Director, Group Accounting & Reporting - Accounting Policies

Location: 

Zurich, CH, 8005

At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

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

 

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.

If you want to learn more about Barry Callebaut, please find further information here.

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