Pact seeks a Finance and Administration Manager for the anticipated USAID-funded Gir’Ijambo (Have a Say) Activity, an Associate Award under the Civil Society and Media-Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) Africa & Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement. This five-year activity will focus on strengthening civil society organizations’ (CSOs) institutional capacity and sustainability, issue small grants to select CSOs to carry out advocacy work, and support the formation and bolster existing CSO networks. The activity will focus on four separate priorities and will target youth and women CSOs engaged in human rights, individual freedoms, governance, justice, and reconciliation: (1) support capacity strengthening and issue sub-grants to local organizations engaged in civic education and advocacy for positive political engagement; (2) strengthen CSOs dedicated to promoting accountable, transparent, and responsive governance; (3) respond to trafficking in persons (TIP) and other human rights issues; and (4) support livelihood opportunities for women and youth members of select CSOs.
The position will be based in Bujumbura, Burundi and report to the Chief of Party. This is a Burundi-based local position open to Burundian nationals and individuals with legal authorization to work in Burundi without employer sponsorship. This position is contingent upon award.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management
- Manage all aspects of project finance, accounting functions, and compliance with all donor requirements.
- Assist with project financial planning responsibilities, including ensuring alignment and compliance of the budget, to expected results and ensuring cost-effective use of USAID’s and Pact’s resources.
- Manage the budget, track project spending, and prepare financial reports for submission to USAID.
- Manage VAT exemption and reimbursement process with USAID and Burundi government.
- Ensure funds expended are compliant with US government regulations and policies.
- Initiate, develop, maintain, and revise policies and procedures for the general operation of the finance and compliance program and its related activities.
- Support sub-recipients’ in addressing challenges related to receiving project funds, while mitigating risk, and coordinating closely with Pact DC’s finance team accordingly.
- Along with Project Team, support sub-recipients to meet cost share commitments.
- Identify potential areas of financial and compliance vulnerability and risk and develop or implement corrective action plans to resolve problematic issues.
- Implement fraud mitigation practices and ensure systems and processes are implemented effectively to support implementation of the award.
- Ensure proper financial documentation and reporting, establish and provide direction and management of project funds.
- Analyze financial data with attention to the impact of adaptation on programming.
- Conduct training/orientation for other personnel as needed on efficient, effective financial and internal control systems, budget analysis, policy and procedure awareness, and compliance.
- Ensure that corrective action plans approved by the DC office in response to external or internal audits and other monitoring reviews are implemented as planned and scheduled.
- Ensure financial records organization, retention, and security.
- Experience supervising staff and providing professional growth mentorship preferred.
Administrative Management
- Serve as one of the key representatives to USAID to ensure that the activity conforms to the donor financial and auditing requirements.
- Act as a liaison to and ensure effective relationships with relevant donors, Burundian government authorities, sub-partners, grantees and other key stakeholders ensuring strong cooperation and collaboration.
- Ensure that the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality are maintained.
- Comply with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
- Manage HR, IT, and other adminstrative aspects of the project.
Basic Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or other relevant field and 7+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, including 7 years of accounting, operations, and financial management of large-scale, complex, international development assistance programs in developing countries, and 3 years of management experience
- A minimum of seven (7) years of experience overseeing administrative, financial, and reporting management of a USAID-funded activity, preferably around democracy and governance activities.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of U.S. Government financial rules and regulations, particularly financial reporting and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated experience managing VAT reimbursement process for a USAID-funded project within Burundi
- Knowledge of U.S. government references including OMB Circulars (e.g., A-122), 22 CFR 226 and 22 CFR 228, ADS, FAR, AIDAR, CAS, FFATA, DSSR, and FTR.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience, interpersonal skills, and team-building experience.
- Demonstrable experience managing grants, contracts or other mechanisms that allow projects to seamlessly change course in response to new information.
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in developing and managing large budgets, including proficiency in relevant computer applications and databases.
- Professional working proficiency in English and French; fluency in Kirundi.
- Expertise and experience in two or more areas: operations, procurement, human resources, logistics, or IT.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with accounting software such as Serenic, Navigator, ERPs, ACCPAC, and others.
- Experience working with civil society organizations or media actors in Burundi and/or in the Great Lakes Region
- Ability to travel within Burundi or internationally as may be required.