Finance Director (m/f/d)

Company Description

Malengo is a non-profit organization (US: 501(c)(3); Germany: gGmbH) that facilitates international educational migration. We provide mentoring and financial support to students from low-income countries who want to complete a Bachelor’s degree in a high-income country. We aim to give millions of students the opportunity to pursue the education they want, and to lift themselves and their families out of poverty in the process. We believe that this is one of the most effective poverty reduction strategies in per-dollar terms that is available. 

Malengo currently recruits low-income, high-ability students in Uganda, and supports them to apply and complete a Bachelor’s degree in Germany. Our program is sustainable through a financial model in which students support future generations of scholars once they have a high enough income (income share agreements, ISAs). More information about Malengo is available on our website, malengo.org.

Job Description

We are now searching for a Director of Finance. Your primary responsibility will be leading the financial management of Malengo, including but not limited to overseeing the financial activities of all our legal entities, creating and administering investment vehicles and funds, and leading the preparation of financial reports and budgets. Please note: the successful candidate is required to be based in Germany (this requirement may be flexible for truly outstanding candidates). 

Responsibilities Include: 

Assure the financial health of Malengo’s legal entities in Germany and the US 

• Lead the preparation of all financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, shareholder reports, tax returns, and government agency reports
• Assure compliance with the appropriate accounting principles, regulatory requirements, and audit requirements of the United States and Germany, and potentially additional countries as we grow. Lead the German side of the accounting requirements, with the potential for hiring outsourced German-based accounting support as well; oversee contracted accounting professionals in other markets. 
• Compare revenue projections to actual income and budgeted expenses to actual expenses on a monthly basis; make necessary adjustments to future projections and budgets
• Support CEO in analyzing operations to identify any areas in need of reorganization to offer additional efficiencies
• Lead the planning and implementation of an annual budgeting process across legal entities
• Coordinate with country directors  (e.g. Germany, Uganda) to ensure country programs receive required funding to cover their programmatic and operational needs 
• Serve as the Treasurer of all subsidiary legal entities, ensuring appropriate practices are followed in accounting, finance and operations 

Create and administer investment vehicles and funds

• Refine the models that support our current and future income share agreements (ISAs), including forecasting likely returns to investors and Malengo based on scholar data 
• Develop, set up, and administer legal entities that serve as investment vehicles and funds to allow investors to participate in the success of Malengo students
• Conduct financial modeling on opportunities for expansion into new markets and product areas
• Support fundraising efforts to raise additional capital from investors and philanthropists

Develop systems and processes to professionalize Malengo’s financial operations

• Identify how to optimize tools and systems to track expenditures and revenue 
• Design Malengo compliance framework and ensure organizational adoption 
• Oversee the integration and continuous improvement of an integrated financial system across Malengo entities, as well as sufficient financial management systems for each of its independent entities 
• Provide quarterly financial updates for Malengo’s Board meetings 
• Develop appropriate request and approval systems to approve expenditures from team members 
• In collaboration with team members, oversee the financial management of contracts and sub-awards

Act as a key member of the Senior Management Team of Malengo

• Contribute to the overall management of Malengo as a member of the Senior Management Team, including proactively contributing ideas and feedback to the organization about how to better serve our scholars 
• Act as CEO’s critical partner to manage organizational risk, including supporting the prioritization of different risks and the development of mitigation / elimination strategies 
• Assist in preparing board meeting agendas and associated materials on the financial health of the organization

Qualifications

We seek a highly driven, entrepreneurial, and versatile leader who will grow Malengo’s financial management from a small operation into a large-scale, high-quality operation that serves thousands of students each year. You might be the ideal candidate if you recognize yourself in these descriptions:

1. You are inspired by Malengo’s mission and want to create opportunities for thousands of students from low-income countries
2. You have a strong entrepreneurial drive and want to build and develop an organization from the ground up
3. You are collaborative and collegial and excited to work with central Malengo leadership and can act as the CEO’s right hand on all decisions requiring financial analyses 
4. You speak native or near-native German and English
5. You have a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, or Finance
6. You have at least five years of experience leading financial management functions, and preferably more
7. You have technical accounting experience and knowledge 
8. You are independently motivated and proactive in moving work products forward
9. You have an entrepreneurial attitude in your work, including taking a ‘no task is too small’ approach and a willingness to ‘roll up your sleeves’ to support organizational objectives and other team members 
10. You have a strong commitment to evidence and organizational learning
11. You are willing to be based in Germany (this requirement is flexible for truly outstanding candidates)

Additional Information

What We Offer

Malengo is a young organization, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in the United States, and as a gGmbH (non-profit LLC) in Germany. This position is remotely based, although we strongly prefer a base in Germany. We offer the following benefits: 

1. Competitive salary commensurate with background and experience
2. A choice between Unlimited PTO or 30 vacation days per year

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 

Anticipated start date: as soon as possible

Please apply via the Apply Now Button.

You will be required to submit a motivation letter/cover letter as well as your CV in English.  As part of your application, please include the following:

• Date of Birth
• Citizenship(s)
• Are you currently based in or willing to relocate to Germany?
• Do you currently have work authorization in the European Union?
• Level of fluency in English (required), German (required), and French (preferred)
• What is your ideal start date? 

Malengo is committed to diversity, and we believe that our work is strengthened by our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, disability, and more. We actively seek and welcome applicants who identify as BIPOC, women, members of the LGBTQIA community, persons with disabilities, and people at the intersections and peripheries of these identities.