Finance and Commercial Manager at Education Development Trust - CfBT

Job purpose:

• The Finance & Commercial Manager will oversee financial management and reporting activities of the EDT Kenya country office and projects. The role holder will also provide financial and commercial advice to the Research and Consultancy (R&C) team, which provides technical expertise to clients through tailored and demand driven short-term consultancy assignments across the globe. The role is the finance and commercial business partner for the Kenya country projects and the R&C consultancy business – offering sound financial and commercial advice, support, analysis and insights for both existing contracts and imminent opportunities. The role holder will also manage internal and external financial reporting for EDT Kenya, country projects and R&C contracts.

Job objectives:
Financial Management:

• Manage day-to-day accounting operations including accounting controls, ledgers administration, accounts payables, account receivables, inter-companies, asset register income statements, and cashflows.
• Manage EDT Kenya budget and monitor budget performance against targets, producing monthly variances, forecasts and outlooks.
• Manage project financial operations including project budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations and reporting. Act as the primary finance contact person with clients and stakeholders for all Kenya based projects.
• Respond to, develop and implement financial plans and analysis in line with organisation strategies, plans and tactics. Provide financial analysis and insights into performance and forward-looking scenarios.
• Responsible for country level regulatory financial reporting and compliance including overseeing country level audits, compliance checks and regulatory assurance.
• Prepare and analyse financial statements, financial reports, and presentations to stakeholders as may be required.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and laws, including IFRS/GAAP, tax, and banking regulations.
• Manage local level treasury including bank and cash administration, cashflow forecasting and reporting.
• Develop, review and oversee financial policies, tools, systems and control environment for Kenya office and projects. Drive control and system improvements to improve performance and compliance efficiencies.
• Identify, evaluate and report financial risks and issues including mitigating actions.
• Drive a culture of zero tolerance to corruption and financial malfeasance.
• Promote value for money in all finance operations activities including influencing project and local operational decisions to improve cost efficiencies.
• Business Partner with other departments by providing timely information, analysis, responses and guidance.

Commercial Management:

• Consult and review new opportunities with a commercial lens. Review opportunity budgeting/scenarios with budget holders, providing point of contact for commercial, risk and budget challenge and clarification across all business opportunities.
• Review and check that all opportunities meet EDT approved commercial model ensuring opportunities remain commercially sustainable.
• Provide contract financial analysis and reporting support to R&C budget holders and Operations Managers in the delivery of their in-year and longer-term financial objectives and assist them with internal and external financial reporting as required.
• Support in the provision of visibility on the financial performance of contracts in the short, medium and long term. Ensure that where appropriate activities meet or improve on budget, cost, volume and efficiency targets and Key Performance
• Indicators in line with business objectives.
• Produce the summary monthly management reporting pack and supporting narrative  for contract performance to ensure accurate information is fed into the Consolidated Management Accounts. Liaise with Operational Management to ensure narratives are accurate and complete, highlighting key risks and mitigating actions to the Director Research & Consultancy.
• Lead on contract annual budgeting, forecasting and outlooks working closely with contract leads, the Director Research & Consultancy.
• Manage R&C financial information database include timesheets, supplier contracts, performance reports and any other information. Ensure knowledge and processes within individual projects are documented to facilitate effective cover for periods of leave and to facilitate an efficient hand over of projects.
• Support the operational team in timesheet management to ensure accurate assessment of FTEs, inputs and billing to the clients.
• Provide supported to the Director Research & Consultancy and the Finance Director on commercial modelling for new R&C business whether through contract tenders, acquisitions or taking propositions to market.
• Lead on the financial operations mobilisation of new contracts, ensuring client requirements are well understood and implements, while setting up an efficient financial system and reporting environment to ensure consistent tracking and contract financial activities, spend and financial KPIs.
• Ensure correct balances for deferred and accrued income and regularly review the accruals commitment to ensure accuracy. Liaise with operational teams to ensure the self-service element of Unit4 ERP is used correctly and ensure regular housekeeping is performed.
• Provide training for budget holders in finance processes ensuring procedures are fully understood and followed.
• Ensure invoices are prepared in a timely manner and that all recoverable costs are billed promptly.
• Assist in the year-end audit preparations.

Person specification:
Knowledge
Essential:

• A thorough understanding of accounting concepts, especially around contract income recognition
• AAT qualified or studying towards a professional qualification – ACCA, CIMA
• Degree in Accounting, Financial Analysis, Business Management or any relevant field would be an added advantage
• Knowledge and experience of a financial role where building relationships and supporting non-finance professionals has been fundamental part of role
• Ability to model financial and operational data for decision making

Desirable:

• Understanding of how to drill into a report on key operational drivers behind financial performance
• Able to project out financial outcome based on operational knowledge and understand the highs and lows

Experience

Essential:

• Strong foundation in preparing detailed Budgets and Management Accounts for projects or business units. Experience of investigating variances and dealing with any queries
• Proven experience of setting up reporting for new projects through to project close down
• Proven experience of being proactive by identifying areas of concern or areas for improvement
• Proven experience in ability to lead, influence and communicate with others
• Business partnering experience across a matrixed business environment

Desirable:

• Leading commercial/financial inputs on bids for consultancy contracts
• Previous experience of Unit4 ERP

Skills Essential:

• IT literate including MS Office
• Ability to work to tight deadlines in a pressurised environment and prioritise workloads effectively
• Ability to establish & maintain strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders from project administrators, project managers and Head of Consultancy
• Negotiating and influencing skills to impact key commercial decisions
• A methodical and accurate approach to work with strong attention to detail
• Flexibility to manage the reporting for a portfolio of projects and the ability to
• develop a quick and thorough understanding of new projects/ business areas
• A strong team player
• Excellent communication skills