General information

We are recruiting, on behalf of one of our key clients, for a Director of Administration and Finance (DAF) to work on a major infrastructure project in Switzerland. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the financial and economic management of large-scale construction projects and consortia.

Employment percentage: 100%
Work location:French-speakingSwitzerland
Industry: Construction, infrastructure, and major projects

DUTIES AND ACTIVITIES

• Establish, organize, and manage the consortium’s entire administrative and financial operations, from the startup phase through the project’s closure and liquidation.

• Define and implement administrative, financial, and internal control procedures, ensuring transparency, data reliability, and proper management of relations among shareholders.

• Work with the Project Manager to prepare the target budget, the financing plan, and the economic and financial forecasts for the entire project.

• Ensure effective management control through monthly cost monitoring, analysis of variances from the budget, and updating of profit and loss forecasts at the end of each project.

• Manage financial planning and project cash management, monitoring cash flows, funding requirements, liquidity forecasts, and investments.

• Oversee the accounting, administrative, and tax activities assigned to the Sales Department, ensuring the accuracy of financial statements and periodic closings.

• Monitor the accounting for work in progress, progress reports, contract amendments, additional services, and claims, and assess their economic and financial impact.

• Oversee the procurement process, order approval, invoice verification, and compliance with authorization policies.

• Coordinate the processes for reporting, pre-billing, and recharging costs related to personnel, equipment, and general expenses among the consortium members.

• Manage and monitor bank guarantees, counter-guarantees, security deposits, insurance coverage, and related compliance requirements.

• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports for the Project Management Team, the Executive Committee, and the shareholders.

• Collaborate with the operational and contractual departments in identifying, assessing, and monitoring the economic and financial risks associated with the project.

• Oversee the administrative aspects related to project staff, verifying documentation, costs, and the proper allocation of resources.

• Ensure that management tools, information systems, and document archiving processes are adequate.

• Coordinate the administrative and financial activities related to the project's closure, including the final account, the release of guarantees, the liquidation of assets, and the final report.

REQUIREMENTS

• At least 10 years of professional experience in administration, finance, and management control, preferably gained in the construction and infrastructure sector.

• At least 5 years of experience as a Director of Administration and Finance (DAF) in large-scale construction or infrastructure projects.

• Proven experience in the financial management of construction consortia or equivalent organizations, in connection with projects valued at more than CHF 100 million.

• Extensive experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial oversight of complex, multi-year projects.

• Excellent knowledge of progress-based accounting, the valuation of work in progress, and financial reporting principles.

• In-depth expertise in the financial and accounting management of contract amendments, additional services, and claims.

• Experience in managing project treasury, cash flows, and bank guarantees and counter-guarantees.
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• Excellent knowledge of French and Italian; English is a plus.

• Understanding the mechanisms for allocating and passing on costs among consortium members.

• Familiarity with the administrative and financial processes involved in managing large construction sites.

• Excellent proficiency in advanced Excel and the ERP systems used in the financial management of projects and construction sites.

• Ability to structure processes, procedures, and administrative and financial control tools.

• Relevant professional references from large-scale infrastructure projects are a preferred qualification.

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Strong analytical skills, strategic vision, and a strong focus on economic and financial control.

• A strong sense of responsibility, precision, reliability, and confidentiality.

• Organizational autonomy and the ability to establish an administrative and financial function from the project’s initial phase.

• Ability to anticipate financial challenges and propose effective solutions.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with the Project Management Team, the Steering Committee, partners, and external stakeholders.

• Ability to work in complex environments characterized by multiple stakeholders and shared responsibilities.

• A pragmatic approach, a results-oriented mindset, and the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks.

WHAT THE COMPANY OFFERS

• A strategic role with a high level of responsibility as part of a major infrastructure project in Switzerland.

• The ability to establish and develop the consortium's entire administrative and financial operations.

• A complex and stimulating professional environment, characterized by significant financial and managerial responsibilities.

• Direct interaction with project management and with representatives of the companies participating in the consortium.

• The opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the economic and financial management of a major project, overseeing its entire life cycle.