Finance Controller – Tunisia

About SPARK

SPARK is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to creating opportunities for young people in fragile and conflict-affected contexts through entrepreneurship development and higher education. By strengthening local ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurs, and building institutional capacities, SPARK contributes to inclusive economic growth and sustainable employment.

Finance Controller

The Finance Controller provides independent financial control for the FEMFOCUS programme in Morocco. The role checks, on a risk-based and sample basis, whether programme and partner financial processes are working as required and whether selected transactions, reports and supporting records comply with SPARK procedures and applicable Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) requirements.

The Finance Controller is based in Tunis and reports administratively to the Regional Programme Director and technically to the HQ Finance Controller. The position works closely with the Regional Finance Manager, the Morocco Programme Manager, Senior Finance Officer and Senior Partnerships & Sub-grants Officer. The Controller is not part of routine payment processing or the first-line review of partner reports, which preserves the independence of the control function.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

The responsibilities and tasks include, but are not limited to:

Independent Financial Control and Sampling

• Verify, through sampling, that the financial and grant-management checks carried out by the Senior Finance Officer and Senior Partnerships & Sub-grants Officer are complete, documented and followed up;
• Apply additional testing to higher-value or higher-risk transactions, partners or issues identified through previous reviews, audits or management information;
• Document control work, findings, evidence, recommendations and agreed follow-up actions in clear and organised control files.

Internal Control and Compliance

• Carry out spot checks of selected procurement and payment files to verify that required financial and procurement controls have been applied;
• Check whether the applicable financial provisions of the MFA grant, grant conditions and SPARK procedures are being applied consistently in practice;
• Identify control weaknesses, recurring errors or gaps in documentation and recommend practical corrective actions to the Regional Finance Manager and HQ Finance Controller;
• Escalate material or repeated non-compliance, suspected irregularities or significant control risks through the appropriate SPARK reporting lines and procedures;
• Follow up agreed corrective actions and verify that identified control issues have been addressed.

Partner and Sub-grant Controls

• Carry out independent sample checks of selected partner financial reports, expenditure listings and supporting documents after the operational review has been completed;
• Test selected partner grant files for compliance with due diligence requirements, grant agreements, approved budgets, amendments, reporting conditions and disbursement requirements;
• Conduct financial spot checks or partner visits where required by the control plan or identified risk level;
• Check whether issues identified during first-line partner reviews have been properly resolved and documented before or after disbursement, as applicable;
• Identify recurring partner control, documentation or compliance weaknesses and raise them with the Regional Finance Manager and Programme Manager for follow-up, including where additional partner support may be needed.

Audit and Follow-up

• Support external audits, donor checks and internal reviews by providing control records, sampled files and explanations related to the Controller function;
• Contribute to audit preparation and follow-up under the coordination of the Regional Finance Manager, including targeted checks on areas identified as higher risk;
• Track relevant audit, donor and internal-control findings and verify completion of assigned corrective actions;
• Maintain an overview of recurring findings and provide input to improvements in financial procedures, documentation and controls.

Reporting and Coordination

• Share relevant control findings with the Regional Finance Manager and Programme Manager and discuss corrective actions while maintaining the independence of the control function;
• Coordinate with the HQ Finance Controller on control priorities, sampling approaches and issues requiring organisational follow-up;
• Provide practical input to finance or grant-management briefings and improvements when recurring control findings show a need for clearer guidance or stronger procedures.

Requirements and Skills

• Bachelor degree in Finance, Accounting, Audit, Business Administration or a related field;
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in financial control, internal audit, project finance, accounting or donor compliance, preferably within an NGO or donor-funded programme;
• Practical experience reviewing financial transactions and supporting documentation, testing internal controls or carrying out financial spot checks, and documenting findings;
• Experience reviewing partner or sub-grantee financial reports, grant files or supporting documentation is strongly preferred;
• Good understanding of donor financial compliance, eligible costs, procurement-related financial controls, cost allocation, supporting documentation and audit trails. Experience with Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs funding is an asset;
• Good Excel skills and experience working with accounting systems. Experience with Exact Online is an asset;
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and sound professional judgement, with the ability to identify and communicate control weaknesses and financial risks;
• Good written reporting and organisational skills and ability to work independently while communicating findings constructively;
• High level of integrity, accuracy and confidentiality;
• Good professional English;
• Professional proficiency in Arabic and French
• Willingness to travel within the country and occasionally within the region if required;

SPARK Offers

• A remuneration based on SPARK’s function grid and relevant experience;
• Training and professional development opportunities;
• Full-time employment contract, subject to applicable local conditions and programme funding;
• A challenging and responsible position in an international working environment;

How to apply?

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents (in English & French):

• A cover letter outlining their motivation and demonstrating how their qualifications and experience meet the requirements of the position.
• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV), including the contact details of at least three professional references.

Applications must be submitted no later than 20th October 2026 through https://vacancy.spark-online.org/Tab1/LoadProfile/710 .

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. As interviews may take place before the closing date, early applications are strongly encouraged.

SPARK is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage qualified women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. Recruitment and selection are conducted in accordance with SPARK’s safeguarding, integrity, and equal opportunity policies.

If you have not received a reply, we regret to inform you that we have continued with other candidates.