Regional Finance Coordinator, SIDA at Save the Children

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Financial Planning and Budgeting:

• Coordinate the development of the annual CSO-Programme budgets in collaboration with the 5 CO Finance colleagues and RPU.
• Ensures that budgets are reviewed for consistency with the existing workplans.
• Lead the aggregation of the CSO - Programme budgets and financial information at ESA regional level.
• Responsible for the coordination of financial forecasts with programme teams in the region and give input and recommendations for decision-making on possible budget realignments for efficient budget utilisation.
• Lead and ensure that donor instructions are understood and followed by COs, to deliver robust programme budgets for the ESA region.

Financial Management and Technical Oversight:

• Provide ongoing finance support to the CSO-Programme implementing Country Offices.
• Lead the assessments of the programme’s CSO partners financial systems, policies and procedures as needed, as well as provide technical support to strengthen these systems as agreed with programmes.
• Performs quality control reviews of COs financial reports; follow up with CO finance to ensure that all issues raised during the review process are addressed.
• Monitors and ensure all COs financial operations are carried out according to SCI policies/procedures, accepted international accounting standards and within local laws and in line with the donor conditions.
• Responsible for budget review performance by each CO and highlight major deviations from the plans.
• Perform ad-hoc reviews of business processes to ensure effective and efficient flow of financial and business data into the accounting system, and in compliance with the Sida CSO funding principles.
• Focal contact person for all finance related issues for the CSO-Programme in the ESA Region.
• Undertake visits to Country to help ensure quality is maintained in all aspects of financial management.

Audits – Financial Compliance:

• Responsible for the planning, preparation and completion of CSO-Programme audits in line with the donor conditions whilst ensuring that all timelines are met.
• Provides clear audit guidelines for COs and implementing partners and the audit process expectations for the CSO-Programme
• Lead the establishment and management of documentation of audit processes in the region, including selection of auditors and approval of ToRs.
• Reviews reconciliation and consolidation of audit reports in preparation for submission to the member – SC Sweden.
• Reviews external audit management letter recommendations with CO Finance and monitor to ensure that outstanding audit management issues are resolved in a timely manner, updating management and internal controls unit on progress, both for SCI and partners within the programme.

Financial Reporting

• Responsible for the annual financial reporting process in collaboration with the COs Finance.
• Responsible for the aggregation of financial reports at a regional level as necessary.
• Review and analyse the financial data from COs to ensure that the reports are accurate and complete.
• Consolidation and timely submission of the COs financial reports to the member – SC Sweden.
• Ensure the narrative report speaks to the financial reports in terms of implementation and programme achievements.

Capacity Building:

• Identifies COs and programme partners staff training needs and address the financial training needs by conducting such training or finding alternative resources for such trainings.
• Lead the development of COs staff and partners to increase their competence in preparation of donor financial reports & audit reports in line with donor reporting requirements.

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
• communicates effectively; able to inform, influence, inspire, motivate & learn
• 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
• takes initiative; be proactive, finds opportunities for improvement, voices ideas, adaptive
• willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Relevant university degree (BSc. In Finance & Accounting, Bachelor of Commerce, Business Administration etc.)

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in finance field plus financial qualification (ACCA, CPA, etc)
• At least 5 years of experience at a senior finance or controlling role,
• Significant experience in non-profit accounting, including grant accounting, internal controls, compliance, and financial reporting and analysis.
• Experience in financial audits in various countries is a strong advantage.
• Experience with budgeting and forecasting process, budget holders and budget monitoring.
• Experience in training and capacity building of local staff.
• Experience with due diligence and managing implementing partners.
• Experience working with at least 3 different countries in Africa.
• Highly developed interpersonal and English communication skills including influencing and negotiation.
• Ability to work well with a team and establish relationships with other teams/offices.

Other Requirements:

• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Team player with a positive attitude, excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able to work in culturally diverse teams
• Advanced Excel skills