Financial Management and Compliance Officer

Finance & Banking
Freiburg, Germany
Position closing date: February 28, 2026

Start date: 01 May 2026

Duration: 24 months (extension intended)

Location: Freiburg, Germany

Deadline for application: 28 February 2026

Do you want to contribute to making our cities better places to live?

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network working with more than 500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development.

ICLEI‘s European Secretariat is based in Freiburg (Germany), with specialised offices in Brussels and Berlin. ICLEI Europe has more than 150 staff from all over Europe and beyond, covering a broad variety of professional disciplines and expertise.

Working with us, you will have opportunities to:

  • Be part of a growing, internationally recognised organisation that inspires, supports and critically evaluates new trends in (co-)creating sustainable, climate neutral and resilient cities;
  • Work with leading urban researchers, politicians and practitioners on European innovation projects;
  • Contribute to European and international processes that influence urban policies and financing schemes, such as the European Union’s Green Deal, the EU Mission ‘100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities’, the UN SDGs, etc.;
  • Grow professionally in a flexible, family-friendly work environment with opportunities for personal development, European travel, and professional cultural exchange.

We are looking for a new colleague to join our Finance Team as Financial Management and Compliance Officer. The Finance team is responsible for the day-to-day accounting and financial operations of the ICLEI European Secretariat. It is also responsible for overseeing, managing and directing all financing issues for a large number of projects, and for preparing financial reports and audits for these.

We are looking for candidates with the following experience and skills:

  • Degree or professional training in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Law;
  • Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in financial management, accounting, regulatory/compliance, or audit;
  • Strong understanding of corporate, VAT, payroll, and NGO-specific taxation;
  • Experience with financial statements, budgeting, internal controls, and regulatory reporting;
  • Knowledge of IFRS / GAAP; professional certifications (ACCA part-qualified, CCEP, CIA) are advantageous;
  • Proficiency in MS Excel and standard office software;
  • Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; proactive and solution-oriented;
  • Ability to work independently and as part of an international team;
  • Very good command of English; German language skills are an advantage.

Your position will include the following main tasks:

  • Perform daily financial operations, including bank bookings, payments, invoice verification, bookkeeping, and data entry;
  • Maintain accurate financial records and perform finance administration to support timely reporting for management, auditors, and donors;
  • Develop and monitor budgets, forecasts, and cash flow for the organization and donor-funded projects;
  • Report project expenditures, ensuring accurate documentation for audits and donor reporting;
  • Ensure compliance with German tax, corporate, and regulatory requirements, as well as donor rules and project agreements;
  • Maintain and improve internal financial controls, identifying risks and proposing practical solutions;
  • Support contract review and approval from a financial and compliance perspective;
  • Perform general data entry, administration and documentation tasks.

We offer you the following conditions:

  • Initial 24 months contract with intention for extension;
  • Gross salary according to the Officer position in ICLEI’s salary grid (indicative: EUR 48.200 – 50.800 per annum);
  • Place of work: Freiburg, Germany;
  • Working time 60-100% of a full time position (full time position: 40h working week with flexible working time);
  • 6 weeks of paid leave per annum;
  • Working language is English;
  • Occasional travel within Europe according to prior mutual agreement is foreseen.

Please note that applicants must – due to legal reasons – hold EU citizenship or a valid EU residence permit and a valid German work permit. Applications not meeting these conditions can unfortunately not be considered.

Deadline for application: 28 February 2026

Please apply in writing, including a CV and letter of motivation to: jobs.europe@iclei.org

Please note that we review applications continuously upon receipt and early submissions are encouraged. For more information about ICLEI Europe visit: www.iclei-europe.org

ICLEI Europe’s Equal Opportunity and Employment Policy:

ICLEI Europe’s hiring policy is geared to ensure that the organisation hires employees without regard to their colour, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, marital status, socio-economic background or sexual orientation. ICLEI’s policy is that applicants for employment and career progression are considered solely based on their qualifications and competencies.

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