Senior Directeur Administratif et Financier (DAF)

The DAF organizes and optimizes the financial management of the entire foundation, including the financial execution of its projects. Assumes end responsibility for all financial-economic, administrative and project control matters within the organization, is involved in managing the internal organization and is directly responsible for the Finance & Control, Audit, and IT departments. The DAF is responsible for adequate financial reporting to the Board, but also facilitates good management information up to project level. Makes an important contribution to the further professionalization of the foundation and facilitates the financial insights it needs. Under the leadership of the DAF, it is ensured that the various systems (IT, ERP) are optimally set up to provide adequate management information. The DAF has an entrepreneurial attitude but considers working in a sensitive environment. The DAF is expected to play a pro-active and initiating role: it is important that he/she acts in a people-oriented manner, has an eye for the people within the organization and for optimizing relationships and division of tasks.

Responsibilities

• The DAF will increase the financial awareness of the organization, play a key role as a sparring partner for the Secretary Executif and the Management Team and establish the multi-annual financial strategy in collaboration with them. Important is to strengthen the financial sustainability of the Foundation through robust cost and analytical accounting, relevant core cost recovery, optimized grant management, and effective partner management.
• The DAF will take a close look at the Cost & Revenue Model with suggestions for improvement and follow-up and contributes to the successful realization of the Foundation strategy by substantiating financial scenarios and the preparation of business cases.
• The DAF will assess and mitigate financial risks across the organization, strengthen the internal control system, improve financial policies, coordinate training of staff and partners on those policies, and develop the financial instruments and processes.
• The DAF takes the lead in creating, building, and further developing the Planning & Control Cycle. Translates strategy into concrete plans and ensures that the strategic and budget plans are adhered to. Under the responsibility of the DAF, the business processes, and systems to generate reports and financial reporting will be further standardized and optimized. As well as the forecasting and cash flow planning.
• The DAF also maintains external relations and is a solid counterpart for donors, accountants, advisors, and business (customer) relations.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking board members with the following attributes:

• An individual with extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in institutional capacity building, private sector engagement and/or wetlands conservation and management
• A commitment to and understanding of Wetlands International stakeholders, preferably based on experience that spans the development, public and private sectors.
• Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of Wetlands International stakeholders
• An individual who will be aligned in thinking with the Wetlands International’s vision and mission
• An individual with an environmental background
• An individual who is well networked across the region and globally
• An individual with prior experience of being part of a board and sufficient time to invest in the Board Member role – at least 15 days per year
• Institutional Development experience/ someone with legal or finance and audit background to be able to advise in terms of compliance.
• An individual who is accessible, available and flexible.

Selection Criteria

• Graduate degree in Management, Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a senior-level financial management position in a similar setting.
• Experience with non-profit accounting, annual accounts closing processes, and statutory audits.
• Expertise in grant management, compliance with donor requirements, reporting to large institutional donors, and donor audits.
• Extensive experience with planning & control cycles with a focus on relevant management information for achieving organizational objectives.
• Experience in capacity building and performance monitoring of teams and partners.
• Excellent analytical skills: the ability to collect, synthesize and interpret detailed data with an eye for details.
• Leadership skills with a positive attitude and excellent communication skills, ability to think strategically, share a vision, drive change, and ability to adapt to various audiences.
• Time management skills: organized, ability to work in a rigorous manner, effective prioritization.
• Proactive, pragmatic, and results-oriented, ability to find creative solutions.
• Ability to make expert recommendations / make decisions on complex issues knows how to financially translate new initiatives into P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
• Experience with building and deploying (designing) the Cost & Revenue Model.
• Experience and affinity with (the development of) IT systems.
• Experience with working in a sensitive context (integrity).
• Knowledge and experience in external reporting and compliance with relevant legislation and regulations, taking responsibility for the legal, tax, and risk aspects of the company.
• Is a natural leader for a talented team, promotes a culture of accountability and transparency: can make a sharp analysis of business performance and concrete suggestions for improvements and is familiar with new tools.
• Speaks French and Business English fluently.

In addition to the experience you bring, we are looking for someone authentic and integer, knows how to set priorities, has a helicopter view, is a team player, connects and thinks in solutions, thrives in a changing environment, and is, therefore, stress-resistant; is demonstrably good at ‘zooming in’ and ‘zooming out and getting things done.