Finance and Operations Officer at Faith to Action Network

Purpose Of The Role

Faith to Action Network is currently in the phase of negotiating with the EU for the Project SHARP- Solutions for supporting healthy adolescents and rights protection (SHARP). The project takes place in Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia and at the East African regional level. The project is for a duration of four years.

We seek to recruit a finance and operations officer to plan and implement the project’s financial management and operations processes to ensure that resources are used more effectively, efficiently and equitably. The successful candidate will ensure full compliance with donor rules and requirements. S/He will be responsible for donor financial reporting timeliness, quality and accuracy, ensuring that the financial reporting is in line with the program activities and that the program budget is expended in line with the donor requirements and expectations.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Develop annual and quarterly project budgets, liquidity forecasts,
• Monitor budget spending for the project, ensure that budget expending is in line with project deliverables, and provide monthly updates on financial status including cash flow and variances, and institute corrective measures where necessary.
• Ensure compliance with EU financial rules and regulations, as well as Faith to Action Network policies,
• Ensure all project financial records are filed and clearly labelled both electronically and physically
• Establish the physical existence of all donor funded project assets per the asset register, their conditions and locations.
• Prepare and submit financial reports per donor and organizational requirements within the stipulated time frame
• Organise regular funds reconciliations.
• Ensure timely invoice payment and processing
• Ensure timely closure of the grant agreement
• Maintains financial management files for grants and ensures audit trail for all necessary grant documentation
• Where necessary, carry out investigations of alleged fraud, mismanagement, loss of assets or any other investigation. For each assignment, prepare a written report to present findings and conclusions to management.
• Perform other related duties as assigned and agreed upon with the Finance and Administration Manager and program staff

Operations management

• Develop project procurement plans
• Provide inputs and logistics support consistent with the planned project work plans, detailed field activity plans and procurement plans;
• Raise purchase and procurement needs of the project in coordination with Faith to Action Network’s SRHR technical lead and the Health advocacy lead as well as the county governance and advocacy officer.
• Coordinate meetings, trainings, workshops and travel arrangements as needed in project countries,

Other

• Build and maintain positive relationships with all members of staff, and contacts within and outside the Network.
• Plan and complete work assignments with a high degree of initiative, good judgment, analytical skill, and integrity.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Programme Manager

PERSONAL SPECIFICATIONS (Candidates must meet basic requirements to be considered for this job.)

Educational background

• Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, Finance (Master’s degree will be an added advantage)
• Full accounting professional qualification - Chartered/Certified Accountant (CPA, ACCA) or other comparable/equivalent qualification

Professional experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in financial accounting or internal auditing in NGOs.
• A combination of audit experience and operating accounting experience would be ideal.
• Experience of working with Local/International NGOs
• Experience managing large complex donor projects such as EU grants
• A good understanding of financial controls.
• Hands-on experience making donor budgets and expertise on consolidation of various partner budgets in different countries with different currencies into one consolidated budget in single currency, and meet reporting deadlines.
• Experience in developing, implementing and monitoring a financial risk management framework including effective internal controls

Skills and Competencies

• Hands-on experience with Sun Systems, Microsoft Dynamics 365 – Business Central and/or a similar accounting system would be considered an asset.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and/or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and understand financial statements.
• Prior experience in conducting project financial reviews and coordinating internal and external audits.
• Demonstrated capacity to safeguard and respect vulnerable populations.
• Ability to work with office software applications including Excel, Word, Access,

PowerPoint, etc.

Languages

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

Personal competencies

• Possess and exhibit a level of confidence in themselves and own work but must be able to take direction and criticism professionally.
• Able to work in fast paced work environment with minimal supervision;
• Ability to work in a team and able to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of situations and with various individuals and groups.
• Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives, adapting one’s approach as the requirements of a situation change.
• Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Effectively respond to pressure or crisis situations and acts proactively and follow through on ideas, assignments, and open issues.
• Optimism, cheerfulness and an interest in other people.