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FULL-TIME JOB VACANCY
REPORTING ACCOUNTANT
Finance Division
Multiple Office Locations Considered
Application Deadline: 3 September 2024

The Finance Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking a Reporting Accountant in Europe to provide support to the Finance Division with accounting and audit support for all non-US based reporting entities. HRW has 27 entities and branches outside of the US, and this position will support both the Global Accounting team and the local Operations Administrators in ensuring that transactions are recorded and reported in accordance with US and local GAAP.

The Finance Division is led by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), supported by the Global Controller, and is responsible for providing financial management, implementing financial strategy and maintaining the fiscal integrity of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

This full-time position will be based in one of the following HRW’s European offices (Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, London, Stockholm) and will report to the Assistant Controller, based in New York. You will work with the Finance & Operations Directors, as well as the Assistant Controller and the Revenue Manager.

The successful candidate may have the option to work remotely. We aim to be as flexible and supportive as possible in both the recruitment for and onboarding of this position.

Responsibilities:

1. Review or prepare recorded/posted transactions of all HRW non-US entities, in coordination with the Financial Operations team;
2. Oversee the timely and accurate fiscal year closings for all HRW non-US external reporting and coordinate with closings worldwide;
3. Manage local annual fiscal audits for HRW non-US entities as applicable;
4. Establish and maintain relationships with vendors (accounting, payroll, pensions, banking and auditing) and negotiate to get the best rates for these services in non-US entities, in collaboration with the local Financial Operations team;
5. Manage procedures for granting of funds between all non-US charities and coordinate consistency where possible with the worldwide procedures and in compliance with local jurisdiction requirements;
6. Work with Operations Administrators and when needed, provide training on basic accounting concepts, so that they can assist in bank reconciliations, journal entries and analysis;
7. Propose changes to accounting policies and procedures for all non-US based entities to the Global Controller and take the lead in its implementation and consistency with HRW worldwide;
8. Work with Operations staff to ensure that cash flow, budgeting and forecasting in all non-US locations is budgeted and monitored appropriately;
9. Strengthen HRW’s transaction mechanisms while ensuring the required internal controls and compliance (e.g., IFRS, IAS local regulations and taxation);
10. Deliver outputs in a timely manner while maintaining consistency with the agreed strategy and priorities of the Finance Division;
11. Produce reports and recommendations following internal audits or public-sector audits;
12. Operate in compliance with organizational policies and procedures; and
13. Perform additional responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

Education: Chartered Accountant, or equivalent qualification or work experience, or a bachelor’s degree in Accounting is required.

Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of experience in the accounting field is required.

Related Skills and Knowledge:

1. Proven track record of all aspects of accounting, including general ledger, journal entries, budgets, account analysis, financial statements, and other accounting functions, is required.
2. Understanding of statutory requirements, legal procedures (audits, taxes, etc.) and government regulations in Europe (particularly in France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) is required. Knowledge of Japan and Canada would be helpful.
3. Experience in developing systems, policies, and internal controls related to accounting and finance is required.
4. Experience managing accounting in an organization with a complex structure in multiple global locations is required.
5. Proficiency in a computer-based accounting system and Excel is required; prior experience with not-for-profit software such as NetSuite is highly desirable.
6. Analytical, problem solving and creative skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment are required.
7. Excellent time-management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks while maintaining a strong attention to detail are required.
8. Interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate well at all levels of the organization and with staff at remote locations are required.
9. Oral and written communications skills in English and French are required; proficiency in another language is desirable.
10. Prior experience working in nonprofit/NGO financial operations is desirable.

Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits.

How to Apply: Please apply immediately or by 3 September 2024 by visiting our online job portal at careers.hrw.org and attaching a cover letter and CV or resume, preferably as PDF files. No calls or email inquiries, please. Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application submission, or if you require a disability-related accommodation, please email recruitment@hrw.org. Due to the large response, application submissions via email will not be accepted and inquiries regarding the status of applications will go unanswered.

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Human Rights Watch does not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world. Human Rights Watch is an equal opportunity employer.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.