Overview
The Head of Finance is responsible for finance administration, fiscal management, and financial reporting within the Country Office, contributing to overall country leadership and financial oversight.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to Country Leadership and organizational culture.
- Support the development and implementation of a coherent organizational structure.
- Ensure compliance with Save the Children Quality Standards and Standard Operating Procedures.
- Work closely with the Risk and compliance lead to flag global financial risks.
- Provide financial oversight using tools such as Master Budgets and forecast projections.
- Assist the Country Director in managing Country Office resources.
- Work with other Directors in developing plans to meet funding and programming needs.
- Identify and manage key financial risks and develop mitigation plans.
- Ensure correct budget authority exists within the Country Office.
- Manage financial aspects of budget development for new proposals.
- Ensure budget holders understand their responsibilities.
- Ensure sub-offices receive adequate support for efficient accounting systems.
- Manage Country Office financial systems and provide monthly budget variance analysis.
- Ensure systems are in place for control of assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities.
- Submit timely financial reports to centre, Regional Office, and donors.
- Ensure effective systems for financial management and control, including annual accounts, tax statements, accounting systems, cash management, expenditure procedures, and documentation of controls.
- Provide finance training for staff and partners as necessary.
- Monitor accurate and timely submission of financial reports to members, donors, and government regulatory agencies.
- Coordinate submission of control reports and respond to findings.
- Lead and participate in the development of finance policies and procedures.
- Coordinate and assist during internal or external audits.
- Prepare and review monthly financial reviews and submit to Regional Office.
- Monitor completion of quality financial reports for grants/contracts.
- Ensure proper accounting and closing of books.
- Coordinate the release of donor fund summaries.
- Provide guidance to staff on donor requirements.
- Work with budget holders to estimate fund requests.
- Ensure Country Office treasury operations are adequately managed.
- Develop sub-grantees/partners through training and capacity building.
- Ensure donor financial reports and narrative reports align.
- Ensure experienced and appropriate staffing within the finance team.
- Manage the finance team, define expectations, provide leadership, and evaluate reports.
- Ensure recruitment, training, and promotion of staff, and availability of professional development opportunities.
- Ensure adequate segregation of finance duties.
- Manage staff performance through the Performance Management System.
- Promote, uphold, and implement safeguarding and anti-fraud commitments.
- Integrate safeguarding and anti-fraud principles into decision-making and activities.
- Identify, analyze, and mitigate safeguarding and fraud risks.
- Report concerns or incidents related to data protection, fraud, corruption, or misconduct within 24 hours.
- Cooperate with internal incident management and investigation mechanisms.
- Complete mandatory training on safeguarding, fraud prevention, and ethical conduct.
- Contribute to building the capacity of colleagues and partners on safeguarding and anti-fraud measures.
- Promote the existence and accessibility of safe, inclusive, and context-appropriate complaint and feedback mechanisms.
Required Experience
- Minimum of 8 years management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment.
- Three years at a management level within the finance department of a national or international organization.
- Experience with recent experience working in an emergency context.
- Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling.
- Excellent analytical skills.
- Excellent experience of budgeting and budget management.
- Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures.
- Strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to strategic decisions.
- Excellent experience of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
- Experience of general administration work.
- Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines.
- Ability to build a small, proactive team, motivating staff and working collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary.
- Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies.
- A full appreciation of the value of co-operation, both internationally and within a team environment.
Qualifications
CPA or equivalent degree (CA, ACMA, ACCA) strongly recommended.
