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COLEAD is an inter-professional, member-based association governed by the French law of 1 July 1901, dedicated to the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Operationally, COLEAD designs, coordinates and implements technical cooperation projects and programmes on behalf of its financial partners, delivering capacity-building, advisory, applied research and knowledge-brokerage services to the public and private stakeholders of agri-food value chains in its countries of intervention. Its training management system is ISO 21001 certified, and its programmes are funded by a widening base of public and institutional donors (European Union, AFD, Enabel, IADB, STDF, and others). COLEAD is at a new inflection point in its 50+ years of history. Under its COLEAD 2030 strategy, the association is evolving into a “glocal” movement linking economic actors, public institutions and financial partners across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Its portfolio of projects and programmes is stepping up sharply and COLEAD is establishing a legal and financial presence abroad, in multiple African countries and in the Caribbean. To support this growth, COLEAD is seeking a Senior Finance Manager with a strong focus on financial oversight, audit coordination, risk management and compliance across its programme portfolio. Working closely with Finance, Financial Control and technical programme teams, the position will help strengthen financial accountability, ensure compliance with financial partners' requirements, and support sound financial management throughout the programme lifecycle. Role purpose and key responsibilities Reporting to the Finance & Administration Lead, the Senior Finance Manager contributes to the financial oversight and sound administrative management of COLEAD's programme portfolio, with particular responsibility for audit coordination, financial compliance, risk identification and the reliability of financial reporting. The role combines hands-on involvement in programme financial management with a cross-functional advisory and control function. Portfolio financial management – Monitor budgets against actuals and produce forecasts and burn-rate analyses. – Prepare and submit budget reallocations, amendment and addendum requests. – Review interim and final financial reports prepared by Finance and Financial Control before submission, and ensure their consistency with narrative reporting. – Anticipate cash needs per programme and ensure pre-financing requests are issued on time, in coordination with Finance. – Participate in the administrative and financial closure of contracts: final reports, balance payments or recoveries, archiving. Proposals and contracting – Build proposal budgets in line with financial partners templates and COLEAD’s cost model. – Prepare the administrative and financial annexes of proposals (legal entity and financial identification files, financial capacity documents, declarations, etc.). – Review draft grant and service agreements — payment terms, eligibility, reporting and audit clauses — and flag risks. – Contribute to pre-contract clarifications and negotiations with financial partners. Project and Programme set-up – Brief programme teams at kick-off on the applicable financial and administrative rules. – Set up budget lines, analytical codes and allocation keys in the ERP/CRM and the accounting system. – Contribute to the planning of the procurement plan with Procurement team, and the staffing cost plan with Human Resources. – Organise administrative arrangements in countries of implementation if and where relevant (bank accounts, payment channels, local requirements) with Finance officers. Audits and verifications – Plan the annual calendar of programme expenditure verifications and audits (4 to 8 per year) and organise the selection of auditors in line with financial partners rules. – Prepare audit files, samples and reconciliations, coordinating inputs from Finance, Financial Control and programme teams. – Act as the main counterpart of auditors during fieldwork and respond to their queries. – Review draft reports, discuss findings and prepare management responses. – Track the implementation of recommendations and feed lessons learned into procedures and controls. Compliance and legal – Maintain compliance frameworks and checklists (eligibility rules, procurement thresholds, supporting documents, reporting obligations), and keep them up to date. – Act as reference point for programme teams on eligibility, compliance and contractual questions. – Review the legal and contractual documents of the portfolio — grant and service agreements, consortium and partnership agreements, sub-grant and subcontracting agreements — flag risks, and liaise with external counsel when needed. – Ensure programme-level compliance requirements are applied: sanctions and exclusion screening of partners and suppliers, anti-fraud and conflict-of-interest rules, PSEA and data protection clauses. – Review assessment of partners and sub-grantees before contracting (legal status, financial capacity, compliance), and follow up during implementation through report reviews and spot checks. – Monitor legal and tax requirements relevant to programmes in countries of implementation (registrations, withholding taxes, local obligations), with Finance officers and local external counsels. – Identify, document and escalate suspected irregularities and compliance incidents, and support their resolution and reporting in accordance with internal procedures and financial partners' requirements. – Conduct risk-based compliance reviews and internal spot checks on programme expenditure, contractual commitments and supporting documentation, identifying weaknesses and recommending corrective action. – Assess the effectiveness of programme-level financial controls, including the consistency and traceability of expenditures, commitments, budget allocations and supporting evidence. Processes and systems – Review and help improve programme-finance workflows and controls in the ERP/CRM (commitments, timesheets, allocations), identifying weaknesses and contributing to corrective measures in collaboration with Finance, Financial Control and ICT teams. – Contribute to portfolio financial and performance monitoring dashboards. – Update the procedures and modus operandi related to programme finance, and periodically train / sensitise programme staff on them. Cross-functional coordination and management support – Provide technical advice and recommendations to the Finance & Administration Lead on portfolio financial management, compliance risks and audit findings. – Represent COLEAD in technical discussions with financial partners, auditors and other external stakeholders on matters falling within the position's responsibilities. – Contribute to management and Board reporting on the financial status, risks and compliance of the programme portfolio. – Ensure continuity on selected portfolio matters during the Finance & Administration Lead's absences, within specifically delegated responsibilities. Profil We are looking for a professional combining strong financial management skills, sound judgement, analytical rigour and a solid understanding of financial controls and compliance. The profile below describes our ideal candidate; applications from candidates demonstrating strong potential and relevant transferable experience are also welcome. - Master's degree in finance, accounting, business administration or a related field, or equivalent professional qualifications and experience. - Ideally 7+ years of relevant professional experience in financial management, audit, financial control, risk management or compliance, preferably in donor-funded programmes or international organisations. - Solid understanding of financial reporting, internal controls, audit processes and compliance requirements. - Ability to analyse complex financial and contractual information, identify risks and formulate practical recommendations. - Fluency in French and English, both working languages of COLEAD. Spanish, Portuguese or another language relevant to COLEAD's countries of intervention would be an asset. - Experience in donor-funded programme financial management, budgeting, contract review or financial oversight would be an advantage. - Experience coordinating audits, expenditure verifications or internal compliance reviews. - Comfortable working with ERP/CRM systems, financial data and digital reporting tools. - Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across finance, control, legal and programme teams and to engage constructively with external stakeholders. - Experience in international development or the agri-food sector would be an advantage. Informations contractuelles This is a full-time position based in Brussels. Contract duration: Permanent Expected starting date: January 2027 COLEAD offers a competitive remuneration package aligned with market conditions and taking into account the selected candidate's experience and qualifications. Joining COLEAD means becoming part of a multicultural team working to strengthen the contribution of sustainable agri-food systems to economic, social and environmental development. COLEAD's values are commitment, difference, humanity, performance and continuous improvement. To apply, please submit your CV, cover letter and professional references by 19th of November 2026.
