Do you have a passion for Finance, and are you comfortable preparing financial reports, invoices, processing financial entries and building audit files? And do you like doing this in a great environment that works on the most pressing themes of our time? Where research is done and solutions are found for food security, plant health and climate change? Then read on and apply quickly!
We are looking for a project controller backoffice for the Plant Sciences Group (PSG) of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). As project controller backoffice you are the linking pin of the team, supporting your colleagues in Project Control with organising and carrying out all financial and administrative tasks for their project portfolio.
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You take care of the accurate recording of project and master data, build strong project files and prepare interim and final claims and the related journal entries for projects.
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You gradually build your own project portfolio with a varied mix of projects.
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You oversee those projects yourself: you keep track of your own projects, spot what needs to happen and make sure it gets done.
That is how you grow step by step towards your own portfolio and your own contacts with project leaders.
You are part of the Finance & Control department of PSG, a large team of business and project controllers where there is always someone to spar with or learn from. And to deliver good numbers, you need to know where they come from. So you are not just behind your screen: you get to know the research, and sometimes you get your boots muddy. Out on the trial fields and in the greenhouses where the crops and cultivation methods of tomorrow are developed, you see what your projects are really about. And back on campus, you work in one of the liveliest places in Wageningen, with excellent facilities and its own sports centre to clear your head.
Your team
You will work in the Project Control team, where around 20 colleagues work in a range of roles. Together you are part of the Finance & Control department of PSG, which has some 35 employees in total. It is a close-knit team. There is a lot of consultation with each other, and together you actively reflect on how to work well together and learn from one another. The willingness to help each other is something you notice here every day.
You work fully on campus in Wageningen. Everyone in the team is there at least two days a week, and usually more, so you really see each other and can easily drop by with a question.
You are someone who likes to take the initiative. You don’t wait around; instead, you identify areas for improvement yourself and raise the alarm when necessary. You enjoy collaborating, find it easy to connect with others, and quickly pick up things from the people around you.
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you have a completed MBO or HBO degree, preferably in finance and/or business administration;
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you have an affinity with project administration and financial reporting. Experience in this is a plus, but we explicitly welcome starters with the right attitude too;
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you work precisely and accurately, are strong in building files and keep the overview, even when several deadlines run at once;
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you have good analytical skills and financial insight, and you quickly get to grips with new project conditions and systems;
You have a good command of English, and you are willing to learn Dutch. Dutch is essential for this role, so a genuine commitment to learning it is a must.
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
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working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
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sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
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there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
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a fixed year-end bonus of 8,3%;
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excellent pension scheme.
In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between € 3,231,- and € 4,374.- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 8). Additionally, for this role a contract for 32 hours can be discussed.
We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.
For more information about the position, please contact Joris Goverde, Finance Manager, via email: [email protected].
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jeanine van 't Veer, Corporate Recruiter, via email: [email protected].
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
You can apply up to and including Monday August 31, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before August 9, 2026.
Applications are reviewed regularly. Therefore, the position may be filled before the stated closing date.
Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.
