overview

The Business Control Advisor is part of SNV’s Global Finance team within Business Control, reporting to the Business Control Manager. The role leads and strengthens enterprise financial planning and analysis across SNV, supporting senior management decision-making through high-quality planning, forecasting, reporting, analytics, and financial narratives. Over the coming 12–36 months, the role will help modernise SNV’s planning and analytics capability by improving automation, consistency, and scalability, while keeping a strong connection to project-cycle business control, portfolio performance, cost recovery, and country-level decision support. The role contributes directly to SNV’s organisational transformation agenda by helping embed stronger capabilities, scalable analytical models, and effective use of digital tools and AI for informed decision making.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve FP&A processes, including annual planning, mid-year review, forecasting, management reporting, scenario analysis, and financial outlooks for senior leadership decision-making.
• Translate financial, operational, portfolio, and project data into concise executive narratives, insights, risk/opportunity analysis, and recommended actions for the CFO, Executive Team, and other senior stakeholders.
• Drive more automated, scalable, and consistent planning and analytics by identifying opportunities for Power BI, workflow automation, AI-enabled analysis, self-service reporting, and improved data flows.
• Strengthen integrated performance insight across corporate, country, global-team, portfolio, and project levels, connecting financial and non-financial indicators where relevant to support evidence-based steering.
• Maintain a meaningful connection to project-cycle business control by supporting project financial analysis, budget/depletion and gross contribution monitoring, cost-recovery principles, donor compliance considerations, and quality assurance of project financial data where relevant.
• Develop and improve planning, reporting, guidance, tools, and minimum quality standards, helping country and global teams access reliable, comparable, and actionable financial insights.
• Partner across Finance, countries, global teams, Business Development, HR, Risk & Compliance, ICT/Data, and other stakeholders to improve decision-making, data quality, process ownership, and adoption of new ways of working.
• Coach colleagues and contribute to capability building in FP&A, business control, analytics, project financial management, and responsible use of digital tools and AI.

Qualifications

What you bring

To be considered for this role, you bring:

• A master’s degree in finance, economics, business administration, accounting, commercial engineering, or equivalent by experience; professional qualifications such as MBA, CPA, CMA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent are an advantage.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in FP&A, business control, finance business partnering, financial planning/reporting, or analytics in a complex international environment.
• Proven ability to lead planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, scenario analysis, management reporting, and executive-level decision support.
• Excellent analytical and data-storytelling skills, with the ability to convert complex financial and operational information into clear insights for senior and non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong digital capability: advanced Excel, strong working knowledge of BI/reporting tools such as Power BI, and experience with ERP and planning/reporting systems; experience with SAP Business ByDesign or comparable ERP systems is valuable.
• Demonstrated ability to improve or automate finance processes and a strong interest in applying AI, advanced analytics, and automation to improve quality, consistency, efficiency, and decision support.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, facilitation, and communication skills, including the ability to challenge constructively and guide discussions towards sound decisions.
• Understanding of project-based financial management, cost recovery, and donor-funded or contract-based environments, or the ability to quickly apply strong FP&A expertise in such a context.
• A high degree of independence, judgement, quality orientation, adaptability, and ability to coordinate across multiple teams and priorities in a changing environment.

Additionally, we value

• Experience with finance transformation, shared services, target operating model design, data governance, or self-service analytics.
• Hands-on experience with AI assistants, automated workflows, EPM/planning tools, SQL, Python, or data visualisation platforms.
• Experience in international development, non-profit, donor-funded, or mission-driven organisations.
• Fluency in English; French or other SNV working-country languages are an asset.
• A learning mindset and curiosity to test, scale, and embed new analytical approaches

Additional Information

• Type of contract: national contract
• Initial contract duration: One-year initial with possibility for extension
• Location: The Hague
• Expected start date: October/November 2026
• Work authorisation: This position is offered on a national contract basis. Candidates must have existing authorization to work in the Netherlands, as SNV is not able to sponsor visas or work permits for this role.
• What we offer: The salary for this role is between €4382-5842 gross per month, depending on experience. This position is graded within a broader internal salary scale. The final salary offer is based on relevant experience, skills, and internal equity. SNV applies a structured salary framework, offering transparency and growth opportunities over time. In addition to this SNV offers 240 hours of annual leave (pro rata), 8% holiday pay, an 8.3% year-end bonus and participation in the pension scheme with employer pension contributions.

Working at SNV

At SNV we challenge and inspire and offer continuous growth. We offer meaningful opportunities to shape the future, expand your skills, and collaborate with a vibrant, global network of experts. At SNV your contribution matter, and your development is our priority.

We are home to 57 cultures working in 22 countries, with about 95% of our team members holding the nationality of the respective countries we work in. We promote international career development. Our workforce consists of a mix of both people with longstanding tenure, willing to share their institutional knowledge, as well as people with local expertise and knowledge. All with an inquisitive view and united in ‘ONE SNV’ working towards our purpose.

Together, we are committed to the effective and efficient stewardship of resources and maximising positive, lasting impacts. Our ability to deliver results rests on our robust foundation of experience, technical knowledge, evidence and learning; our commitment to strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships; and the relationships and trust of those we work alongside.

SNV is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment and make recruitment decisions based on merit, competence, and organisational needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, nationality, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from under-represented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply

If you meet the key requirements and feel inspired by this opportunity, we warmly welcome your application. Please submit your CV and motivation letter by 6th of September 2026 via SmartRecruiters.

To ensure a focused and respectful recruitment process, we kindly ask that you apply only if you meet the essential qualifications and are available to work in the specified location.

Please note that only candidates progressing to the next stage of the selection process will be contacted. Individual feedback cannot be provided.

If this role isn’t the right fit but you’re interested in joining SNV in the future, we invite you to stay updated on new opportunities that match your profile.

Reference and vetting check

At SNV, our belief in the CARE principles — Commitment to impact, Adaptive to Context, Respecting Difference and Expertise in Practice — shapes how we work with each other and every interaction we have with our colleagues, partners, and the communities we serve. These values guide how we welcome new team members, ensuring our workplace remains a place of trust, safety, and dignity for all.

As part of our commitment to a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace, we carry out reference and background checks for all determined positions, with particular attention to safeguarding. You will be invited to provide the contact details of [two] referees, and we will only approach them once you have given your permission. We handle this process with care, empathy, and strict confidentiality, using the information solely for purposes related to your application and the role you have applied for.

SNV is committed to safeguarding and to protecting children and adults from all forms of harm, with zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, or any other form of misconduct. As part of creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive working environment, all staff, consultants, and partners are expected to uphold SNV’s safeguarding, child protection, ethical standards, and CARE principles. In line with these commitments — and as a participant in the Inter‑Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS) — SNV will request a Statement of Conduct from your previous employer(s), covering any substantiated findings of misconduct, to ensure a recruitment process that safeguards and protect the communities we serve.