Save the Children recrute 01 Program Finance Officer
Role purpose
The West and Central Africa Region has a Regional Office (RO) in Dakar. The primary role of the RO is to support and build the capacity of nine Country Offices across the region. The RO is also a small business unit in itself and as such receives funds from SCI and Donors to run both oversight related operations as well as regional programmes. The RO will need back-office support to assure proper use and management of these funds; the Program Finance Officer supports the financial operations of the RO.
The Program Finance Officer will work as part of the WCA Regional Finance Team and his/her primary function is acting as Finance point person for the regional office implementing partners and awards financial management. The Program Finance Officer contributes to the implementation of the policies and procedures and ensures that controls and procedures for Regional awards and partners are implemented. The post holder also takes on some tasks of the Program Finance Coordinator and the other finance staff during their absences. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
Scope of role
Reports to: Program Finance Coordinator
Number of direct reports: None
Role Dimensions: The SCI WCA Regional Office has overall annual expenditure of around $10m, with $4m for the core work of the RO (overseeing the work of 9 Country Offices in the region) and $6m for the programmes implemented by the RO. The Program Finance Officer will be concerned with financial management of around $3m of these programmes.
Annual Gross Salary Level : XOF12,000,000 – XOF16,000,000 (offer will be based on experience/internal equity and financial ability).
Key areas of accountability
Financial management
- Monitoring transactions for accuracy
- Work with the budget holders to ensure accurate budget phasing are done and loaded in the finance system.
- Ensure adherence to Save the Children global policies and essential standards in relation to finance processes and procedures.
Award Management
- Work closely with business development team to establish and consolidate any regional proposal budget
- Prepare monthly Budget versus Actual reports (BVAs) for budget holders for awards, discussing and agreeing actions with budget holders
- Process the reallocation of expenses as required by the budget holders.
- Undertake any financial actions needed before closure of awards
- Flag any unspent award at least three months before closing date
- Flag and prepare any adjustment needed on transactions
- Continually improve compliance with donor regulations and flag any exceptions with management
- Actively assist Program Finance Coordinator to gather necessary information for Master Budget and Forecasts
- Prepare Regional Awards financial reports for donors
Partner Management
- Review partners expenses and follow up to obtain any missing document and clarification
- Reconcile partner accounts
- Maintain up-to-date, accurate and complete paper files of all awards and partners documents.
- Perform partners monitoring visits and trainings
Audit
- Ensure regional awards are ready for audits
- Gather documentation for audits and liaise with auditors as required
Others
- Undergo short remote secondments to Country Offices in the region to assist with financial duties related to programs
- Perform other relevant Save the Children duties as assigned by the supervisor
Behaviours (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to
- deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and
- applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
- sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
- widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
- builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
- values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
- develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
Qualifications and experience
- Qualified accountant CPA or ACCA and a degree in business related subjects
- 2 to 4 years’ experience at Finance Officer level with an INGO or similar institution
- Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, and cost control principles including Generally Accepted
- Accounting Principles. Knowledge of automated financial and accounting reporting systems.
- Ability to analyse financial data and prepare financial reports, statements and projections
- A high level of written and verbal communication in English and French and interpersonal skills.
- Proven knowledge and experience of computer use (MS-Excel, PowerPoint & MS-Word), preferably with accounting package Agresso.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
Closing date: 15 Dec 2022 – 23:59 GMT.