Chief Financial Officer

About the Role The Chief Financial Officer is the strategic finance partner to the CEO and the Board, responsible for the financial health, capital strategy, and governance of a capital-intensive, commodity-exposed, and seasonal business. The CFO will lead all finance functions, drive profitable growth and operational efficiency across the value chain, and safeguard the company's financial integrity as it scales. Key Responsibilities Strategic Finance and Business Partnership Partner with the CEO and Executive Committee to shape corporate strategy, long-term plans, and annual budgets. Evaluate and support major investments, including new farms, processing plants, cold-chain infrastructure, capacity expansions, and product launches. Lead M&A, joint ventures, partnerships, and divestment activity, from due diligence through integration. Provide the Board with clear, forward-looking financial insight and scenario analysis. Financial Planning, Analysis, and Performance Own budgeting, forecasting, and rolling planning processes, accounting for seasonality, herd cycles, and crop yields. Build robust cost and margin models across the value chain, from raw milk and feed costs to processing, packaging, logistics, and distribution. Track and improve key metrics such as cost per litre, yield, product mix, working capital cycle, and return on invested capital. Drive pricing, trade-spend, and portfolio profitability analysis with commercial teams. Treasury, Capital, and Risk Management Manage the capital structure, debt facilities, banking relationships, and liquidity, including seasonal working-capital needs. Raise capital through debt, equity, project finance, or green and sustainability-linked instruments as required. Design and oversee hedging strategies for commodity, currency, and interest-rate exposure (milk, grains, feed inputs, energy, packaging). Lead enterprise risk management, including climate, supply, disease, and price-volatility risks, and ensure appropriate insurance coverage. Accounting, Reporting, and Compliance Ensure accurate, timely financial reporting under IFRS and applicable local standards, including biological-asset valuation and inventory accounting. Oversee tax strategy, transfer pricing, customs, and statutory compliance across jurisdictions. Lead relationships with external auditors, regulators, lenders, and investors. Manage investor relations and shareholder reporting where applicable. Governance and Internal Controls Establish and maintain a strong internal control framework, financial policies, and delegation of authority. Work with the Audit Committee and internal audit on assurance, fraud prevention, and ethics. Strengthen governance across subsidiaries, farms, and joint ventures. Operational Excellence and Digital Finance Partner with operations, procurement, and supply chain to reduce cost, waste, and capital intensity. Lead ERP, automation, and analytics initiatives to improve reporting, farm-level data visibility, and decision speed. Support farmer and supplier financing programs, contract-farming economics, and rural-development initiatives. Sustainability and ESG Finance Integrate ESG, carbon, water, and animal-welfare considerations into capital allocation and reporting. Support sustainability-linked financing and regulatory disclosure requirements. Team Leadership Lead, develop, and inspire a finance organization covering FP&A, controllership, treasury, tax, internal controls, and shared services. Build succession depth and a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement. Qualifications and Experience Professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA, or equivalent); MBA or master's degree in finance preferred. 15–20 years of progressive finance experience, with at least 5–8 years in a senior finance leadership role. Substantial experience in dairy and agribusiness, or other capital-intensive, commodity-linked industries. Proven record in capital raising, treasury, commodity risk management, and large capital-project financing. Experience with multi-site, multi-entity, or multi-country operations, and with M&A and integration. Strong knowledge of IFRS, tax, and regulatory environments in [region/market]. Experience presenting to boards, audit committees, lenders, and investors. Key Competencies Strategic and commercial mindset with strong business partnering skills Deep understanding of agri-commodity cycles, seasonality, and value-chain economics Analytical rigor and sound financial judgment Integrity, governance discipline, and risk awareness Change leadership and digital transformation capability Clear communication with farmers, operators, executives, and investors alike Team building, coaching, and cross-functional influence Key Performance Indicators Revenue growth, EBITDA, and net margin vs. plan Cost per litre and cost-to-serve improvements Working capital efficiency and cash conversion cycle Return on invested capital and project IRR delivery Quality and timeliness of reporting and audit outcomes Effectiveness of hedging and risk mitigation Cost of capital and funding diversification Finance team engagement and capability Show more Show less