Finance Manager

APRI is seeking a Finance Manager to lead our growing finance team. This role reports directly to the Director of Operations and involves overseeing financial management, grant and project finance, and process standardization. The position is ideal for someone with experience in international NGOs, grant management, and multi-country operations, who is keen to implement robust financial processes and optimize internal tools.

Team Leadership & Finance Management

• Lead APRI’s finance team, providing guidance, oversight, and support for day-to-day operations
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and donor regulations in all financial activities
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting for projects and offices

Grant & Project Finance

• Supervise grant management processes including budget tracking, expense monitoring, and donor reporting
• Ensure accurate allocation of project costs and adherence to donor requirements
• Support project teams in financial planning and reporting across locations

Process Improvement & Standardization

• Develop and standardize financial workflows, templates, and internal procedures
• Lead improvements and further development of APRI’s internal tools (including Airtable) for budgeting, expense tracking, and reporting
• Identify inefficiencies and implement process enhancements to improve accuracy and transparency

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with the Director of Operations on strategic financial planning
• Prepare and present financial reports to leadership and donors as required

• University degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field
• 3+ years of relevant experience, ideally in NGO finance, grant management, or international project finance
• Proven experience leading a finance team in a multi-office or international context
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and financial/accounting software; experience with Airtable is a plus
• Excellent conceptual, organizational, and process-improvement skills
• Strong attention to detail, analytical mindset, and problem-solving capabilities
• Fluent in English; excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Collaborative, proactive, and able to work in a fast-paced, international environment

Location: preferred Berlin, Germany (60/40)

• Leadership role managing the finance team of an international, mission-driven think tank
• Opportunity to design and optimize financial processes, systems, and internal tools
• Exposure to grant management, budgeting, and financial strategy across international projects
• Professional growth and development within a collaborative and agile finance and operations environment
• Flexible working arrangements and dynamic, international team culture, job-ticket, remote working possible

Let’s Talk

We welcome candidates who are strategic, process-oriented, and passionate about strengthening NGO financial systems. If you are looking to lead a finance team in an international think tank and drive meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.

In the “Remark” section of this form, please confirm that you already hold a valid work permit for Germany. If you do not, please do not submit your application, as it cannot be considered.

APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute is an independent, nonpartisan institute researching key policy issues affecting the African continent. Its goals are to provide input to the German and EU policy-making processes on Africa and options on key policy issues to African stakeholders.

To achieve this, APRI taps into the expertise of African intellectuals, scholars, and networks, collaborating with a wide range of organizations at home and abroad to conduct policy research that looks beyond prevailing narratives and transcends disciplinary hegemonies to center Africa. Its outputs include reports, policy briefs, and short analyses, with the goal of expanding to other innovative ways of disseminating its work.