Countries: Ethiopia, Kenya

Organization: American Friends Service Committee

Closing date: 28 Feb 2022

• The Africa Hub (a consortium of organizations lead by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)), seeks to hire an accomplished Finance Officer, to strengthen its work in the Horn of Africa region.
• The Horn of Africa is experiencing uncertainty characterized by civil instability, ecological extremes, economic stress, and prolonged humanitarian emergencies. There is political stagnation in some countries, and relapse into conflict and crises in others. Proxy wars and interstate tensions are, once again, the hallmark of regional politics. The vortex of superpower rivalry and competition around the Red Sea is also destabilizing the diplomatic consensus. Within this context, the Covid-19 pandemic, migrant locusts, and erratic ecology have layered over prevailing conditions, clouding the once optimistic outlook. No regional government or body, or continental and international multilateral agencies have succeeded in tempering these negative trends. In fact, many agencies appear to have been paralyzed by the crises. Lastly, misinformation, disinformation, and fake news have confounded attempts at establishing a credible account of the true extent of the dilemma.
• The Africa Hub intends to update its programming to make it consistent with anticipated and recent political and economic developments in the region. We are therefore hiring individuals who will help us better prepare for these regional trends. Below are the specifications:

The Finance Officer

• The Finance Officer will work closely with the Africa Regional Finance & Administration Manager, the Hub Director, and other finance officers from collaborating agencies and partners to ensure high degree of accountability and stewardship in the use of The Africa Hub finances and resources. The post holder will be based in Ethiopia, and be responsible for the following:
• Oversee and lead annual program budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the Regional Director and AFSC Africa Hub Director; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes; and keep senior leadership team abreast of the region’s financial status.
• Oversee and lead annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with BftW Consortium members; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes; and keep Consortium team members abreast of the Africa Hub’s financial status.
• Control the accounting of all Africa Hub related programs. Scrutinize all financial transactions and reporting related to the Africa Hub programs. Check accuracy and integrity of all general ledger reports and bank reconciliations before review and approval by the Hub Director.
• Analyze and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner. Provide the Regional Director, AFSC Africa Hub Director and/or program staff, monthly general ledger, asset reports and income and expenditure reports. Effectively communicate and present critical financial matters to the Hub Director and the Regional Finance and Administration Manager.
• Communicate monthly and annual financial statements; collate financial reporting materials for all donor segments, and oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting.
• Manage the monthly closing process for Account Payables and General Ledger for the office’s accounts within the region.
• Create and update and implement all necessary Ethiopia Office policies and accounting practices; improve the finance department’s overall policy and procedure manual.
• Support the process of developing internal accounting procedures and guidelines for the Africa Hub programs in conjunction with AFSC approved Global Accounting processes, review and amend changes when and if required, and monitor the adherence to those procedures and guidelines.
• Implement a robust contracts management and financial management/ reporting system; ensure that the contract billing schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.
• Manage AFSC Ethiopia office’s cash flow and forecasting. Manage the requests for fund transfers
• Coordinate and lead the program audit process, liaise with external auditors, and submit country finance audit for approval by the hub Director; assess any changes necessary.
• Support Philadelphia finance staff and consortium members with grant audits. The Finance Officer will be the main point of contact for donor (Bread for the World) program audits including planning, scheduling, managing timeline and deliverables. The FO will work closely with central office finance in delivering timely grant audits.
• Ensure that staff are aware of the AFSC rules and procedures for budget and accounting using the AFSC regional finance manual, and AFSC finance directives as a guide.
• Work closely with Africa Regional Controller Finance Analyst based in Philadelphia, AFSC Finance Department and Program Partner finance officers in the region to ensure high degree of accountability and stewardship in the use of AFSC money and resources.
• Support AFSC Africa Hub partner organizations to fulfil the financial management requirements of partnership with AFSC in collaboration with program directors/staff.
• Where applicable conduct field visits to support finance officers and managers in managing AFSC money and resources and carry out informal management and accounting audit as requested by the Regional Director.
• Ledger, asset reports and income and expenditure reports. Effectively communicate and present critical financial matters to the Hub Director and the Regional Finance and Administration Manager.
• Communicate monthly and annual financial statements; collate financial reporting materials for all donor segments, and oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting.
• Manage the monthly closing process for Account Payables and General Ledger for the office’s accounts within the region.
• Create and update and implement all necessary Ethiopia Office policies and accounting practices; improve the finance department’s overall policy and procedure manual.
• Support the process of developing internal accounting procedures and guidelines for the Africa Hub programs in conjunction with AFSC approved Global Accounting processes, review and amend changes when and if required, and monitor the adherence to those procedures and guidelines.
• Implement a robust contracts management and financial management/ reporting system; ensure that the contract billing schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.
• Manage AFSC Ethiopia office’s cash flow and forecasting. Manage the requests for fund transfers
• Coordinate and lead the program audit process, liaise with external auditors, and submit country finance audit for approval by the hub Director; assess any changes necessary.
• Support Philadelphia finance staff and consortium members with grant audits. The Finance Officer will be the main point of contact for donor (Bread for the World) program audits including planning, scheduling, managing timeline and deliverables. The FO will work closely with central office finance in delivering timely grant audits.
• Ensure that staff are aware of the AFSC rules and procedures for budget and accounting using the AFSC regional finance manual, and AFSC finance directives as a guide.
• Work closely with Africa Regional Controller Finance Analyst based in Philadelphia, AFSC Finance Department and Program Partner finance officers in the region to ensure high degree of accountability and stewardship in the use of AFSC money and resources.
• Support AFSC Africa Hub partner organizations to fulfil the financial management requirements of partnership with AFSC in collaboration with program directors/staff.
• Where applicable conduct field visits to support finance officers and managers in managing AFSC money and resources and carry out informal management and accounting audit as requested by the Regional Director.

Competence Required

• At least a bachelors’ degree in Finance or Administration; at least 5 years of experience in financial and office administration, with supervisory responsibilities
• Professional qualification of ACCA or equivalent
• Regional job or cross border experience – Africa region
• Must have demonstrated computer skills (PC/Windows) and database applications (MS office). Demonstrated experience with complex accounting package software, such as Microsoft Dynamics or similar software. High level of skill with Excel
• Good English writing, reporting and communication skills
• Knowledge of payroll, taxes, audits and public financial acts
• Experience with managing and overseeing accounting carried out in several currencies
• Proven records of integrity and ability in handling cash

How to apply

Applications materials should be sent via email to infoafrica@afsc.org to the attention of the Search Committee. NB: Applicants should share a motivation letter and a resume, including recent referees. All materials shall be in times new roman, single-spaced and in PDF. Subject headings should respectively be “HoA Finance Officer”. All applications should be received not later than 28th February 2022 at 5:00pm, East African Standard Time. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

The AFSC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.