M25186 Financial Specialist
Develop and manage financial models and pricing strategies for hospitality services.
Overview
Develop and manage financial models and pricing strategies for hospitality services.
You have:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. A Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., CFA, CPA) is preferred.
- 3-5+ years of experience in financial analysis, with a strong preference for candidates with exposure to hospitality, procurement, or fleet management operations.
- Advance English level (C1)
- Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to identifying financial risks and opportunities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver within tight deadlines.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in budget management and financial analysis.
- Proven experience in managing financial operations across multiple business lines.
- Strategic thinker with a track record of implementing process improvements and cost optimizations.
CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.
CIMMYT is seeking a proactive, with great communication, attention to the detail and customer service-oriented professional for the position of Cost Specialist to work in the Business Services Department of CIMMYT.
The positions will be based at CIMMYT headquarters in Texcoco, near Mexico City, (45 minutes from Mexico City).
Specific duties:
- Develop, implement, and manage pricing models for hospitality services (housing rent, hotel rooms, and restaurant operations).
- Conduct market research and competitor analysis to ensure competitive yet profitable pricing.
- Analyze and recommend cost-based pricing models for fleet services and procurement cost allocations.
- Adjust pricing structures based on seasonality, market trends, and operational costs.
- Calculate detailed cost structures for hospitality services, fleet management, and procurement processes.
- Develop and maintain financial models to project costs, revenue, and profit margins across all service areas.
- Analyze cost variances and recommend actions to reduce overhead and improve efficiency.
- Track daily, weekly, and monthly revenue streams and operating expenses for hospitality, procurement, and fleet management.
- Monitor budget compliance and identify cost-saving opportunities across all service lines.
- Prepare and present periodic financial performance reports, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow analyses.
- Collaborating with Business Services unit leads to developing annual budgets and financial forecasts for hospitality, procurement, and fleet services.
- Provide variance analysis comparing actuals versus forecasts and identify areas requiring corrective action.
- Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure financial performance and service efficiency.
- Deliver clear and actionable financial insights to senior management and stakeholders.
- Strategic Financial Planning
- Support strategic decision-making through scenario analysis, risk assessment, and financial forecasting.
- Evaluate cost recovery models for fleet services and procurement-related expenditures.
- Participate in strategic planning sessions to align financial strategies with organizational goals.
- Optimize financial reporting systems and tools to ensure data accuracy and streamlined processes.
- Collaborate with IT and operations teams to integrate financial systems with procurement and fleet management platforms.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency across the Business Services Department.
- Ensure adherence to financial policies, procurement regulations, and internal controls.
- Collaborate with internal and external auditors to support financial audits and compliance reviews.
- Maintain and enforce financial governance standards across hospitality, procurement, and fleet services.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. A Master’s degree or professional certification (e.g., CFA, CPA) is preferred.
- 3-5+ years of experience in financial analysis, with a strong preference for candidates with exposure to hospitality, procurement, or fleet management operations.
- Advance English level (C1)
- Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to identifying financial risks and opportunities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver within tight deadlines.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in budget management and financial analysis.
- Proven experience in managing financial operations across multiple business lines.
- Strategic thinker with a track record of implementing process improvements and cost optimizations.
Benefits
CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package and support for continuous professional development. In addition to the provisions of the Mexican Labor Law our package of benefits includes year-end bonus (40 days), vacation premium (56%), life and medical insurance, supermarket coupons, savings fund, social Mexican benefits (IMSS, SAR / Infonavit).
Potential interview questions
| Describe a time when you had to develop a financial model. What was your approach? | This question assesses your analytical skills and approach to financial modeling. | Provide specific details of the model, tools used, and outcomes. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when faced with multiple deadlines? | This question evaluates your time management and prioritization skills. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you explain how you conduct market research for pricing purposes? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Share an example of how you have implemented cost improvements in previous roles. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What financial metrics do you consider most important when analyzing performance? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you handle discrepancies in financial reports? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your experience in working with cross-functional teams on financial strategies. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What software or tools do you find most useful for financial analysis? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |