Director, Group Accounting & Reporting - Accounting Policies
At a glance
Director-level Accounting role at Barry Callebaut. Zurich.
Pay not stated Accounting salary
financeroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Lead the Group’s IFRS policy work, advising regional teams on complex accounting questions and new standards
- Write accounting position papers and practical guidance, then help teams put policy changes into daily use
- Track IFRS developments, assess their effects, and check whether entities follow Group policies
- Train finance stakeholders and build alignment across regions so accounting practices are applied consistently
- Support period close, consolidated reporting, external disclosures, and finance transformation work
What you bring
- At least ten years in a professional accounting firm or a multinational or listed company
- A university accounting degree plus a CA, ACCA or CPA qualification
- Deep IFRS technical expertise, including policy drafting, implementation guidance, stakeholder training, and compliance checks
- Experience working globally and preparing external reports for a listed company
Who this fits
You’ll suit a senior accounting specialist who can work independently, challenge current processes constructively, and influence teams across a matrixed, multi-country environment. Fluent written and spoken English is required; other languages are an advantage. The role is based in Zurich, Switzerland.
From the employer
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‑functional 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