Chief Financial Officer at Pathfinder International

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Planning & Strategy:

• Drive the organization’s long-term financial vision and sustainability through strategic budget planning, funding mix, and diversification.
• Oversee financial forecasting, modelling, and resource allocation decisions to optimize financial performance.
• Ensure compliance with global donor requirements, statutory regulations, and financial best practices across all operational regions.
• Develop and maintain effective internal controls; coordinate audits and implement recommendations for improvement.
• Oversee accurate and timely financial reporting for stakeholders, including the Board and donors, ensuring adherence to GAAP and other relevant regulations.
• Manage cash flow planning to ensure availability of funds as needed while overseeing banking and investment relationships to maintain the organization’s fiscal health

Fundraising & Revenue Diversification:

• Work closely with the Fundraising and Business Development Teams to identify gaps between funding and the organizational budget and create strategic fundraising plans and targets.
• Oversee the organization’s investments, ensuring they align with overall financial goals and risk tolerance.
• Develop financial models to showcase the viability and potential return on investment of for-profit ventures, aiding in attracting investors or securing funding.
• Evaluate financial risks associated with for-profit ventures, including market volatility and regulatory changes, while developing strategies to mitigate these risks.
• Assess the financial feasibility of all fundraising initiatives and their potential impact on Pathfinder’s overall financial health.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure that diverse fundraising initiatives support Pathfinder’s long-term goals and contribute to its sustainability.

Financial Innovation & Ventures:

• Lead the design and execution of financial models for Pathfinder’s social enterprise ventures and engage with investors and strategic partners to explore capital solutions aligned with our mission.
• Develop and execute funding strategies to support innovation initiatives, including securing venture capital or other forms of financing. 
• Allocate capital to support innovation initiatives, ensuring that investments align with strategic objectives
• Track key metrics related to financial performance and innovation, providing insights into the success of new ventures

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Systems:

• Oversee and continuously improve key components of fiscal operations, including but not limited to accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit card expense reporting, month-end close protocols, grants management, and reporting.
• Ensure maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial policies and procedures. Safeguard all assets and ensure the integrity of financial reporting.
• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and usefulness of fiscal management reporting for Pathfinder staff, Board of Directors, funders, and other key stakeholders.
• Proactively analyze program operating results to identify potential issues and opportunities.
• Review, assess, and optimize financial systems/technology to ensure efficiency and effectiveness as well as compatibility with other organizational systems.

Risk Management, Audit & Compliance:

• Oversee the identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial and operational risks, including the development and implementation of effective risk management strategies and controls to safeguard the organization.
• Provide leadership to the internal audit team, ensuring they have adequate resources for conducting independent internal and external audits, while ensuring that the audit process maintains integrity and accurately reflects the organization's financial position.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, managing the legal function to operate efficiently, compliantly, and strategically to support the overall business goals and to mitigate legal risks

Executive Leadership Team:

• Collaborate with the CEO and Pathfinder Executive Leadership Team in setting and driving organizational vision, define multi-year strategic objectives and operations strategies to support and advance Pathfinder’s country- led strategy.
• Support the Executive Team and the Board of Directors in continuing to build out future growth strategies, financial plans, and approaches to Pathfinder’s Global Operations functions.
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with leadership and team, Board of Directors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Prepare and present consolidated financial/operational dashboards and risk analysis to the Board.
• Serve as a thought partner, offering insights on emerging trends and long-term organizational capacity.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and coordinate the transition of the capacity and capabilities to regions and countries and the development of agile country-led financial governance models.
• Manage and oversee finance and accounting staff to ensure all facets of fiscal operations are carried out with a high degree of accuracy, efficiency, and in compliance with internal policies and external compliance requirements.
• Mentor and supervise directors and managers across the finance and operations functions.
• Foster a high-performance culture emphasizing adherence to Pathfinder values, equity, and accountability.
• Implement leadership development and succession planning initiatives that foster devolution of and strengthening of capacities within a country-led context with the aim to transition the core part of the Finance and Operations function to Pathfinder regions.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in business management, Finance, Accounting, Economics or related field
• Professional certification such as CPA, ACCA, CFA, or CMA
• Experience in non-profit senior leadership
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience overseeing finance and operations in complex, international, private-sector, or non-profit settings
• Demonstrated mastery in managing projects funded by bilateral and multilateral agencies, private sector donors including strong knowledge of compliance requirements
• Experience formulating and enforcing organizational standards, policies, and procedures
• Record of accomplishment mentoring diverse teams, building leadership capacity, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture
• Record of accomplishment of working with or leading impact-driven businesses, or financial strategy in organizations with both non-profit and for-profit arms
• Familiarity with ERP/financial management systems and digital transformation strategies
• Experience working or living in low- and middle-income countries

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business, Finance, Accounting, Management, or related field,
• Financial leadership experience in a global organization with localized decision-making
• Track record of successfully transforming finance functions during periods of rapid change or mission redefinition
• Proven writing and speaking skills using English and French languages

Why You’ll Love Working with Us:

• Join an innovative, forward-thinking organization that values your growth and ideas.
• Work within a supportive, collaborative environment.
• Make a meaningful impact on our Finance functions and systems
• Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Benefit from the opportunity for global engagement.