Finance Director

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) is a non-profit foundation that works to protect the rights of children and adults in cocoa-growing areas in West Africa. To reinforce its team, ICI Switzerland office is looking for a Finance Director. 

Reporting to the Executive Director and the ICI Treasurer, the ICI Finance Director will actively contribute to the achievement of the foundation's objectives by ensuring (a) that the Foundation optimally evolves and operates effectively and efficiently within an appropriate framework of finance-related strategies, policies, procedures and practices, and (b) that the Foundation’s financial-management and risk-management reflects best practice whilst meeting all legal, statutory and procedural requirements, with all transactions and accounts duly reported, and reviewed, in a proper, faithful and timely manner; c)  ensures effective direction, management, and accountability in procurement activites, policies, procedures and practices;

The Finance Director has overall responsibility for all financial reporting, finance-related legal matters, financial controls, financial management, budget development, budget management, quality and responsive operational procurement responsibilities and capacity-building on finance matters across ICI, as well as for the effective leadership and development of the finance and procurement team.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Provide leadership to optimize the foundation’s financial performance, risk management and strategic position.
• Serve on the ICI Senior Management Team, working closely with the Executive Director,  and the other Directors and Country Directors to formulate and implement appropriate finance and procurement strategies, plans, policies and procedures, and to ensure harmonious and integrated cross-departmental collaboration.
• Lead, manage, develop and reinforce the finance and procurement team across the foundation, directing and managing finance staff in Geneva, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon and as per ICI’s reporting lines policy to ensure that they are appropriately motivated and trained to carry out their responsibilities to the required standard.
• Directly supervise the finance team in Geneva and indirectly, technically supervise the work of the Administration and Finance Director in Cote d’Ivoire, the Finance Manager in Ghana and, setting objectives and conducting regular performance reviews.
• Guide and support the recruitment and induction process for Finance and procurement staff across the foundation in line with good organizational practice.
• Provide the necessary support, capacity-building and guidance to all ICI staff in relation to finance and procurement, ensuring that principles of sound financial management are upheld across ICI and its operations.

Strategies, policies, systems and procedures

• Ensure that the Foundation’s financial and procurement systems, policies and procedures are robust and compliant, supporting current activities and future growth.
• Take overall control of the Foundation’s accounting function. In particular, oversee and supervise the development and maintenance of ICI’s financial accounting systems, regularly reviewing the accounting structure to optimize it and ensuring that complete and accurate supporting information for all financial transactions are documented, filed and securely archived.
• Review and evolve ICI’s cost-recovery policies and strategies, overseeing and ensuring their consistent implementation across the foundation. 
• Develop and ensure implementation of longer-term integrated service management strategies with a view to maximizing service operations, economizing costs and optimizing service results in diversified, complex and evolving environments;
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that financial information and data is secure and stored in compliance with best practice and relevant legislation (archiving).
• Take ultimate responsibility for cash management policies and ensure sound management of cash flow, overseeing and directing ICI’s global banking relations and operations.
• Ensure that appropriate financial risk-management procedures and practices are in place and adhered to, including through regular review of ICI’s risk profile and the maintenance of adequate reserves. 

Financial audits, internal and external reporting 

•  Ensure the preparation of statutory quarterly financial reports that are submitted to the Executive Director and the Treasurer for onward submission to the Board.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting on the financial activity of all projects, as well as overseeing the recording of financial progress for all contracts and programme activities.
• Analysis and reporting on key financial performance indicators, on overall assets and liabilities movements, and tracking of programme commitments with respect to secured revenue to ensure a positive balance sheet at all times. Prepare financial forecasts, finance reports and performance reports for use with internal management and external parties, including donors. 
• Coordinate, analyze and report on financial performance to ICI Management and the ICI Board (financial performance, projections and other special projects as required). 

Budget and forecast management:

• Overall responsible for the preparation and revision of all budgets and forecasts in collaboration with the Executive Director (global budget) and the Policy and Programme Director, to ensure that the budgets and forecasts developed reflect appropriate set-up and means to achieve objectives. 
• Ensure that the Foundation’s budgeting and forecasting processes are carried out and reviewed and in accordance with ICI accepted accounting and administrative procedures.
• Ensure the set controls for proper financial implementation of all programme expenses are rigorously adhered to through to their eventual liquidation.

Experience and skills 

Education and work experience

Essential

• Master or Advanced Degree/Certification in Finance or Accounting
• 10 years of accounting and finance management experience, with at least 3 years at senior management level (CFO / finance director)
• Familiarity with International development donors and their financial reporting and management requirements.
• A track record in dynamically changing organisations, reviewing, creating, implementing and adapting new systems, policies and approaches as necessary.
• Proven ability to think and act strategically.
• Excellent written and communication skills, with experience in effectively communicating data, reports, policies, including in presentations to senior management, Board Members and external stakeholders. 
• Ability to explain, guide and train both finance and non-finance staff on financial concepts, processes and procedures.

Desirable

• Experience of finance management and accounting in non-profits a plus 
• Specific competences in using SUNSYSTEM accounting software a plus

Languages

• Fluency in English and/or French with a strong command of the other language

Skills

• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with ability to handle high levels of pressure and critical decision-making in a fast paced, growing organization.
• Strong inter-personal and people management skills with an ability to manage team members remotely and work collaboratively across cultures.
• Trustworthiness, discretion and integrity combined with a commitment to good governance.
• Strong IT skills 
• Commitment to ICI’s Mission and to a work environment that incorporates ICI’s Core values: Humanity, Neutrality, Integrity, Partnership & Innovation.

ICI Core Values

All ICI staff members are expected to adhere, respect and always promote at any time ICI Core Values: HUMANITY, INTEGRITY, NEUTRALITY, PARTNERSHIP, INNOVATION. Please refer to the ICI website for more details (https://www.cocoainitiative.org/about-us/our-organisation/our-values)

Application

Only candidates authorized to work in Switzerland should apply.

Please send applications in English including a cover letter and your CV to hr@cocoainitiative.org.

Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. 

Closing date for applications:  15 January 2025

By submitting your application, you consent to us processing your data for the purpose of evaluating your application for this job position. We will keep your application data confidential and only use it for recruitment purposes. Once the job position is closed, your application will be deleted.

Please note that only those candidates who match the above requirements and who have been selected for interview will be contacted.