Financial Operations Internship

Mission to Metrics

At The Ocean Cleanup, our mission is to rid the world’s oceans of plastic through developing and scaling technologies. Our Finance team plays a critical role in this mission by ensuring smooth financial operations, accurate reporting, and strategic financial planning. As we grow, we continue to adapt by streamlining processes and maintaining high standards of accuracy and transparency.

“With all the exciting things happening here, our Finance team is right at the heart of the action, keeping an eye on the financial impact of all our amazing projects, whether they’re ongoing or just kicking off. We pride ourselves on being a fast and responsive team, ready to support the wider organization and tackle any surprises that come our way. It’s sometimes challenging but always enjoyable, and our passion for our mission keeps us energized and motivated every day” - Joy Gao, Finance Director

Responsibilities

As a Financial Operations Intern, you will support the Finance team in various tasks, gaining hands-on experience in financial operations and contributing to our mission. Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with processing supplier invoices and employee expense transactions
• Reviewing prepaid credit card expenses for correct project allocations
• Communicating with external suppliers and assisting in resolving payment issues.
• Collaborating with various team members on projects to improve efficiency
• Documenting processes and establishing guidelines associated with processes
• Supporting the Finance team with ad-hoc tasks and new transformation projects as needed during the organization’s growth phase

Professional Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• Basic understanding of accounting principles; experience with accounting software is a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.

Personal Qualifications

• Detail-oriented with strong communication skills.
• Eager to learn, adaptable, and proactive in a fast-paced environment.
• Passionate about contributing to a meaningful mission!

Additional Details

• Starting date: 2nd June 2025
• Duration: 6 months
• Work permit needed: European Union
• Note that the candidate needs to be enrolled at a University (MSc program) during the internship. If applicable, the internship can be combined with an MSc thesis project.
• At The Ocean Cleanup, we believe we are stronger together while harnessing the uniqueness each individual brings. That is why we take a fair, equal opportunity, and transparent approach to hiring and welcome special needs requests.

Curious to hear how it is to work at The Ocean Cleanup? Listen to our team members explain their work in our podcast.