Finance Director

Finance Director

Location: Vienna (Austria) 

SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.

Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.

Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.

Unit: Finance (Federation Secretariat) 

Duration: 5 years with possibility of extension

Mission 

The Director of Finance oversees the smooth day to day delivery of high quality, consistent and reliable finance services and support – specifically, delivery of high-level Federation planning & reporting, funds management & treasury services and the internal financial support function for SOS Children's Villages International (CVI).   

They contribute to the leadership of SOS CVI including enabling sound budgeting and financial management by leaders and managers in the two units FCS (Federation Secretariat)  and IDS  (International Development Support).

They contribute to the development of Federation wide standards and policies. 

Tasks and Responsibilities 

• Financial Planning & Reporting: Oversees the delivery of financial planning and reporting processes, consolidating the overall financial position, budgeting, and expenditure of the Federation at a strategic level. Provides regular reports and updates to the International Board, Members Assembly, and other relevant Federation bodies to support informed decision-making and efficient resource allocation. 

• Funds Management and Shared Treasury Services: Oversees the execution of international transfers from Programme Service Areas (PSAs) to National Associations (NAs), including bank account management and the coordination of liquidity throughout the financial year. 

• Accounting & Controlling (Internal Services for SOS CVI): Supervises the provision of accounting and controlling services for FCS and IDS teams, including budgeting, forecasting, financial accounting, and coordination with external auditors. 

• Federation Policies, Standards, Processes, and Systems: Facilitates or contributes to the development of finance policies and standards that are mandatory across all Federation entities. Where applicable, supports the development and implementation of Federation-wide financial systems. 

• SOS CVI Financial Processes and Systems: Defines and implements internal financial processes and systems within SOS CVI to ensure compliance with Federation policies and standards. 

• People Management: Leads, manages, and develops direct reports and departmental teams, ensuring effective performance and professional growth. 

• Safeguarding: Supports and promotes the development and implementation of child and human rights safeguarding principles, policies, tools, and practices across the Federation. Raises awareness of safeguarding standards to protect programme participants, families, communities, staff, and partners from all forms of harm, including abuse, exploitation, harassment, violence, and discrimination. Ensures timely reporting of any safeguarding concerns, allegations, or incidents in accordance with established procedures. Supports ad hoc investigations when required, including through proactive budgeting and strengthening internal investigative capacities within SOS CVI. Acts as a role model, demonstrating values-based conduct throughout the organization.
• Strategic Finance: Shapes and drives the overall financial strategy of SOS CVI and its contribution to the Federation’s long-term sustainability. Leads forward financial and liquidity planning, scenario modelling, and resource allocation frameworks to support strategic decision-making. Provides insight on financial risks, funding outlook, and investment priorities, enabling leadership to make informed trade-offs on what to scale, strengthen, or stop. Ensures alignment between financial planning and organisational priorities, including transformation, programme delivery, and Federation stability.  

Responsibilities to Uphold Safeguarding (standards) and Promote a Safe Environment 

As someone working for or on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages, you are responsible for helping to create and maintain a safe and protective environment for staff, as well as for the children, young people, and adult programme participants supported and cared for by SOS Children’s Villages. You are expected to: 

• Commit to the Code of Conduct and reflect on the safeguarding implications of your work on an ongoing basis. 

• Actively participate in team discussions to identify risks and share and apply preventative and mitigation measures and strategies.  

• Integrate safeguarding principles into your daily decisions and tasks. 

• Report any safeguarding concerns promptly and in line with procedures. 

• Promote values-based culture, accountability and zero tolerance of harm. 

Requirements 

• A minimum of 15 years progressive and relevant experience in financial management   

• At least 5 years at senior management level - Finance Director / CFO - in an international development context and/or business environment  

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in overseeing work in multiple geographic locations, in various functional areas   

• Experience of working with a highly diverse and multicultural staff body in a relevant leadership role 

• Willingness to travel 20% 

• Desired: French, Spanish, Arabic, German   

Technical Skills  

• Internationally recognised Financial Qualification appropriate for an International Finance Director role   

• Very strong track record of driving strategies for and delivery of operational support functions  

• Experience of leading finance functions in complex contexts  

• Can demonstrate development, mentoring and building of effective Leadership Teams  

• Experience of building an effective values-led and organisational working culture including safeguarding  

• Track record of facilitation of the development and subsequent adherence to polices and standards  

• Experience in managing a budget of several million euros  

• Experience working with a highly diverse and multicultural staff body in a relevant leadership role. 

