Self Help Africa (SHA) is an international NGO, dedicated to the vision of an economically thriving and resilient rural Africa. SHA focuses on agriculture and agribusiness as the engine of growth in Africa. Our approach is collaborative and market-based: although we see our primary clients as smallholder farmers in Africa, we work with all participants in the agricultural value chain.

The Group also has social enterprise subsidiaries – TruTrade, which supports market access for small-holder farmers in the agricultural value-chain; Traidlinks, providing market-linkages to agri-business in East Africa; and Partner Africa, an ethical auditing and consultancy firm that operates across more than 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.  Self Help Africa is also the lead agency in the delivery of a schools national Development Education programme on behalf of the Irish government, WorldWise Global Schools. The Group has an ambitious five-year strategy with plans to double its scale by 2021 and the CIO will have a key part to play in that, with responsibility for: digital, data and information strategy; ICT governance, control and policy development; advising the SMT; and ensuring effective take-up by staff and partners of existing and future system investments.

Job Purpose:

The Finance Manager is responsible for the preparation of monthly management accounts, project income and expenditure statements, reports to donors and any other ad- hoc reports as required. The Finance Manager also plays a key role in the management of the relationships between Self Help Africa Ethiopia and the partner organisations we work with by providing accounting support and conducting regular monitoring and internal audit visits.

Key Responsibilities:

Country Programme Finance

• Responsible for the review and correction, where necessary, of the monthly trial balance ahead of the preparation of the monthly management accounts
• Responsible for the preparation of the monthly management accounts for approval by the HoFA in line with standard SHA procedures – includes monthly and year to date project and donor expenditure, bank reconciliations, income and expenditure account, and other necessary information;
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts every month including, but not limited to, the partner advance account, the staff advance account and payroll liabilities
• Assist the HoFA in the preparation of Annual Budgets and work plans for the Ethiopia Country Programme;
• Responsible for ensuring that all project budgets are mapped to appropriate PSF nominal accounts, including partner budgets;
• Approve expense settlement documentation after checking the accuracy and completeness of the documentation as well as the available budget;
• Perform a monthly review of individual project spend against budget using the project budget / donor format. In conjunction with the relevant Project staff, provide detailed explanations for variances;
• Prepare ad hoc project specific financial reports as required;
• Monitor and ensure partner expenditure is in line with agreed budgets - identify potential programme under or over-spends and liaise with HoFA and Head Office as to the required action needed;
• Responsible for the preparation of monthly cash flow projections;
• Assist the HoFA in the preparation of an annual schedule of partner monitoring visits and internal audits.
• Perform internal audits and conduct monitoring visits to partner organisations to ensure security and effective management of  funds advanced by SHA;
• Evaluate the internal control systems and conduct financial risk assessment of partners to identify areas requiring attention and improvement;
• Prepare monthly financial reporting template for use by partner organisations, which maps to PSF nominal accounts;
• Responsible for the review of the monthly financial reports and source documentation of partner organisations. Resolve any queries with partners as required;
• Approve partner expenditure reports for posting into PSF;
• Ensure that recommendations arising from the internal audit of, or monitoring visit to partners are followed up on and implemented in a timely manner;
• With support from the HoFA, assist in the management and coordination of annual audit for the country programme and project specific audit;
• Assist the HoFA in following up on and implementing all audit recommendations;
• Review the analysis of operational and administrative cost of Country Office as per Charities and Societies Agency rules and regulation quarterly;
• Review quarterly Regional Government finance reports as required;
• Perform any other duties as assigned by Head of Finance and Administration from time to time;

Operational Management

• Assist the HoFA in ensuring that procedures are adhered to by all staff in the country programme and assist in ensuring the efficient management of financial and other resources by partners;
• Ensure that reports are completed in accordance with deadlines;
• Assist the HoFA in the capacity building of programme and partner staff in financial management and budget monitoring;

Logistics/ Procurement / Assets Management

• Assist in the update and maintenance of the fixed asset register in Salesforce and the reconciliation of the same to PSF.
• Assist the HoFA in the procurement function and controlling of stock and stock management;
• Assist the Procurement Committee in the processing office procurements, ensuring that financial procedures are followed by the committee;
• Assist in ensuring compliance with all relevant donor financial regulations

Key Relationships:

Internal

• Country management team
• Ethiopia Financial Accountant and the country finance team
• Project Managers
• Programme Finance Manager HQ

External

• Government departments
• Banks, external auditors and other service providers

Contract Type

• Full Time Two Year Fixed Term

Reports to:

• Head of Finance and Administration

Qualifications/Knowledge and ExperienceQualifications/Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar position preferably in an INGO environment
• Internationally recognized Accounting Qualification (CA, ACA, CIMA, CPA)
• Strong technical abilities and up to date knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• Ability to bring accounts to at least Trial Balance stage
• Fluency in spoken and written English
• Strong ICT skills including Word, Excel, Microsoft office, accounting software and Salesforce
• Attention to detail and the ability to produce timely and accurate financial reports
• Experienced team player
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Self Help Africa

Desirable

• Experience in the preparation and review of management accounts and the critical analysis of a trial balance
• Experience in the preparation of annual financial statements for audit
• Willingness to travel nationally and internationally
• Experience of working with partner organisations
• Experience of working with donor funds
• Experience of management, training and supporting staff