Full-time (40 hours per week) · Spark Breda, the Netherlands

Ever thought about how smart financing can unlock energy access for millions? At Spark, we believe strong financial operations are as essential as innovative products. We’re a social enterprise based in the Netherlands, committed to expanding solar energy access across Africa.

We provide solar home systems to a network of distributors across the continent. These distributors often need flexible payment terms, milestone-linked contracts, or results-based financing (RBF) to grow — and that’s where you come in.

We’re hiring a Financial Project Controller to join our team in the Netherlands. You’ll act as a financial co-pilot for our Business Development team, helping Spark in the execution of projects while ensuring these deals are both commercially viable and financially sustainable.

You will play a pivotal role throughout the deal lifecycle; from shaping and validating business ideas into contracts, executing and monitoring transactions and outcomes from a finance point of view. Partnering closely with Business Development, Operations, and Compliance, you will act as an integrated collaborator in structuring, validating, and delivering deals, ensuring value is embedded at every stage.

What you’ll be doing

1. Financial Deal Assessment & Internal Alignment

• Analyse business structures to identify special conditions, critical requirements, and key milestones necessary for successful transaction execution.
• Partner with Business Development to validate the financial backbone of the proposals.
• Build basic cashflow models to assess deal sustainability.
• Support translating stakeholder requirements (operational, technical, commercial) into robust financial/compliance terms.
• Present financial recommendations to internal stakeholders and decision makers, ensuring compliance with Spark’s financial policies and risk appetite.

2. Contractual Preparation

• Review contracts on behalf of Finance, ensuring payment obligations and timelines are clear, practical, and enforceable.
• Validate that all financial and commercial documentation is complete before every contractual milestone execution.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align contract schedules with production and delivery requirements.

3. Financial Project Management

• Build and maintain accurate cash flow forecasts, reflecting agreed payment structures and expected inflows.
• Track RBF/subsidy-linked payments end-to-end: confirm claim submissions, secure proof, and follow up on delays.
• Monitor compliance with all financial, legal, and commercial conditions set out in the contract.
• Act as the primary contact for partners on financial obligations, documentation requests, and payment schedules.
• Manage collections diplomatically, balancing accountability with long-term relationship building.
• Detect risks early (e.g., payment delays, missing documentation) and prepare remedy plans.
• Capture lessons from past deals and feed them into future negotiations.

4. Liquidity Planning & Financial Modeling

• You’ll play a leading role in maintaining a reliable, real-time view of Spark’s cash position, supporting management in liquidity planning and decision-making.
• Take ownership of the Cashflow component within Spark’s operational financial model to make accurate cash flow forecasts and scenarios.

You’ll report to

Finance Director (currently filled by Managing Director), with a dotted line to the Business Development Lead. You’ll also work closely with the Business Development and Operations teams.

What you’ll bring

You have 4–6 years’ experience in commercial finance, project and credit management, and/or financial operations, preferably in international or impact-driven environments. You thrive at the intersection of numbers and relationships: you can keep an eye on the company’s financial model and liquidity, while managing sensitive partner conversations. You are proactive, structured, and comfortable balancing firmness with diplomacy.

You also bring:

• Experience with financial modelling, risk analysis, credit management and contract finance.
• Direct experience reviewing contracts with financial terms.
• Knowledge of cash flow forecasting, collections, and compliance processes.
• Ability to manage legal and commercial documentation flows (logistics, lender requirements, RBF/donor claims).
• The ability to analyse financial risks and translate them into actionable insights for business teams.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills — you know how to push for accountability while keeping long-term partnerships strong.
• Experience working across cultures and geographies; you adapt your communication style to different stakeholders.
• Strong written skills for drafting clear and practical contracts, reports, and updates.
• Fluency in English; French is a plus.
• Comfort working in fast-paced or early-stage environments where flexibility and problem-solving are key.
• A hands-on mindset: you take ownership, follow through, and bring clarity where things are complex.

Do you feel you don’t match every single bullet point? That’s okay – we encourage you to apply anyway, if you believe you’d be a great fit for this role and can help us achieve our mission. We are proud to be an environment with more than 15 nationalities, embracing diverse perspectives and creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong. Your unique background and experience could be exactly what we need to make a difference.

What you’ll get

• A salary aligned to your experience (€4000 to €5000 gross per month) plus 8% vacation pay.
• €500 annually for professional development.
• Full commute covered with an NS Business Card (2nd class) from your nearest train station to our Breda office.
• Fresh lunches, snacks, and monthly drinks at our Breda office.
• A multicultural team across the Netherlands, Africa, and China — 15 nationalities and counting.
• Visa support for international applicants (note: Spark does not cover relocation costs).
• A chance to shape Spark’s approach to deal structuring, contracts, and cash flow management — driving financial systems that directly support energy access at scale.

The recruitment process

1. First conversation with Andres (Spark Invest Manager) and Ruth (People & Support Manager).
2. Second interview with Marcel (Managing Director (acting Financial Director)) and Micky (Business Development Lead), ideally in our Breda office.
3. If we both feel good, you’re in.

Department

Finance

Locations

Breda

Remote status

Hybrid

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