International Consultant - Chief Financial Officer

Job ID: HQ01845

Location Philippines

Closing Date 23-Oct-2025

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for future generations. IRRI is an independent, nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with support from the Philippine government. The institute, headquartered in Los Baños, Philippines, has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in Asia and Africa, and over 1,000 staff.

Working with in-country partners, IRRI develops advanced rice varieties that yield more grain and better withstand pests and disease as well as flooding, drought, and other harmful effects of climate change.

The Chief Financial Officer Consultant will provide urgent, high-level financial and operational expertise to IRRI during a transition period. The consultant will ensure financial stability, compliance, and efficiency while supporting critical decision-making and preparing the ground for a permanent COO appointment.

This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños, Philippines, with flexibility for remote engagement, as needed, and is open for international applications.

Financial Management

• Provide strategic advisory capabilities regarding IRRIs financial management, ensuring robust controls, transparency, and compliance.
• Review current financial policies and practices, recommending adjustments for greater efficiency and accountability, including oversight of financial process mapping.
• Guidance on budget preparation, financial reporting, and scenario planning for Board and senior management decision-making.
• Advice on staff costs, cost recovery, and funding utilization in alignment with IRRIs strategic priorities.

Procurement Oversight

• Review procurement processes to ensure alignment with international best practices, donor requirements, and organizational policies.
• Identify risks in procurement systems and recommend improvements to increase efficiency and compliance.

Audit and Regulatory Compliance

• Provide advisory support for upcoming internal and external audits.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, including host-country requirements and CGIAR standards.
• Advise on risk mitigation strategies to address findings from recent compliance reviews and audits.

Engineering and Systems Strengthening

• Assess IRRIs current OCS and financial systems, identifying gaps and opportunities for optimization.
• Provide recommendations on system configurations, reporting capabilities, and integration across Finance, Procurement, and HR.
• Support knowledge transfer to ensure sustainable system use and reduced manual processes.
• Contribute to the ongoing optimization of organizational efforts

• Rapid assessment report (Desk Review) of IRRIs financial, procurement, and audit environment (within the first month).
• Recommendations and prioritized action plan for strengthening financial management, procurement processes, and audit readiness.
• Contribute to the ongoing Process of Reengineering aligned with IRRIs operational needs.
• Monthly progress updates to the DG/COO and a final report summarizing key actions, improvements, and recommendations for the incoming CFO.

Qualifications:

• Proven track record as a CFO or equivalent senior finance leader in international or research organizations, with direct experience in transitional or advisory roles.
• At least 15 years of progressive leadership in financial management, procurement oversight, and audit compliance.

Essential Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in ERP systems implementation and optimization, with the ability to strengthen reporting and integration across functions.
• Strong understanding of donor-funded organizations, compliance frameworks, and host-country regulations.
• Excellent advisory, mentoring, and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural, multi-location environment.

Join our team and be part of our story!

The position is urgent and will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found. Only qualified applicants with relevant skills and experience will be contacted.

Information :

• Company : International Rice Research Institute
• Position : International Consultant - Chief Financial Officer
• Location : Philippines
• Country : PH