Group Financial Controller

Summary

Laterite is looking for an experienced Group Financial Controller to lead and oversee the financial operations across the countries we operate. Our new colleague will serve as a key advisor on financial management decisions, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial process across the countries.

The successful candidate will provide technical oversight to country finance teams, review financial reports, and drive operational excellence in critical areas such as cash flow management, transfer pricing, tax compliance, payroll operations, financial reporting, and audits. The role will also focus on implementing robust financial controls and ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic goals. Additionally, this position includes mentoring and developing finance leaders across the group, fostering career growth, and driving continuous improvement in financial processes.

Big 4 experience is essential, as the role requires a strong foundation in accounting and financial reporting.

About Laterite

Laterite is a data, research, and analytics firm specializing in complex development challenges. We work with universities, global think tanks, international NGOs, multilateral donor organizations, and government ministries and agencies. Our clients include, for example, the World Bank, USAID, TechnoServe, the Mastercard Foundation, and more.

We currently have offices in the Netherlands, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Peru. The team brings together more than 100 full-time local and international staff, as well as 2,000+ enumerators across all countries. We are proud to be a culturally diverse organization, and we welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented in our team.

We work in socio-economic development research projects. We believe that impact is a long-term endeavor that requires being embedded in the local context. Delivering high-quality research requires building local teams and data collection systems, knowing the country, and establishing close working relationships.

One of Laterite’s key strategic goals is to create a collaborative and rewarding working environment for our staff, where every team member feels engaged, represented, and heard. Laterite is committed to creating opportunities for learning and career development within the team and across our offices.

Laterite is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

What you will do:

Accounting leadership & oversight

• Lead and oversee finance and accounting operations across all group entities, enforcing financial controls in line with the Laterite’s finance manual
• Manage transfer pricing processes and intercompany transactions in compliance with Laterite’s transfer pricing policy
• Oversee tax and payroll operations to ensure regulatory adherence.

Project reporting, financial reporting & audits

• Review and analyze financial reports from regional and country offices, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to group policies.
• Ensure timely and accurate consolidation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for senior management and external stakeholders.
• Oversee project financial reporting, ensuring adherence to client reporting requirements
• Oversee country level and group-level financial statement audits and coordinate with external auditors to address key findings.

Operational efficiency & compliance

• Drive process improvements and automation initiatives to enhance financial operations and reporting efficiency.
• Remain updated on changes to global and local regulatory frameworks in all financial and accounting activities to drive compliance.

Training, mentorship & leadership development

• Lead the teams across the countries by providing training, mentorship, and career development support to Finance Managers and Finance Associates.
• Foster a high-performance finance team across the group, ensuring succession planning and leadership development.
• Drive knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance financial expertise across different regions.

Requirements

What you will bring:

Our ideal candidate is a detail-oriented financial leader with extensive experience managing multi-country financial operations. They are proactive, analytical, and solutions-driven, with a strong technical foundation in finance and accounting. They excel at mentoring teams, implementing robust financial controls, and ensuring compliance across diverse regulatory environments.

Our future colleague has:

• A Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Full professional qualification as a CA, CPA, or CFA.
• At least 6 years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, with at least 2 years in a regional or a management role.
• Big 4 audit firm experience and at least 2 years of finance/accounting experience in a multinational organization.
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and compliance in all financial processes.
• Strong leadership and team development skills, with experience mentoring and managing multi-country finance teams.
• Expertise in financial management, reporting, compliance, and controls, including IFRS, tax regulations, transfer pricing, and intercompany transactions.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, with the ability to translate financial data into strategic insights.
• Proficiency in financial systems, ERP software, particularly QuickBooks
• Advanced Excel skills, including financial modeling, data analysis, and automation of financial reports.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple priorities while maintaining financial integrity.

In addition, we are looking for:

• A collaborative leader who can build and develop high-performing finance teams.
• A professional with deep knowledge of multi-country financial operations and regulatory frameworks.

What’s in it for you?

Laterite offers a competitive remuneration package, including medical insurance and 21 days of annual leave.

We offer a flexible working environment, including the choice to work from home a couple of days per week and the possibility of working from a remote location of your choice for up to 6 weeks per year. We are also committed to supporting learning and development of our team members, providing an annual learning budget of up to $1,000 per person and 10 days of time off for professional learning each year.

The salary range for this role will start at $4,150 gross, commensurate with experience. Salaries are pegged against Laterite’s pay matrix, and grades are reviewed every 12 months.

Application Process

Please upload your CV, a cover letter explaining how your experience matches our requirements (max 1 page).

Successful candidates will be contacted with information regarding the next steps, which may include an assessment. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline

Interested candidates must apply by 28 Feb 2025.