Manager, International Business Finance at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya

We are recruiting the role of Manager, International Business Finance for our International Secretariat to help us achieve our ambitious goals, and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.

Work percentage: 100%

Contract type: Open-ended global contract

Mission of the Department:

To ensure the effective management and control of finances through timely and accurate financial planning, budgeting, accounting and reporting; to ensure compliance with Swiss legal requirements as a result of head office location. To provide guidance and support to the NET, the Network and Practice Leaders on finance related matters. Leads and steers the Finance Community of Practice and provides best practice guidance and specialist financial support to Network finance practitioners.

The Role:

Conducts budgeting for the Regional, Programme and Country Offices (PO/COs).

Manages forecasting and writes reports to support decision making around budgeting.

Main responsibilities:

Supporting R, P&COs in sound financial management

• Supports R, P&COs to prepare high-quality annual budgets for projects and core office costs, incorporating adequate cost recovery;
• Ensures the review and final approval of annual budgets by the relevant supervisory body;
• Supports the R, P&COs to regularly monitor performance against budget and prepare quarterly forecasts;
• Identifies needs for training of key R, P&CO staff and develops and implements coaching and training programmes for key staff;
• Coordinates the quarterly review of performance against KPIs and escalates issues of inadequate budgetary control to the appropriate supervisory body.

Systems and tools

• Maintains the standardised systems or tools to support budgeting, forecasting and aggregation and analysis of budget information;
• Depending on the needs and budgets available, leads the design, development, and roll-out of systems and/or tools.
• Supports the development of financial Modelling tools for R, P&CO staff.
• Provides technical support to Regional and Country teams to optimise the budget tools and or systems.

Aggregation, analysis and reporting

• Coordinates the budgeting process for R, P & COs including developing of Budget guidelines and the periodic collection (quarterly or six-monthly) of budgeting and forecasting information from the R,P&COs;
• Prepares analytical reports highlighting important trends for senior management and the Board.

Other

• Perform other duties at the request of the Director, Global PO Finance.

Required Qualifications

• At least 8 years of financial and accounting experience is essential;
• Accounting certification, e.g. ACCA, CPA, or advanced degree in international business or finance, e.g., MBA;
• At least 4 years of management experience, with a proven track record in supervising and working with multi-cultural and decentralised teams;
• Strong knowledge of financial issues, including financial reporting, controls, and budgeting;
• Experience with implementing new processes and systems;
• Experience in an organisation supporting decentralised international offices and institutions;
• Strong international exposure, in particular in developing countries;
• Prior NGO experience an advantage;
• Knowledge of the WWF Network an advantage.  

Required Skills and Competencies 

• Strong knowledge of financial management, reporting and accounting, and related controls;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• High degree of accountability and commitment to excellence;
• Strong project management and operational skills, as well as a well-organised approach to work;
• Ability to train others and explain complex concepts in a simple manner;
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to interact with and influence senior management staff in POs and relevant staff in different functional areas in a positive manner;
• Experience with and a good understanding of operating in different cultural environments;
• Ability to drive change and high performance;
• Decisive, proactive, collaborative and an excellent communicator;
• Excellent written and spoken English and good knowledge of French;
• Sophisticated knowledge of Excel and experience working with Oracle an advantage
• Passion and commitment for conservation and sustainable development
• Demonstrates WWF behaviours in ways of working: strive for impact, listen deeply, collaborate openly and innovate fearlessly.

Working Relationships:

Internal:

1. Works with R,P&CO Finance Directors to achieve financial objectives;
2. Interacts frequently with units in the WWF International Secretariat that provide support to R,P&COs (e.g., Accounting, Project Finance, People and Organization Development, Network Performance & Evolution, Internal Audit);
3. WWF National Organizations.

External:

Less frequent contact with donors, external auditors and consultants. 

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.