Director of Finance and Corporate Services : Montpellier, France

Consortium, Director of Finance and Corporate Services

Position: Director of Finance and Corporate Services

Location: Montpellier, France

Duration: Three years (renewable)

Reports to: CEO, CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers

Direct Supervision of: Finance Officer, Office Manager, and Administrative support staff.

Works with: Centre Finance, HR, and Administrative Directors, Consortium Legal

Counsel and Consortium Leadership team.

Closing date: 15 July 2012

Background

CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.

The 15 members of the CGIAR Consortium have over 8,000 staff based in over 50 countries. Together with the new CGIAR Fund they built a common vision described in the Strategy and Results Framework (SRF) for mobilizing agricultural research, reduce rural poverty, increasing food security, improving nutrition and health and ensuring a more sustainable management of natural resources in the developing world.

The CEO and Consortium Board now seek to augment, further define and strengthen the financial reporting, human resources and administration effectiveness across the Consortium and within the Consortium Office. The Consortium seeks a Director of Finance and Corporate Services. The successful candidate for this position will play an extremely important role in contributing to the success of CGIAR overall, as the system moves toward its annual income goal of $1 billion for its operations, presently carried out within its major research programs that cut across all aspects of agricultural and natural resource management research. This is an exciting position for a candidate with much energy and a commitment to excellence.

Primary purpose of the position

The person selected will play a lead role in guiding the Consortium’s financial, administrative, and

HR functions under the supervision of the CGIAR CEO, and will participate as a key member of the Consortium leadership team for strategy development and implementation, in conjunction with the Consortium Office and Board.

Principal responsibilities

• Support the CEO in the implementation of the strategic and operational plans of the CGIAR Consortium Board.
• Represent the CEO in appropriate Board Committees as required;
• Provide financial guidance and supervision to the administration, finance, and human resources staff of the Consortium;
• In conjunction with the Board and CEO, support CGIAR resource mobilisation and grant management and contribute to the Consortium fund raising strategy;
• Plan and oversee the development of the CGIAR Consortium administrative systems and operations, including internal information and communications systems, to decrease system wide and centre costs, and improve efficiency;
• Oversee all administrative responsibilities associated with the fulfilment of legal requirements of CGIAR International status in conjunction with legal counsel;
• Establish and maintain effective internal financial controls, auditing and risk management across the Consortium, and authorize and monitor day-to-day operational tasks as needed; Lead the resource allocation process for CRP budgeting and annual financing plan development;
• Develop and implement a financial reporting system, based upon performance contracts, for all the CGIAR Research Programs; contribute to the design of the performance indicators used in the performance contracts;
• Provide guidance and work with centre financial directors in the development, establishment and institutionalization of CGIAR Consortium fiscal and administrative systems, policies and procedures, ensuring that these systems meet organisational and donor requirements;
• Design and implement a mechanism for pro-actively assessing financial health of the centres and provide recommendations to the CEO and the centres on ways of managing financial shocks at the system level;
• Manage the financial information reporting process of the CGIAR Consortium including: budget, cash flow forecasts, year-end accounts, audits and other financial reports and matters; prepare all required financial reports to the Consortium Board and donors on Consortium Board and Consortium Office expenses and on expenses incurred in the CGIAR Research Programs;
• Lead and coordinate the human resource function of the Consortium; work with centre HR teams to ensure that Centers and the CGIAR as a whole can attract, develop and retain the talent needed to effectively implement the CGIAR Research Programs; develop and implement effective HR policies, including compensation and benefits; develop related HR systems and processes;

Profile

Qualifications

Advanced University degree in finance, accounting, business administration and/or a related field, or bachelor degree or equivalent combined with longer work experience and CPA or ACA certification (or equivalent);

Experience

At least 10 to 15 years’ management experience with international organisations at similar level of responsibility and scope. Experience in both private and public sectors is desirable;

Experience in financial and human resources management in an international and multicultural environment;

Experience in implementation and maintenance of business, financial / HR reporting tools and software systems;

Successful track record in managing donor relations and contracts with multi/bi-lateral and private funding agencies is desirable.

Skills and abilities

Demonstrated capacity for managing the financial operations and administration of a complex, multi-partner organisational structure;

Excellent skills in managing annual and multi-year budgetary planning, monitoring and reporting;

Ability to effectively lead and inspire others within a participatory framework and a multi-cultural work environment;

Strong communication and interpersonal skills; Demonstrated, strong service orientation;

Excellent knowledge of accounting software and a demonstrated competency in deploying information technology to improved efficiency and effectiveness;

High-level English language skills especially in writing and editing of documents;

Ability to communicate effectively in another major language used by members of the CGIAR network (mainly Spanish and French) is desirable;

Ability to effectively build and nurture networks.

Personal traits desired

Integrity and credibility

Strong commitment to the mission of the CGIAR

High-levels of energy

Strategic thinking

Terms and conditions: The Director of Finance and Corporate Services is an internationally recruited position. The successful candidate will be contracted by Bioversity International on behalf of the CGIAR Consortium. Bioversity offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, non-contributory retirement plan, medical insurance, housing allowance and leave provisions. All benefits are denominated and paid in US Dollars. The initial contract will be for three years, subject to a probationary period of one year.

Applications: Candidates are invited to apply online through the Bioversity Job Opportunities web page (http://www.bioversityinternational.org/about_us/job_opportunities.html) by clicking the “Apply” button and completing the online application and attaching the required information.

Closing date for applications: 15 July 2012.

The CGIAR Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres Office is committed to providing an attractive and multicultural work environment that reflects the values of teamwork, gender equality, and respect for diversity, with a competitive compensation and benefit package.

All received applications will be acknowledged, but only short listed applicants will be further contacted