DREEM Senior Finance Officer, Pan Africa at World University Service of Canada

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

• The DREEM Senior Finance Officer, Pan-Africa supports finance functions for the DREEM Project, whose responsibilities include internal controls, accounting database management, staff training, budget and cash management functions.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Month End Close-Out:

• Lead the monthly close-out process, transaction review & data entry, reconciliations, adjusting journal entries, financial reporting and review & sign off.

Internal Controls & Compliance: 

• Enforce financial control measures to safeguard WUSC assets against fraud and mismanagement.
• Ensure that all transactions and reporting meet local regulatory laws and donor/funder requirements.
• Review payments for completeness and adherence to policies and procedures.

Cashflow Management: 

• Project cash flow, manage revenue, and develop budgetary projections to support Cash Transfer Requests from Headquarters. 
• Develop frameworks that minimize foreign exchange risks,

Audit & Compliance: 

• Support internal and external audits by organising documentation, preparing audit trails, and following up on findings. 

Variance Analysis : 

• Conduct regular, granular comparisons of actual expenditures versus approved budgets.
• Identify and investigate budget variances, creating financial models to forecast future funding needs  

Cross-Functional Support:

• Provide technical support and financial training to non-finance staff to improve their budget-holding capabilities and internal control adherence 

Financial Reporting & Accounting:

• Prepare monthly management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial statements.
• Ensure adherence to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 

Team Leadership & Cross Functional Support: 

• Supervise, mentor, and build the capacity of junior finance staff while training non-finance teams on financial policies and procedures 
• Duties and priorities may be adjusted in line with programme needs, donor requirements, and team structure, provided they remain consistent with the role’s purpose and level.

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; a Master’s degree is preferred. 
• Professional Qualification: Professional accounting qualification such as CPA(K) or ACCA is required; membership in good standing with ICPAK is preferred.
• Experience : A minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in accounting, auditing of financial management within an international NGO setting. 
• Donor Knowledge: Experience with institutional donors is essential
• Financial Expertise: Proficiency in budget development, monitoring, and financial reporting, including staff salary allocation and cost-sharing 
• Risk Mitigation: Ability to identify compliance risks, conduct audits, and ensure adherence to internal policies and donor requirements. 
• Communication & Training: Strong written skills for reporting and interpersonal skills for training staff on compliance requirements. 
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics, Netsuite, SAGE) 
• Experience preparing for and coordinating external/internal audits. 
• Fluent in English, French Language skills preferred
• Strong organizational skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.