Finance Manager, HoA Child Wasting Initiative

Job Title: Finance Manager, Horn of Africa, Child Wasting Initiative

Reports to: Coordinator, Programme Management Unit, HoA, Child Wasting Initiative

Closely Work with : The role will work closely with the programme management unit and will liaise with finance and programme staff in various country offices; with the Regional Accountant and the Dublin Financial Accountant in Dublin

Job Location: Nairobi, with substantial travel (at least 30%) within the region (Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Kenya at the time of application – National Position)

Contract Details: Fixed Term, Twelve (12) Months Contract

Job Summary

The person in this role will be a key part in supporting the implementation of the Horn of Africa Child Wasting Initiative (HoA CWI) in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

The Child Wasting Initiative, funded by Irish Aid, aims to i) address drivers and implications of wasting through a multi-sectoral programming approach; ii) support innovation in programming and partnerships, to prevent wasting; and iii) engage in active learning, contextual programme adaptation, and advocacy, to inform more effective local, national, and global wasting prevention strategies.

As part of the programme coordination unit, the Financial Accountant will coordinate the consolidated budgeting and reporting that is required under the grants, and support country teams to ensure consistent application of relevant finance and operations policies and procedures in respect of the grant and compliance with relevant donor regulations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Major Responsibilities, which are achieved through liaison with the finance, programmatic and systems (logistics and procurement) teams at both head office and with focal points of each country programme include the following:

• Manage the financial aspects of Concern’s role in delivering the multi-country, multi-year, multi-partner projects, in line with donor requirements and Concern’s policies and procedures.
• Support the country finance teams to ensure that financial management systems and records ensure the reliability of financial information and ensure compliance within the projects.
• Undertake periodic field visits in order to support country teams and put forward recommendations for improvements where appropriate.
• Review and monitor budgets of country programmes to promote efficient cost structures and value for money that meet the requirements of Irish Aid in coordination with the Concern Country Financial Controllers, Regional Accountants and operational Managers.
• Support the country finance teams to maintain adequate filings system for all financial and accounting deliverables to ensure ease of access during internal/external audit relating to donor.
• Support the country finance teams to ensure there are adequate back-up systems to protect the integrity of data relating to CWI programme.
• Keep up to date with donor regulations and ensure that all controls are in place to meet donor compliance.
• Organise finance meetings and workshops as may prove necessary to standardise financial procedures, to address financial and compliance issues that arise and communicate the outcomes of such meetings.
• Consolidate financial reporting and budgeting of country programmes and the management unit in a timely manner and up to a high standard, ensuring donor reporting deadlines are met
• Monitor budget utilisation of the management unit and country programmes through regular financial reporting and take appropriate action on any significant variances.
• Maintain accounting records for the programme management unit, including the management of timesheets as required.
• Provide financial analysis where necessary especially on maximising available funds and value for money.
• Monitor fixed assets register of all assets acquired with relevant donor funding and in conjunction with the country programmes, ensure timely reporting, proper tracking and disposal procedure as per the grant agreement.
• Actively participate in management unit meetings and be proactively involved in the decision-making processes.
• Undertake other appropriate duties as required.

Others

• Adhere to and promote the standards outlined in the Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies to their team, beneficiaries, and be committed to providing a safe working environment
• Participating and contributing towards Concern’s emergency response, as and when necessary
• Take all possible measure to meet Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS)
• Any other duties as assigned by the line manager

Person Specification

Minimum Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:

• A degree in business or finance with professional accounting qualification – e.g. ACCA, CIMA, CPA(K) or equivalent qualification;
• Minimum of 5 years post qualification experience in a finance/accounting role in the International NGO sector
• Excellent written and spoken English languages skills;
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, communication and organisation skills;
• Strong coordination/negotiation skills specifically with the ability to effectively coordinate among country programme teams;
• Computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Office programmes particularly Excel as well accounting packages and other database competencies;
• Proven experience of conducting training for finance and non-finance managers;
• Good organisational and time management skills;
• Experience in managing multiple budgets.

Competencies required:

• Managing yourself

  Awareness of your own abilities and uses abilities to work well with others to achieve your work and Concern’s.

• Individual leadership

  Inspire others by clearly articulating and demonstrating the Concern’s values and principles supports others to achieve excellent results.

• Communicating and working with others

  Proactively and effectively share information with others. Works effectively with others to achieve best results from.

• Delivering results

  Delivers on commitments; uses appropriate techniques to help achieve agreed objectives.

• Planning and decision-making

  Systematically work towards achieving objectives; informed and timely decisions (appropriate to role), to achieve work objectives.

• Creativity and innovation

  Continual improvement by developing and implementing new ideas for effective and efficient progress towards the agreed objectives

• Influence, advocacy and networking

Engages effectively with others inside and outside the organisation as relevant to achieve agreed objectives

Safeguarding at Concern: Code of Conduct and its Associated Policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a consultancy opportunity with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their consultancy contract. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to do consultancy work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, being hired as a consultant with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Concern’ is the trading name of ‘Concern Worldwide’, a company limited by guarantee, registered number 39647; registered charity number CHY 5745, registered in Ireland, registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Follow Concern online: www.concern.net