M23212 Finance Coordinator

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. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

For more information, visit cimmyt.org

The One CGIAR Breeding Resources (BR) and Accelerated Breeding Initiatives are recruiting a Finance Coordinator to oversee financial and administrative functions under these two initiatives. The objective of BRI is to improve the genetic, economic, social, and environmental performance of breeding programs across the CGIAR-NARS breeding network. ABI sets the vision and direction for all breeding in the CGIAR, across all crops and regions and, together with our partners, for improved partnerships.

Excellence in Breeding (EiB) with Crops to End Hunger (CtEH) funders have established a baseline for breeding modernization across the CGIAR-National Agricultural Research System (NARS) network. It is now time to build on the proven methods of EiB and CtEH by extending efforts to include more NARS and expand assessments into a more holistic performance system aligned with CGIAR Impact Areas.

BR Initiative and AB Initiative proposals set out an ambitious and exciting plan for the modernization and evolution of CGIAR breeding and partnerships with NARES toward greater impact.

The Finance Coordinator will be working closely with Admin Support at HQ, ROs, and Finance teams to ensure the accuracy of the internal cost codes figures and implement best practices of grants financial management CIMMYT and SMO Financial policies and procedures. The position will interact with the CG Centers Finance focal points to support WP Leaders on the Planning cost Management, and the Business Manager in developing an EiB, CtEH, BRI, and ABI work framework as needed.

The positions will be based at CIMMYT headquarter in Texcoco, near Mexico City.

Specific duties:

• Financial coordination and management support.
  • Provide Financial Management leadership and support to BRI and ABI Leaders, Senior Project Managers and other senior staff enabling strategic and timely decision making by upper management.
  • On a periodic basis and ad-hoc upon request provide overall financial overview of the initiatives, including variance analysis; propose appropriate corrective actions in response to unacceptable variances.
  • Advise supervisor and management about potential problem areas and recommend/implement agreed solutions.
  • Support the Senior Project Managers with financial aspects of workforce planning and recruitment of staff by identifying gaps in staffing in relation to available budgets: identify/signal funding gaps.
  • Review partner/collaborator contracts on financial aspects; review of financial reports issued by collaborators and request contractual payments. Ensure financial compliance of collaborator with grant agreement.
  • Review financial transactions as per established Delegation of Authority Matrix (DOA) and eligibility as per CGIAR financial frameworks and CIMMYT financial policy and procedures.
• Planning, Monitoring & Operations.
  • With input from senior management, develop budgets for new proposals and grant applications as required by donors in line with institutional procedures and tools.
  • Ensure full cost recovery of project proposals (and / or identify funding gaps).
  • Develop operating budgets for the initiatives, including CAPEX and staffing requirements.
  • Perform a monthly budget vs. expenses analysis at projects and initiatives level, including suggested actions and proposed solutions, to support strategic and timely decisions by Senior Management.
  • Upon grant approval, to timely prepare budget templates, coordinate the uploading of budgets in the financial ERP system, and to forecast spending potential, based on project plans in coordination with the Program Finance Management Unit (PFMU) for W3 and bilateral funding and/or Financial Planning Unit (FPU) for W1/2.
  • In cooperation with Project leaders/Senior Management, review Financial Donor Reports as prepared by the Program Finance Management Unit (PFMU) and ensure consistency with technical reports and donor agreements.
  • Ensures that all accounting entries corresponding to the month and year end closing processes are completely and correctly uploaded into the financial system. Review, analyze and prepare necessary adjusting entries for initiative monthly transactions report.
  • Review and/or Maintain Up to date high quality Program Master Data in the ERP, such as, but not limited to, staff allocation percentages, ICC holders, and project master data.
• Compliance, Policies & Systems
  • Ensure compliance with CIMMYT policies and procedures and recommend improvement in internal financial controls and acts as ambassador to cascade down financial policies and procedures within the initiatives.
  • During the entire Project life cycle ensure compliance with donor financial guidelines: Required activities consist of reviewing donor grant agreement, donor grant regulations and periodic review of project transactions. For W1/2 funding preparation and review of periodic financial reporting to the CGIAR system management office (SMO) jointly with the Financial Planning Unit (FPU).
  • Support and timely respond to Donor/project Audits and or internal audit requests.
  • Ensure research and support costs are fully allocated to projects/ grants in a transparent manner

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a finance position with increasing levels of responsibility in a medium sized to large grant funded organization.
• Excellent use of MS Office (advanced Excel skills). Experience with AX Dynamics will be an advantage.
• Knowledge of financial systems, data mining bases, data extraction methods, report presentation and analytical skills.
• Excellent time management skills to be able to manage a demanding workload and to manage priorities based on reporting deadlines and impact on the organization.
• Ability to work with different nationalities, under pressure, and as a member of a diverse work team.
• Ability to work independently and demonstrate prioritization and planning skills.
• Be a team contributor who must work cross-functionally with the ability to review and assess risk and project requirements in support of compliance with accounting (IFRS, FG’s) and business or functional group outcomes.
• Strong commitment to providing high-level customer service.
• The selected candidate should exhibit the following competencies: Client Orientation, Critical and Creative Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making, Teamwork, and Communication.

CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package and support for continuous professional development. In addition to the provisions of the Mexican Labor Law our package of benefits includes year-end bonus (40 days), vacation premium (56%), life and medical insurance, supermarket coupons, savings fund, social Mexican benefits (IMSS, SAR / Infonavit).