Regional Finance Director at Action Against Hunger International

Summary of position

As a member of Action Against Hunger USA’s Regional Office for the Horn and East Africa (HEARO) team, the Regional Finance Director, is responsible for the regional leadership, management and oversight of our financial infrastructure. This includes ensuring sound financial systems within the region, managing the regional finance team, strengthening and maintaining financial reporting tools for the regional portfolio, as well as developing regional finance and grant broader team capacity to deliver and promote excellence and sustained growth.

The Regional Finance Director reports to ACF USA’s Chief Financial Officer works closely with the Regional Director and the Director of Award Management and Compliance.

Purpose:

• Provides strategic financial management leadership and oversight for the Horn and East Africa, including guidance and support towards regional and country finance teams, to facilitate organizational growth while ensuring compliance and guarding against risk.
• Ensures compliance with funding agency regulations, timely addresses compliance issues, prepares and/ or oversees the preparation of reports required by Action Against Hunger and its donor agencies (USAID, EU, ECHO, UN, etc.)

Engagement

• Collaborates with the Action Against Hunger USA’s Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller, Award Management and Compliance Unit, US and country finance teams to provide regular, accurate financial data and analysis to steer decision making as well as provide support in annual budgeting and planning processes.
• Regularly assesses country financial management capacity, identifying opportunities for improvements and providing targeted support, training and coaching to achieve financial management operational excellence.

Delivery:

• Ensures the optimal use of ACF USA financial management systems, identifies opportunities for improvements and efficiency gains, and works with relevant stakeholders to implement these.
• Provides and, through the HEARO Finance and Global Grants Team, facilitates high quality support, communications, and training in finance management to the country office colleagues.
• Strengthens Action Against Hunger USA’s policies and procedures, internal control compliance checks for finance management in line with corporate requirements, donor requirements and based on learning and consultation.
• Leads on the provision of quality and accurate financial management data and analysis to support decision making at different levels.

Essential Job Duties

• Oversees the implementation and review of financial policies and procedures, processes and systems, at the regional level in line with Action Against Hunger USA’s requirements.
• Ensures country and regional offices’ financial operations are effectively managed.
• Ensures the financial management of our grant portfolio, including the collection of outstanding donor receivable balances.
• Collaborates with country offices on the submission of semi-monthly funding requests in line with award budgets and available organization working capital.
• Reviews and reconciles financial reports from Action Against Hunger USA’s country offices, ensuring the appropriate use of resources (including cash management, assets utilization, etc.).
• Supervises the integration of quality country and regional financial data into the Action Against Hunger USA’s financial systems and ensures these systems are used to their maximum potential.
• Co-leads with the Chief Financial Officer the annual country finance workshops.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises three (3) Regional Finance Specialists and coordinates with the Senior Regional Finance Specialist ensuring that they have the necessary technical knowledge and skills – organizing and implementing coaching and training as needed, both for individuals and the entire team. Delivers scheduled Performance Appraisals for all direct reports.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Works closely with the US office, including the Finance team, and the Senior Regional Finance Specialist to provide regular reporting in line with organizational financial and grant management policies and procedures.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• Prepares and administers the annual budget and financial report for the regional and country offices.

Gender Equality commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

• Foster an environment that reinforces values of people of all genders equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
• Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

 Physical demands

• To travel to Action Against Hunger’s areas of operations, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/ or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting or related field, CPA/MBA preferred
• At least 5 years’ progressive experience in an international humanitarian and/ or development organization. A minimum of four years in a supervisory role, with a preference for experience in financial management in a country and/ or regional position.

Required Skills & Experience

• Excellent English oral and written verbal communication skills including ability to explain organizational policies & procedures and producing of timely, comprehensive and well-written documents.
• Strong networking, influencing and liaison skills and ability to interact with Action Against Hunger colleagues from various seniority levels as well as external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, maintain and manage relationships with various internal and external stakeholders, and proven ability to successfully manage, coach and mentor others.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including an ability to plan for multiple priorities, and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances; and flexible approach/ willingness to take on additional tasks.
• Demonstrated experience and/or personal commitment to promoting gender equality within the humanitarian and/or development work.
• Significant experience with business and financial systems, Microsoft Office applications including Excel, as well as database and data visualization software is essential.
• Demonstrable experience and skill with budget preparation, monitoring and analysis, financial reporting, and proven ability to translate technical financial data for non-specialist audiences and into informative reports to support and steer decision making and risk management.