Foundation Controller (all genders)

We contribute to education, culture, and environmental protection. 
The Hasso Plattner Foundation aims to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies through science and education, improve access to art and culture, and support environmental conservation. Hasso Plattner, one of the founders of SAP, an enterprise software company, served as chairman of its supervisory board from 2003 to 2024. In 1998, Hasso Plattner founded the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering (HPI), marking his first significant philanthropic contribution. After signing the Giving Pledge (initiated by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet), he established the foundation in 2015. 
 
The Hasso Plattner Foundation’s main office is in Potsdam, Germany.
 
A career at the Hasso Plattner Foundation offers you:

Purpose & Impact – You will be working for one of the worlds largest foundations (by endowment) and will have the opportunity to actively shape our philanthropic activities and operations 

Personal growth – We are a fast growing organization looking for excellent talent. You will be working directly with high level executives and senior stakeholders at our projects and the Foundation’s organs and you will have plenty of opportunities to grow into more senior roles 

Agility – Our organization is characterized by flat hierarchies, motivated and driven teams and a non-bureaucratic environment 
 

The position:
We are looking for a Foundation Controller (all genders) to support our team in Potsdam. In this role, you will be in charge of the controlling of dedicated charitable affiliates as well as charitable projects. You will liase with our project partners worldwide to ensure a diligent project controlling. Suitable candidates are self-starters who feel comfortable in a dynamic team and understand how to set priorities under pressure. International candidates with relevant professional experience are encouraged to apply for this position. The position has high visibility towards internal and external stakeholders and requires very good communication skills.

You will be based in Potsdam (Germany) within commuting distance of central Berlin, working full-time. 

Your main tasks:

• Control charitable affiliates, foundation assets, and external charitable projects in line with strategic and charitable compliance guidelines. Responsibilities include analyzing financial key performance indicators, monitoring financial health and advancing financial reporting practices
• Review charitable affiliates' and charitable projects' financial reports, budgets, financial statements, and audit reports, and provide clear feedback to external project partners and internal Program Managers
• Prepare for and participate in board meetings and charities committee meetings
• Coordinate underwriting processes with internal and external parties
• Ensure accurate project-related data and document records in S/4 HANA and our legal entity management software
• Manage ad-hoc projects in the Foundation universe, as well as internal initiatives to further enhance controlling capabilities, tools and processes
• Act as a connector between the Foundation's controlling team and the program management team to ensure key information is shared mutually and in a timely manner

Your experience & qualifications:

• Very good academic degree in business administration or similar subject
• 2-4 years of relevant professional experience in the field of controlling with a recognized company (preferably with a charitable organization, consulting or audit firm)
• Ideally, experience in working with project partners in different countries and cultures
• Excellent rhetoric and writing skills in English, preferably at least intermediate fluency in German
• Mastery of MS Office, especially Excel and Powerpoint; Power BI; knowledge in SAP FI/BI or similar is a plus
• Experience with audit processes would be an advantage
• Exceptional attention to detail and proven ability to deliver high-quality reports to senior management

You are...

• Structured and have a self-dependent working style with the ability to handle multiple projects and tasks at the same time
• Organized and know how to plan and prioritize your own work, focusing on the most value-adding activities
• Strong verbal communication skills and business writing skills with the ability to translate financial information to audiences with little or limited financial knowledge
• An analytical head and self-starter with a getting-things-done attitude
• A detail oriented, analytical, and self-motivated personality
• Welcome and actively seek feedback for your personal development and performance improvement

What else do we offer 
Next to a competitive compensation package, some of our benefits include: 

• Support to pursue professional training 
• Collaborative multi-day team events  
• A yearly public transport ticket 
• State-of-the-art IT equipment   
• Working in a beautiful office in Potsdam with a lake view  
• Free lunch, fruits, drinks, excellent coffee, and opportunities for outdoor sports activities 

To apply:
We look forward to receiving your application in English (CV, diplomas, written references) compiled as one PDF document via our website with your salary expectations and earliest entry date.