Finance Director Italy

Role Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join us as a Finance Director, Italy to work in a truly global environment that will combine considerable experience in financial systems and reporting, coupled with deep expertise in understanding ERP systems, processes, business models and digital ecosystems. As a key member of the Italy Coffee Business Senior Management team, as well as the European Senior Finance team, the Finance Director will assume a strategic role in the overall management of the business. With primary responsibility for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related activities of the Business Unit. This includes but is not limited to direct responsibility for managing the internal finance function including accounting, cash forecasting, strategic planning, and compliance.

The post-holder also holds overall oversight and management of the IT function across the business Unit and as such will lead and take full responsibility over financial and management reporting in a timely and accurate manner, while adding value to the business through partnering with all stakeholders to deliver on business unit compliance processes and insightful, forward-looking data in line with strategic objectives.

Volcafe Ltd is one of the world’s leading international green coffee trading companies, operating in over 20 countries globally. Our expertise spans green coffee procurement and preparation, sustainability, blending, quality control, risk management and export as well as importing and distribution. We supply the world’s major coffee roasters and retail distributors with their green coffee requirements, with significant strategic growth ambitions for the future. We are part of ED&F Man Commodities, a world leading trader of agricultural products including coffee, sugar, molasses and animal feed.

Volcafe works across the whole green coffee supply chain to make coffee business better, together with our partners and employees. We have built and operate sustainable coffee supply chains across all our origins, addressing key economic, social and environmental issues in coffee farming communities. Our Volcafe Way farmer support programme engages with thousands of coffee farmers and provides a holistic response to the challenges they face.

This role will be working for Volcafe Italy , in our located in Genoa.

Key Accountabilities

• End to end ownership of the control environment for the full cycle of the business with a focus on the complete enterprise risk model of the business unit, and lead support for regional compliance as needed.
• Timely and accurate management and financial reporting for the coffee business unit.
• Lead and advise on financial and commercial decisions in consultation with the Regional Finance Director, while maintaining a close working partnership with the General Manager.
• Ensure accurate application and oversight of Fair Value Mark-to-Market accounting for trading positions, inventory, and financial instruments, in line with internal policies.
• Complete oversight of all external tax and compliance related requirements and reporting impacting the business unit.
• Ensure compliance with all internal financial and accounting policies and guidelines including authorisation matrixes, credit, counterparty, and trading mandate limits as well as policy roll outs and periodic checks.
• Ownership of all corporate reporting to group for the business unit, the unit’s ERP systems and processes.
• Ownership of all historical organisation data related to management and financial reporting.
• Qualitative review of monthly financials and providing detailed analysis to stakeholders.
• Tracking cycle time efficiencies and reporting on all key business value drivers with a thorough understanding of the business value drivers.
• Developing and maintaining financial projections/forecasts and sensitivity analysis including detailed models in line with commercial strategies.
• Ownership of all budgeting processes and month on month variance analysis with detailed commentary of performance to drive cost efficiencies and identify opportunities.
• Perform all ad-hoc research as may be needed by the stakeholders.
• Working capital tracking and reporting on optimal balance sheet optimization including tracking all financial covenants of the organisation.
• Drive finance transformation to improve synergy within the team and enhance collaboration with stakeholders in trade, commercial and operations, logistics, IT and corporate.
• Drive contribution to the bottom line through various structured trade finance opportunities and ensuring robust insurance and facilities management.
• Provide thought leadership for their team with a focus on developing a best-in-class team.
• Align departmental short-term goals for maximum impact on organization strategy; process optimization to drive strategy and collaboration.
• Collaborate and leverage with EDF Man Finance team on local statutory requirements

Skills and Experience

• Professional qualification e.g., ACCA/CA/CMA/ CIMA/ CPA or Italian equivalent with membership exceeding 5 years.
• Bachelor’s degree and/or MBA educated in finance, accounting or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, preferably in commodities, manufacturing or FMCG with the at least 5+ years as a senior controller or senior manager within a finance department.
• At least 3 years of external audit experience, or corporate finance is advantageous.
• Adept leadership skills with ability to coach, mentor and develop the team.
• Great interpersonal and stakeholder interaction/influencing skills, combined with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, tailoring their approach relevantly to the audience.
• Experience of working capital management and treasury management, including trade finance funding models is essential.
• Experience of risk management and compliance.
• Experience with financial modelling is highly desirable.
• Experience with project management and IT implementations.
• A good team player with ability to work independently and lead cross functional teams.
• High attention to detail and open minded, able to cope with a quick learning curve.
• Ability to work with diverse cultures.

As an ever-friendly reminder: Researchers have found that men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Women and other underrepresented groups tend to apply only when they check every box. If you are interested, but don't feel like you meet every single point on the job description, please still apply!

Our Offer

We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders in soft commodity trading.

Our Values

Respect, Integrity, Meritocracy, Client Focus, Entrepreneurship

Volcafe shares the values of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. Our values define who we are. They are the fundamental beliefs that determine our actions and guide our behaviour. They influence the way we communicate and collaborate, and define the way we engage with our clients, partners, and communities.

Our Commitment

Volcafe shares the commitment of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and are focussed on actively building and developing diverse teams. All qualified applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment (identity, gender expression), genetic information or any characteristic protected by local law.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

To apply you must have the right to work for the provided location.