Director, Group Accounting & Reporting - Accounting Policies

Barry Callebaut Group; Zürich; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Barry Callebaut Group seeks a Director, Group Accounting and Reporting (GAR) - Accounting Policies in Zürich to lead the policy agenda, ensure IFRS consistency and high-quality financial reporting. The role oversees policy framework, training, compliance monitoring and continuous improvement across the Group.

You will partner with regional finance, the Group consolidation function and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver accurate reporting, robust governance and timely period closes in a

Qualifications

• 10+ years in professional accounting, Big 4 a plus, multinational/listed environment.
• Professional qualification (CA, ACCA or CPA) in addition to accounting degree.
• Exceptional knowledge of IFRS technical accounting, policy development, and implementation guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, interpretation and maintenance of Group accounting policies and guidance for IFRS across regions and functions.
• Develop, implement and maintain group accounting policies, reporting guidelines and best practices.
• Prepare accounting position papers and implementation guidance.
• Monitor emerging IFRS developments and assess impact on the Group.
• Lead implementation of new/revised accounting policies with regional teams and process owners.
• Build relationships with stakeholders across Finance and other functions to act as a trusted advisor on technical accounting matters.

Skills

IFRS expertise

Policy development

Training stakeholders

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical accounting

Financial analysis

Education

Accounting degree + CA/ACCA/CPA

Job description

About The Role

As Director, Group Accounting and Reporting (GAR) - Accounting Policies, you will lead the Group's accounting policy agenda to ensure high-quality financial reporting, technical accounting compliance, and consistent application of IFRS across the Group. The role owns the Group accounting policy framework, including policy development, practical implementation across regions and functions, training and communication, monitoring of compliance, and continuous enhancement of accounting practices. This position partners closely with regional finance teams, the Group consolidation function, and cross-functionally stakeholders to deliver accurate reporting, strong governance, and continuous improvement of Group-wide accounting processes.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Act as the Group's senior IFRS technical expert, leading the development, interpretation and maintenance of Group accounting policies and supporting regional and local teams on complex accounting topics and new standards.
• Develop, implement and maintain Group accounting policies, reporting guidelines, and best practices to ensure consistent and practical application across all entities and functions.
• Prepare accounting position papers and implementation guidance
• Monitor emerging IFRS developments and assess their impact on the Group.
• Lead the practical development and implementation of new and revised accounting policies, partnering with regional teams, cross-functional stakeholders and process owners to embed requirements into day-to-day operations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across Finance and other business functions, acting as a trusted advisor on technical accounting matters and policy implementation.
• Drive stakeholder alignment and manage expectations through proactive communication, collaboration and influence, ensuring timely decision-making and consistent adoption of Group accounting policies and reporting standards.
• Develop and deliver training, communication and knowledge-sharing initiatives to strengthen accounting capabilities across the Group.
• Establish monitoring mechanisms to assess policy compliance and drive continuous improvement of policies and related processes.
• Build and maintain a strong internal network across regions and functions (FP&A, Tax, Treasury, Legal) to support Group-wide initiatives.
• Support transformation initiatives, system enhancements, and process optimization projects within Group Finance.
• Provide high-quality internal reporting and analytical insights on consolidated results to senior management.
• Partner with the Group consolidation team to ensure a smooth, timely, and accurate period close.
• Contribute to the preparation of external disclosures for the Annual Report, Half-Year Report, and other regulatory filings

About You

• Minimum 10 years in a professional accounting firm (Big 4 a plus) or multinational/listed company environment
• University degree in accounting, together with a professional qualification (CA, ACCA or CPA)
• Exceptional knowledge of technical accounting under IFRS, including policy development, drafting accounting position papers and implementation guidance, training stakeholders, and monitoring compliance in practice.
• Experience in a global team and external reporting for a listed (preferably SIX) entity.
• Demonstrates a positive attitude in a dynamic, matrix and multi-country business environment
• Demonstrated ability to challenge existing processes constructively and drive improvements.
• Strong analytical mindset and ability to work independently under pressure.
• Fluent English, written and spoken. Other languages considered a plus

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we've experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong.

#oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.