• Ideally experience in leadership roles in INGO Federations or equivalent complex organisations with multiple national members (desired)  

Other Competencies and Soft Skills 

• Authentic commitment to and role modelling of the vision, mission and values of the SOS Children’s Villages federation in its work for children  

• Outstanding interpersonal skills, ability to collaborate, engage and build trust amongst stakeholders, in a complex networked global system, able to influence without direct authority  

• Passion for Operational Delivery  

• Strategic thinking 

Ways of working:   

• Global collaboration and communication – Working effectively across countries, cultures, and time zones by maintaining clear communication, transparency, and shared understanding within distributed teams.  

• Cross-functional collaboration – Working closely with colleagues across different functions and areas of expertise to combine knowledge, solve problems collectively, and deliver meaningful outcomes aligned with the organisation’s mission.  

• Effective collaboration within matrix structures – Working constructively within solid and dotted reporting lines by maintaining open communication, aligning priorities with both line and functional managers, and ensuring clarity on roles, responsibilities, and expectations to support coordinated delivery across teams.  

• Flexibility and adaptability – Remaining responsive to evolving contexts and adjusting priorities, approaches, and ways of collaboration as projects, services, or organisational demand evolve.  

• Ownership and accountability – Taking responsibility for advancing tasks and initiatives, proactively addressing obstacles, and ensuring that commitments, decisions, and actions are carried through to completion, taking initiative within your scope of responsibility rather than waiting for direction.  

• Strengthening member associations and their autonomy – Ensuring that knowledge, tools, and lessons from projects and services are shared with member associations so they can learn from the work carried out and progressively strengthen their capacity and independence.  

• Continuous feedback and transparency - Contributing to a culture where feedback and data are shared openly and constructively, enabling teams and stakeholders involved to reflect, learn, and continuously improve their work and impact.  

Good to know:  

• All internal GSC colleagues from all locations are welcome to apply. Colleagues who are currently in their notice period are encouraged to apply, as long as they have not received their end of service payments. 

• The internal recruitment process will be conducted in accordance with applicable equal-treatment, non-discrimination and data-protection requirements.  

•  The validation process for this position is still ongoing, and therefore the role, responsibilities, or requirements may be subject to change. We will update the job advertisement accordingly if any adjustments are made. If you have questions or would like more clarity before applying, you are welcome to contact the Hiring Manager or the HR Business Partner directly.  

•  Colleagues from other locations as well as colleagues who are currently in their notice period are welcome to apply for this position, provided they meet the requirements. Applications will be considered in line with our internal selection guidelines.  

•  Contract duration, if applicable, will be determined based on the business need, funding source, applicable local labour laws and the employee's current employment status. Any resulting terms will be communicated during the formal selection process.   

•  Employment contract will be issued according to the labour law of the location colleagues are currently working in.  

• As a general rule, the organisation does not intend to sponsor relocation for internal applications unless expressly stated in the posting or separately approved.  

How to apply?  

If you are interested in this position, please send your detailed application in English by 23.05.2026. 

Please note that applications will be reviewed and suitable candidates will be contacted for interviews on an ongoing basis. The position will remain open until filled.

What We Stand For 

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, and prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organization, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action. 

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a safe working environment for our staff, the children and young people and the communities that we work for. The organization prohibits harassment, exploitation and abuses by or of any employee, supervisor, manager, child, young people, community, contractor, applicant, or other individual with whom SOS Children’s Villages employees come into contact by virtue of their work. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our prevention and protection against Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse policy. 

In addition, SOS Children’s Villages apply a zero-tolerance concerning any fraud situation. The organization does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. 

Successful candidates will have to submit a criminal record certificate, current within the last three years. In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, these positions will be subject to criminal record checks.