Finance Manager at Save the Children

The position holder will provide overall leadership for the Financial Accounts function within the programme, and partly support the budgeting and Reporting function. He/She will be responsible for ensuring best in class financial controls and management for the programme– including capacity buiding; implementing efficient & effective processes; improving and ensuring compliance with internal control systems. The project aims to improve children’s holistic learning and wellbeing through strengthening of the quality and equity of the teacher professional development system in refugee hosting counties in Kenya, while also being responsive to learning environments, especially catering to teachers’ and children’s needs as shocks and stressors arise.

Contract Duration: 5years

Reports to: Project Director

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Financial systems and procedures

• Leads in ensuring smooth implementation and updating of robust and adequate financial systems and procedures in line with SCIs finance Policy and good accounting practices
• Develop and update the finance diary that covers all the required activities on a monthly basis and lead staff to ensure that the diary is strictly adhered to.
• Ensure that all financial transactions are fully supported and that they are all captured in AGRESSO on a daily basis; make sure that regular backups are taken and stored off site.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial diaries for both AGRESSO and sub-office finance systems and ensure its strict adherence to the HQ deadlines
• Maintain and ensure the integrity of the SCI’ computerized accounting systems and liaising with Regional Finance Team for any required support

Financial records and transactions

• Carry out sensibility and control checking before and after posting sub-office transactions into AGRESSO.
• Follow up HQ transactions from London and make sure that all are processed in the time and accurately.

Financial reports

• Responsible for timely, accurate and efficient financial reporting (both electronic and manual field returns) to head office
• Responsible for ensuring that reconciliation of balance sheet/control accounts are carried out on monthly basis and ensuring that year-end accounting procedure are met consistently and that any discrepancies are reported to the Project Director and Head Of Finance.

Financial and system controls

• Ensure safe security of cash in the office and coordinate weekly and monthly cash counts, including spot counts
• Ensure that systems are put in place to assure document security for a complete audit trail from the AGRESSO records to supporting documentation and vice versa.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of all Save the Children resources in order to keep costs low and ensure the security of staff.
• Ensure payroll is completed on time and accurately, with robust controls in place.

Financial Planning and Reporting

• Work with the senior financial planning and reporting Coordinator to ensure that effective systems are in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and controls in budgeting and reporting unit.
• Support the SFP&RC with smooth implementation of SCI financial management and budgeting policies and procedures
• Provide support in preparing proposal budget and review processes, ensuring all staffing and office shared cost is budgeted
• Coordinate and train field offices finance and non finance staffs to budget accurately their operational costs and provide their budgets timely for consolidation
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of awards financial reports as per donor requirement to awards unit and government regulatory agencies
• Keep track of all staffing and non-thematic office cost operation required budget and gap, track and identify underspend/overspend in time, monitor patterns if any and flag early on for the team to course correct

Audit function

• Support the Country office finance Manager on annual statutory audits and the financial component of donor audits. Key focus on proactive financial controls, management and supporting documentation in order to ensure 0 disallowances.
• Keep track of donor specific audit requirements and coordinate closely with awards to initiate required audits on time.
• Lead in managing project audit process with External Auditors ensuring smooth audit and provide all documents required by Auditors as and when needed
• Ensure proper soft and hard archiving system is in place in finance as per SCI policies and procedures
• Plan and conduct internal audits for all Sub recipients and field offices with the coordination of the Internal Auditor
• Participate in Audit Entry and Exit meetings and ensure recommendations have implemented before the next audit.

Staff Leadership, Mentorship, and Development

• Ensure appropriate staffing and efficient & effective organisation design within the Kenya Devolution project
• Ensure that all staff understand and are empowered to perform their role.
• Manage team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly.
• Recruitment, training, and professional development of team as part of the wider staff development strategy. 
• Performance Management :
  • Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives; ongoing feedback; periodic reviews; and fair and unbiased evaluations;
  • Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
  • Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
  • Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans 

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
• Values diversity sees it as a source of competitive strength.

• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years management experience in a corporate, audit firm or an NGO environment, of which three at a middle management level within a finance department
• Strategic mind-set with the ability to lead, inspire and achieve results in a challenging context
• Strong team player
• Excellent inter-personal skills and able to communicate with diverse set of stakeholders
• Strong analytical, decision making and strategic planning skills with the ability articulate complex information in an easy to understand manner
• Solutions focused with ability to identify weaknesses and drive continuous improvement
• Ability to prioritise, plan ahead, and manage a complex and diverse workload with tight deadlines
• Ability to coach, mentor, delegate appropriately and provide developmental guidance to supervised staff.
• Self starter who is willing to go the extra mile to get the job done
• Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling.
• Excellent understanding of financial systems, controls and procedures.
• Excellent understanding of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• A full appreciation of the value of co-operation, both internationally and within a team environment.
• Understanding of Save the Children’s vision and mission and a commitment to its objectives and values.

Desirable

• 4 years within the NGO / charities sector or Audit firm
• Experience of working in a development and/or emergency context.
• Understanding of major donor compliance regulations (LEGO, USAID, FCDO, ECHO etc