and Grants
As per VSO grades
Permanent
Full Time, 35 hours per week
About VSO
VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organization
that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our
high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build
capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives
and make the world a fairer place.
Role overview
1. Be the lead reference point on all financial matters in the Country Office,
including formulating financial strategic direction and supporting the Country
Director to assess implications of financial issues in the short and long term.
Contribute to the development of the strategic plan for the Country Office and
develop and maintain appropriate and effective financial strategies, plans and
policies to support the strategic plan.
2. Provide solid leadership and oversight of the team – guiding them through
the department’s operational work plan, ensuring important deadlines are met,
with proper resource planning and regular 1:1 meetings – keeping abreast with
all department activities.
3. Ensure internal control environment is robust enough to deter or detect any
fraudulent attempts/occurrences and suggest any further control mechanisms to
bridge any gaps.
4. Ensure the global finance policies have been adopted locally and made
context-relevant. Design a mechanism of ensuring all staff acquire knowledge of
these policies and procedures and ensure compliance by all.
5. Play a leading role in ensuring effective Grant management – including
handling partnerships at all levels.
6. Audits – Take a lead on all audits (internal, external or donor project
specific) conducted at the country office; ensuring all required information is
provided on a timely basis and that documentation provided is good quality.
7. Lead a robust annual planning process that involves all stakeholders, ensuring
that budgets are phased appropriately and effectively monitored on a quarterly
basis.
8. Produce high quality monthly management reports for Programme staff and SMT,
proactively advising on any variances.
9. Ensure effective development and review of proposal budgets, bearing in mind
cost recovery of staff costs, office costs, regional costs and overheads at
agreed rates.
10. Support capacity building for the finance staff to ensure they grow and
develop in all financial management areas, especially reporting both internally
and externally. Keep the non-finance staff updated – mainly on Grant management
and Donor Compliance specifics (as per Grant management guidelines)
11. As part of the Global Finance team, be prepared to engage with other team
members and positively contribute to various initiatives for continuous
improvement of finance systems, policies and processes.
12. Lead and guide the Grants Manager in ensuring assessment of partners’
financial management ability and support in building their capacity to
appropriate develop internal control systems.
13. Develop and implement procedures for assessing the value for money that VSO
obtains in all its activities to identify cost savings and ensure financial
efficiency and value for money principles are an integral part of the Country
Programme activities.
14. Provide leadership in monitoring and reporting on financial risks;
supporting and influencing senior management team to monitor all operational
financial risks.
15. Maintain up to date knowledge of financial legislation and good practice to
ensure that the Country Programme complies with all legal requirements and
proactively stays at the forefront of financial management practice.
Skills, qualifications and experience required
Essential:
.Technical Accounting Expertise – Fully Qualified Accountant: Certified Public
Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Accountant (ACCA) license with strong technical
accounting skills. Skilled finance manager with knowledge of financial
management of restricted donor funding, reporting, procurement procedure, grant
management, grant equipment and donor rules and regulations for non-profit
organizations.
Experience of capacity building, demonstrating clear results.
Experience of working in multiple foreign currencies and understanding of
foreign exchange hedging.
Strong leadership experience in budget management (including project budgets),
financial planning and analysis. Strong knowledge of internal financial
controls and year-end procedure. Knowledge of Internal, External and Project
Audit. Strong attention to detail.
.Communication and Influencing Skills – Strong written and verbal communication
skills – able to listen, analyze, present, consult, negotiate with confidence
and obtain stakeholder engagement. Able to communicate complex financial
information effectively to wide range of audiences. Experience of remote and
cross-cultural communication, demonstrating sensitivity to cultural and
language differences.
. Financial Business Partnering – Service oriented, customer focused approach.
Experience of working in and understanding a global organization, using
knowledge to analyze and interpret financial information to support management.
. Risk Management – Experience of identifying and analyzing financial risks.
. Decision Making and planning – Capacity for inquiry, research, logical and
analytical thinking, powers of reasoning and critical analysis. Able to
demonstrate sound judgement and a solution-focused approach, solving
unstructured issues in unfamiliar settings. Able to consider implications of
professional value, ethics and attitudes to decision making. Able to plan,
juggle complex multiple priorities within restricted resources.
. Financial and IT Systems – Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office, Excel
particularly. Use of SUN accounting software and reporting packages.
. Customer Service – Experience of managing internal or externally focused
customer services
Human Resources Management – Understanding and experience of organizational
development and promoting high level of performance within the organization
. Values – a commitment to VSO’s work and values
. Desirable – Kinyarwanda language or one of the ethnic languages from Rwanda.
The Country Director has confidence in the financial management system and can
rely on information provided to make meaningful strategic decisions for the
Country Office.
The Country office strategic plan is supported by solid and appropriate
financial strategies, plans and policies.
Finance department operational work plan is in place and all finance staff are
clear of their roles and responsibilities; and there’s efficient planning of
resources to meet CO needs at all times.
Internal controls are in place, in line with global financial management
policies and procedures. In particular; appropriate and relevant signatory
limits are set and maintained within the Country Office.
Global financial management policies, procedures and fund requirements are
strictly applied and compliant with local laws. Manuals with procedures are up
to date and changes communicated to all.
Grant files in order, Donor compliance specifics known and adhered to by all
staff, reporting calendar is up and running, Donor reporting deadlines are met
and there’s timely invoicing plus follow up of income due to VSO on a timely
basis.
Audit requirements are met. Results of evaluations/audits, issues arising, etc
are shared with CD and respective team members for learning and implementation
of recommendations undertaken within appropriate timeframe.
Annual budgets and re-forecasts are produced in line with global timetable and
formats. Budgets are monitored monthly and actions taken to address variances
within overall budget limits.
Variances on restricted funding are discussed and agreed with the donor in line
with agreed contract conditions.
Proposal budgeting effectively done, with prices reflective of CO market
conditions, PTC prepared at expected standard and well translated onto donor
format.
Finance staff feel supported and can demonstrate growth in several areas of
financial management.
Both Finance and Programme staff are clear of expectations from each party at
each stage of the grant management process.
Agile and dedicated team member, adding value to the overall VSO finance
function.
Partners/Sub-grantee financial management capacity is built, there’s a
timetable for all to report on time, they are all aware of their respective
donor compliance specifics and Partner advance accounts are reconciled every
month.
Value for money tracked and reported. Cost savings identified and VFM
principles are evident in all budgeting & expenditure for the CO.
Design risk assessment tests to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the
systems in place as well as compliance to laid procedures and prepare listing
of findings and risk/implications, recommendations as well as management
responses.
Regular Compliance reviews conducted and good practice emphasised to the team
at all times.
How to apply
If you’re interested in applying for this role, please download the job
description to read more details about the position and the skills and
experience we’re looking for.
on the link below http://vso.force.com/jobopportunities/Job_DetailsPage?jid=a0mD000000Aidr6IAB
and complete all relevant fields on the online application form then submit the
application.
Application closing date
03 Dec 2015
Interview/Assessment date(s)
To be confirmed
Start date
4th, January 2016
