CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow's problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries.
For more information, visit cimmyt.org.
CIMMYT seeks an ambitious finance professional to oversee its financial operations and services in Asia. High-quality and high-performance finance operations as an integral part of the Asian Operations Chapter will support CIMMYT’s primary process of supporting the Science and Innovation for a Food and Nutrition Secure World.
This position will lead effective decentralized financial accounting processes and respective finance country staff for CIMMYT’s Asian operations. The candidate develops, implements, and maintains financial policies, procedures, and systems in the Regions and oversees and leads a high-performing team of finance professionals.
This position will support the Regional Director and Management by providing strategic leadership, aligning country/ regional activities with institutional goals, facilitating coordination between HQ and country/regional offices, and making localized decisions to address specific challenges and opportunities. Oversight, monitoring/ assurance and compliance are essential aspects of this function.
Collaborate closely with other Regional Managers and focal points of the Operations Chapter to ensure the seamless adaptation and implementation of policies, procedures, and new system architecture (e.g., ERP and contract systems), focusing on process improvement while maintaining business continuity during the transition.
This position reports to the Regional Director of Asia and the Director of Finance at HQ.
Specific Duties and/or Responsibilities:
1. Lead Financial Management of CIMMYT’s Operations in ASIA
- Oversees financial accounting and month-end reporting for CIMMYT operations in Asia. Supervises finance staff at CIMMYT country offices in Asia, who report to the candidate functionally.
- Monitors performance of Country Finance team operations through the development of a transparent set of KPIs.
- Works closely with HQ Finance Manager to ensure worldwide development implementation and compliance of CIMMYT financial policies, procedures, practices, and the ERP.
- Further develops and maintains an adequate level of financial governance by sustaining an adequate level of internal control framework.
- Works with CIMMYT’s finance country managers to design and customize financial and administrative management structures where appropriate.
- Responsible for the timely consolidation of all financial accounting operations in Asia into CIMMYT’s ERP.
- Works with scientists and country finance managers to ensure scientific and administrative staff are trained and competent in financial policies, procedures, and systems.
- Coordinates with the Regional Director the development and follow-up of the Country office's work plan.
- Supervises fluent process for cash flow monitoring and timely replenishment.
- Reviews hosting agreements in Asia for financial aspects and finance processes, which host centers provide (or services given by CIMMYT to other CGIAR centers).
- Budget review of CIMMYT’s country offices' annual budget in coordination with the country managers.
2. Leadership in developing efficient, effective, and service-oriented finance processes to benefit Scaling up and Impactful Research for Development activities.
- Instills efficient Development Finance processes.
- Takes a leadership position in effectively using CIMMYT’s new ERP implementation and maintenance in the region.
3. Coordinates and contributes to the successful Combined Assurance model:
- Coordinates timely Internal Audit & External Audit responses, including regional project audits.
- Oversees the operational effectiveness of the Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICOFR) framework in the region.
- Ensures and oversees that adequate segregation of duties and Restricted Access is maintained at the CIMMYT country office operations.
- Contributes to the Enterprise Risk management framework covering the Asian operations.
4. Business partner of the Regional Director and peer colleagues from the Asian Operations Chapter team.
- Support the regional operations team by providing meaningful financial reports for data-driven decision making.
5. Any other duties as instructed by the supervisor