The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Chief Financial and Risk Officer (CFRO).
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa\u2019s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food-secure future. Please visit http://www.iita.org/ for more information on IITA.
As part of IITA\u2019s ongoing efforts to strengthen the institutional performance and financial resilience, IITA is creating a new leadership position; Chief Financial and Risk Officer (CFRO). The Chief Financial and Risk Officer (CFRO) is a senior leadership role at IITA, reporting directly to the Director General and serving as a core member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) with oversight over Finance, Risk Management, Financial Systems and Analytics. The CFRO will collaborate with other SMT members and provide advice on matters with financial and potential risk consequences. The CFRO will lead efforts to drive value for money and cost effectiveness across programs, resource mobilization, and support service functions.
This role is designed to improve clarity, integration, and responsiveness in how IITA manages and communicates its financial health especially in today\u2019s evolving donor and governance environment. It will integrate Finance, Risk Management, Financial Systems and Analytics oversight aligning more closely with the expectations of our Board and the complexity of today\u2019s financial landscape.
The CFRO will lead the Institute\u2019s financial strategy, enterprise risk management, institutional analytics, and financial systems oversight to ensure transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
The CFRO will play a pivotal role in providing strategic and operational leadership of finance at IITA, building institutional resilience by strengthening financial systems and controls, enhancing revenue generation and cost efficiency and recovery mechanisms, and providing clear leadership and vision for the finance function across IITA whilst developing a high-performing finance team.
Position Responsibilities
The Chief Financial and Risk Officer (CFRO) will have the following key responsibilities.
Finance and Revenue Maximization
\u00b7 Provide operational and strategic leadership for all aspects of IITA\u2019s financial management, planning, and reporting.
\u00b7 Support the IITA Board in their governance and fiduciary responsibilities of finances, risk and audit including developing and ensuring the delivery of appropriate and effective financial statements and reports.
\u00b7 Provide strategic oversight of the development and management of budgets, income, expenditure, and cash managementto support the delivery of IITA\u2019s global portfolio through sound budgeting, forecasting, and financial controls across the Institute.
\u00b7 Oversee the collection, analysis, and reporting of financial data, and provide effective business partnering to program and operational leaders to support decision-making, ensuring that all financial information provided is accurate, timely, and insightful.
\u00b7 Enhance revenue by optimizing full cost recovery, leveraging allfunding strategically, and increasing return on infrastructure investments.
\u00b7 Ensure compliance with all donors, CGIAR, audit, and legal and operational requirements.
Risk Management
\u00b7 Develop and maintain an enterprise risk management framework tailored to IITA\u2019s evolving operations.
\u00b7 Provide global oversight for identifying, assessing, and monitoring financial, operational, and strategic risks by leading an integrated risk management approach that informs the global risk register and strengthens proposal risk assessments.
\u00b7 Integrate risk management systems, tools, and reporting into a unified global framework to help in monitoring and managing those risks across IITA\u2019s portfolio.
\u00b7 Advise the SMT and Board on risks, mitigation strategies and early warning indicators.
\u00b7 Drive the implementation of improvements and corrective actions arising from internal and external audits, incident reviews, case management outcomes, donor feedback, and updates to policies and practices
Systems, Controls, and Automation
\u00b7 Ensure IITA\u2019s financial planning, accounting and systems are robust, meet statutory and regulatory standards and support the delivery of all IITA\u2019s work.
\u00b7 Lead the strengthening of financial systems (e.g., ERP) to enhance accurate information, internal controls, transparency, and audit readinessthroughout IITA headquarters and country offices.
\u00b7 Oversee integration of financial systems with institutional planning, analytics, and risk functions.
\u00b7 Promote automation and efficiency across financial and administrative operations.
Analytics and Strategic Reporting
\u00b7 Lead the development of financial dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs), and scenario-based modeling to strengthen operational financial planning, monitoring, and reporting. Ensure these tools effectively support strategic decision-making and are clearly communicated and understood across the organization.
\u00b7 Guide institutional planning processes through insightful trend analyses and predictive tools.
\u00b7 Translate financial data into actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences, including the Board.
\u00b7 Foster a culture of transformation and automation within financial processes and systems championing digital solutions to streamline operations and improve service delivery.
People and Capability Development
\u00b7 Ensure Finance teams are effectively organized to support the achievement of IITA mission and objectives.
\u00b7 Build and lead a results-oriented finance team aligned with IITA\u2019s mission and core values
\u00b7 Ensure continuous staff training and capacity building in financial strategy, systems, and compliance.
\u00b7 Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, responsiveness, and innovation within the Finance function.
Requirements
Educational Qualifications
The candidate should hold at least an advanced degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field. Recognized professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CA).
Core Competencies
\u00b7 Minimum of 12 years of progressively senior experience in financial leadership roles, ideally in international, research, or development institutions.
\u00b7 Deep understanding of international donor financial compliance (e.g., CGIAR, World Bank, USAID, BMGF).
\u00b7 Proven experience with full cost recovery, financial systems implementation, risk oversight, and institutional planning.
\u00b7 Developing and delivering operational and strategic plans and providing advice at a senior leadership level in a large, international and complex organization with multiple stakeholders.
\u00b7 Developing, implementing, evaluating information and financial systems internationally, and an appreciation of the need to use technology for operational connecting globally.
\u00b7 The ability to be both a hands-on and strategic leader and the agility and the ability to adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through.
\u00b7 Strategic thinking with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
\u00b7 High level of integrity, sound judgment, and discretion.
\u00b7 Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate diverse teams.
\u00b7 Excellent communication skills\u2014able to distil complex financial information for executive and governance-level audiences.
\u00b7 Adaptability to lead in a dynamic, multi-stakeholder, multicultural environment.
Benefits
Duty Station: Ibadan, Nigeria
General information: The contract will be for an initial period of three years. IITA offers an internationally competitive remuneration package paid in US Dollars.
Applications: Applications must include a cover letter which should address how the candidate\u2019s background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, curriculum vitae, and names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicant\u2019s current or previous organization or applicant\u2019s direct Supervisor/Superior at his/her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Director, People and Culture. Please complete our online application form using this link: https://apply.workable.com/iita/#jobs
Closing Date: 17th September 2025
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce, particularly welcoming applications from women.
While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.