Chief Financial Officer - Africa/Netherlands

About IFDC

The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is a public international organization that advances soil health and strengthens agricultural systems through science-based innovation. For over 50 years, IFDC has translated research into practical solutions that improve nutrient use efficiency, restore degraded soils, strengthen local agricultural markets and expand opportunity for smallholder farmers, especially women and youth.

We work with farmers, governments and private sector partners to build resilient farming systems that produce nutritious food, improve livelihoods, and safeguard natural resources for future generations. 

Our Values

We are guided by four core principles:

Collaborate – We work across teams, countries and partners to create lasting impact. 

Innovate – We apply evidence and continuous learning to design practical and responsible solutions. 

Include – We promote equity and meaningful participation for women, youth and underrepresented groups. 

Act with Integrity – We steward resources responsibly, uphold transparency and remain accountable to the communities, partners, staff and donors who place their trust in us.

Position Summary

IFDC is seeking an accomplished Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to serve as the organization's senior-most financial executive and a trusted strategic advisor to the President and CEO, the Board of Directors, and the Global Management Team (GMT). This is an executive leadership role, not an operational finance position. The CFO is expected to have already operated successfully at a senior executive level and to bring that judgment to bear on IFDC's financial strategy, sustainability, and risk posture.

The CFO will provide strategic financial leadership across IFDC's global operations, overseeing the organization's overall financial performance, advising on funding strategy and long-term financial sustainability, and ensuring the financial systems, controls, and talent are in place to support IFDC's mission across its  countries. The CFO will represent finance at the Board level, partner closely with the General Counsel, Business Development, and program leadership, and lead the finance and accounting functions including, financial reporting, and program control teams through a period of continued growth and diversification of funding sources. 

Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President and CEO, the Board of Directors, and the Global Management Team on all matters of financial strategy, performance, and risk;
• Own IFDC's overall financial strategy, translating organizational goals into financial plans that support long-term growth and mission delivery;
• Present financial performance, forecasts, and risk assessments directly to the Board and relevant Board committees;
• Lead enterprise-wide financial planning and analysis, ensuring leadership has the insight needed to make sound strategic decisions;
• Act as a thought partner to the CEO and GMT on major organizational decisions with financial implications, including new business lines, partnerships, and restructuring.

Funding Strategy and Financial Sustainability

• Advise on and help shape IFDC's funding strategy, including diversification of donor and revenue sources to strengthen long-term financial sustainability;
• Partner with Business Development on the financial structuring and viability of proposals, ensuring competitive and compliant pricing across donor requirements;
• Monitor IFDC's financial sustainability model, cash position, and reserves, and advise the CEO and Board on corrective or strategic action as needed;
• Maintain deep working knowledge of major donor funding models and compliance regimes (including U.S. government, Dutch, and EU funding), and ensure IFDC's financial practices remain compliant and competitive.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Own enterprise financial risk management, identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to IFDC's financial position and reputation;
• Ensure robust internal controls, governance frameworks, and financial policies are in place and consistently applied across all countries of operation;
• Ensure full compliance with international, national, and donor-specific financial regulations, and serve as the senior escalation point for complex compliance matters;
• Oversee the annual audit process and serve as the primary executive liaison to external auditors and, where relevant, Board audit or finance committees;
• Ensure timely, accurate, and GAAP-compliant financial statements and reporting at the monthly, quarterly, and annual levels.

Executive Stakeholder Engagement and Organizational Leadership

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with the Board, donors, auditors, financial institutions, and other senior external stakeholders on IFDC's behalf;
• Lead, mentor, and develop the finance function, including the Controller and financial reporting and program control teams, building organizational capability and succession depth;
• Champion financial literacy across the organization, working with program and country leadership to strengthen their understanding of finance and accounting practices;
• Represent IFDC's finance function in engagements with government counterparts, regulators, and institutional partners across IFDC's countries of operation.

Requirements 

• A recognized professional accounting designation is required (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CA, or an equivalent internationally recognized qualification);
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; an MBA or Master's degree is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated prior success operating at an executive leadership level (CFO, Deputy CFO, or equivalent senior financial leadership role);
• Substantial experience in strategic financial planning and enterprise-level financial management;
• Demonstrated experience with funding and donor financing, including diversifying and structuring funding for mission-driven or donor-funded organizations;
• Experience advising Boards or senior governance bodies on financial strategy, risk, and sustainability;
• Strong track record in enterprise risk management and building or strengthening governance frameworks;
• Experience with international or nonprofit organizations preferred, including exposure to multi-country operations and foreign currency matters;
• Familiarity with major donor compliance regimes (U.S. government, Dutch, EU) and GAAP or equivalent financial reporting frameworks;
• Executive-level presence and communication skills, with the credibility to engage the Board, CEO, GMT, and external stakeholders as a trusted advisor;
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to translate financial data into organizational strategy;
• Proven people leadership skills, with experience building and developing high-performing finance teams;
• Proficiency with financial systems and reporting tools (e.g., NetSuite) and the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel;
• Knowledge of a foreign language, especially French, is desired.

Reporting and Work Relationships

This position reports to the President and CEO and supervises the accounting team, financial reporting team and program control team.

Location

The role may be based either in Africa or at IFDC's office in the Netherlands, with the specific duty station to be confirmed. International travel is required and expected.

Benefits

IFDC's benefits include annual and sick leave, health, dental, vision and group life insurance coverage, social security and pension contribution in compliance with local laws. 

Salary Clause 

The salary grade for this position is BG 12. 

The determination of new employee salaries considers various factors. These include the salary range linked to the assigned job grade, the candidate's qualifications in relation to the job's responsibilities and prerequisites, internal fairness, the competitive state of the job market, as well as potential organizational and budgetary considerations. 

Diversity Clause

IFDC is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe in the value of bringing together people with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. All employment decisions at IFDC are made on the basis of ability, performance, and organizational need, in alignment with our values of fairness, respect, and opportunity for all.