Base Finance Manager (Maternity Cover)

Country Office: Ethiopia

Work Base:   Gambella

Availability: As Soon As Possible

Salary Scale: EMS09

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.

Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others.

Summary of Position

Under the supervision of the Field Coordinator, the Base office Finance Manager is a focal person for timely Manage the field office’s accounting and verifying respective documents; Setting up monthly cash forecasts.

The Base Finance Manager role’s purpose, engagement, and delivery are:

Purpose (The substantive focus of the job encompassing scope, depth, and difficulty of work both conceptual and applied);

Objective 1: Provide accounting services for the field office

• Disseminating information about the accounting procedures of the field office and ensuring that these procedures are respected.

• The comprehensiveness and precision of entries and the correct budgetary charging of expenses.

• The correctness of cash stocks and bank accounts.

• Timely forwarding of accounting information to the capital.

• Checking and reviewing accounting entries.

• Providing information pertinent to the correct budgetary charging of expenses and monitoring budget entries.

• Verifying physical cash count.

• Preparing bank reconciliation.

• Archiving accounting documentation in accordance with ACF procedures

 Objective 2: Managing cash

• Implementing the Cash Management procedures in the field office and ensuring they are respected.

• The availability and safekeeping of the necessary cash.

• Authorizing and effecting payment for purchases falling within the monthly forecast of his/her field office.

• Providing the Head of Finance Department with information concerning the circumstances of the field office which may impact the process of cash management.

• Collecting and compiling monthly forecasts of each department.

• Receiving requests to commit expenses on a non-signed contract, checking that they are justified, and informing the Head of the Finance Department.

• As and when necessary, proposing the choice of banking establishments, checking their solvency and reliability, maintaining the relationship, following the opening and closing of accounts, and adding signatories according to ACF procedures.

• Approving the methods of payment of ongoing contracts for the field office and ensuring payment by the due date.

• Informing the Head of the Finance Department of any discrepancy between procurement requests and the monthly forecast 

• Objective 3: Leading financial management of the field office

• Maintaining budget projections on a monthly basis with the FC and PM of the field office and raising alerts if need be.

• Providing all necessary components for the establishment of the annual budget, proposals, and for feedback to funding bodies (audits, financial reports).

• Consolidating needs and costs in the field office financing plan.

• Warning the Head of Finance Department and Field Coordinator of financial risks.

• On a monthly basis adjust the budget projections taking into account the actual expenditures and future needs of the program in collaboration with the FC and PMs.

• Briefing of the FC, DFC, and program managers and experts about the existing budgets and budget projections.

• Validating the budget lines used for PRs raised at the field office.

• At the request of the Head of Finance Department, working on the annual budget and proposals with the field office's Program Managers and providing the Head of Finance Department with information relevant to the structural costs of the field office.

• Analyzing the consistency of cash forecast with the BFU and keeping the Head of Finance Department and Program Managers informed.

• In accordance with the structure of the financing plan, taking part in the process of allocating costs to certain donor contracts.

• Participating in the preparation of reports to funding bodies and in audits.

• Anticipating and monitoring financial risks (budget overspends, increased costs, lost invoices, lost deposits, etc) and keeping the Head of Finance Department and Field Coordinator informed of these.

Engagement: (The focus of interaction both internally and externally needed to deliver a service seek collaboration and build effective partnerships);

Objective 4: Setting in place and following up financial collaboration and coordination with mission partners;

• Analyzing the financial risks involved and formulating recommendations concerning the selection of partners.

• Implementing and monitoring the modes of financial management in the framework of joint projects.

• Establishing with the partner the financial and budgetary aspects of partnership conventions and agreements.

• Ensuring that the undertakings of ACF and its partners on financial and budgetary matters are respected.

• Playing a role in consolidating the capacities of partners where a need is identified.

• Taking full advantage at the field office level of all innovative practices in the field of financial and budgetary management in partnerships.

Delivery: (The focus on the execution of the work and the role of the team for supporting business/operational functions in terms of timeliness and quality);

Objective 5: Manage the Finance team in the field office;

• The day-to-day management of his/her team (guidance, follow-up, motivation…).

• Evaluating the performance and developing the skills of his/her team members.

• Defining the Human Resource needs of his/her area of activity and establishing the organizational chart of his/her team.

• Taking part in the recruitment of team members.

• Organizing and leading team meetings.

• Working out and monitoring individual action plans for team members.

• Managing the planning process, the sharing and coordination of tasks.

• Providing appraisal interviews for team members.

• Providing technical support to the teams.

• Identifying the training needs of team members.

• Creating, organizing, and leading training sessions.

• Managing difficulties in the team 

II. Supervisory Responsibilities

• Finance Officer/ Senior Finance officer and Field accountant

III. Gender Equality Commitments

• Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.

• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted field office on their skills and performance.

• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, or religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

• Value and respect all cultures.

IV. Fiscal Responsibility

• N/A 

V. Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

VI. Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.

• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

VII. Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• A higher degree in Accounting, business, or finance; Professional certification in Accounting or Finance would add an advantage.

• Minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in a finance or accounting management role for an NGO (accounting, cash, and budget management, knowledge of major donor guidelines, internal audit process).

• Experience in coaching and team building; Experience in communicating financial results to managers; Experience in managing & supporting staff.

VIII. Required Skills & Competencies

• Advanced skills in computers; Knowledge and experience of SAGA accounting software; Proactive; Professionalism, Good interpersonal skills, and very good knowledge of English; Skills in coaching, training, and developing staff. 

VX. Expected Qualities

• Professionalism

• Team Work, Proactive

• Motivational

• Autonomy

• Independence

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a Covering Letter with “Base Finance Manager (Maternity Cover)” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants to the following addresses:

Through CLICK HERE

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be communicated and the selection process includes a technical test and an interview.

Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an _attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment