Country Finance Manager – National Vacancy 288 views0 applications

The Organization:

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

The Opportunity:
This position will undertake a senior internal and external representation on finance side with key stakeholders. The CFM will be a leading member of the Country Leadership Team (CLT) and provides high-level strategic leadership in finance to the office as a whole, working collaboratively with other CLT members. The post holder leads the implementation Plan Egypt’s financial management and solidify financial processes and systems in the country in line with Plan’s global financial policies and procedures & other industry best practices.

Dimensions of the Role

• Has a country wide financial management responsibility and reports to the Country Director and matrix managed by the Regional Finance Manager (Plan RESA/MER)
• Leadership, management and development of in country finance staff
• Leads the financial services provided within Plan Egypt which has an estimated annual budget of EUR 11 Million
• Has a delegated authority of EUR 150,000 to approve Program Outlines and payments.
• A member of Country Leadership Team (CLT) and advises the CLT on financial and risk management related issues on country initiatives
• Representation of Plan, its work and its values within country forums/networks or conferences as appropriate.
• In consultation with the CD, lead Plan Egypt’s engagement on regional and global finance related initiatives.
• Hold responsibility for the overall management of all areas related to finance, budgetary management and oversight, and contracts.Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position

  Oversight and development of an excellent and high performing finance team within the country

• Recruiting, developing and retaining competent finance staff
• Developing and implementing learning & development plans for the finance team in line with Plan’s talent management systems and processes.
• Manage and support in country finance networks for continuous learning and improvement
• Leading regular meetings of the country finance management team. further, holding periodic meetings with the wider finance team members including those at the Program Units
• Ensuring performance management of all finance staff occurs in line with Plan standardsManaging grants financial reporting and record keeping to be well maintained and accurate

• Work with the Grants Finance Manager to review all Plan Egypt grants budgets which include cost recovery of staff costs and support services
• Accurate maintenance of grants and individual giving expenditure records including supporting documentation which is approved by the appropriate authority
• Final review of financial reporting prepared for submission to donors to ensure it is accurate and on time
• Maintaining close monitoring of advances to partners, expenditure reporting by partners and complete supporting documentation
• Overall accountability for ensuring that monthly cost apportionment process is accurately completed.Country Leadership Team & staff are supported and managed by effective financial services, financial information and advice
• Facilitate the development and implementation of Plan Egypt’s finance strategy
• Participate in CLT meetings ensuring timely implementation of agreed CLT decisions
• Provides timely, reliable and systems based financial information and analysis that leads to effective decision making by the CLT
• Report program unit and country office results against budget, other key financial measures to the CLT including advising on issues highlighted by the financial audits and recommendations to address these
• Provides support in preparation of funding requests and communicating other business plans to the regional office
• Manage payroll, regulatory returns and tax compliance as required
• Provide efficient payment services to the Country Office and ensure that efficient services are provided in the Programme Units as well.
• Financial due diligence of partners is completed as part of partner assessment processes within the country
• Have an advanced understanding and belief in planting gender equality in a way that fosters mainstreaming gender equality in all finance management related areas of work
• Having a clear vision on how to embed Safeguarding children and youth in the areas of workBudgeting and planning is based on excellent and timely financial data
• Organize, own and control the annual budget and quarterly re-forecasting processes including communicating instructions, meeting deadlines
• Consolidate and review country operational budgets
• In liaison with the CD, be the focal point for regular communications with the Regional Office and International Headquarters, as required.
• Ensure the accuracy of producing the country cost ratio as well as the cost ratio at the program unit level, in line with Plan policies and corporate ERP system.Oversee financial reporting and cash management to be accurate and compliant with established policies and procedures
• Manage the general ledger and cash management processes including cash forecasting
• Prepare and ensure implementation of flow charts for key financial processes
• Provide matrix management support to the Programme Implementation Finance Manager to ensure that all Programme Units meet monthly financial reporting deadlines on time and to the required standard.
• Ensure adherence to the local Operations Manual and other global finance policies and procedures in accordance with Plan standards.
• Updating of the financial authorisation matrix and obtaining the approval of the Country Director at least annually and more frequently if required
• Ensure finance related audit actions are implemented and alternative actions taken as required to address weaknesses in financial controls and procedures identified in finance and other forms of audit reportsLeading the implementation of the global and regional initiatives related to the financial management aspects at the country level.

• Develop and implement a transition plan from SAP to the new ERP system with clear roles and responsibilities to ensure successful piloting of the new system
• Leading the grant remediation work to ensure timely and accurate data cleansing during the data migration phase.
• Work closely with the ERP business Owners to validate/test and support the changes in the system and provide regular feedback to the Head Office during the piloting and rollout phase of the new ERP system.
• Support and guide the CLT in maintaining the standards financial KPIs and metrics in accordance with the global funding model
• Oversee the implementation of the regional cost recovery project and leading PI Egypt center of excellence to strengthening the cost recovery process in all RESA/MER countries
• Working with the Head of Operations to oversee and support the Shared Services provided by Plan Egypt to Plan Jordan & Lebanon offices, including supervision of the SAP back office team based in Cairo.Dealing with Problems

  Application of knowledge required for the role, complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them.

• The role is matrix managed hence requires the incumbent  to  develop excellent working relationships and communication that is greater than in regular management relationships
• The role requires the ability to analyse data, qualitative indicators and reported issues to determine key risks, adverse trends and the appropriate corrective measures
• An ability to arbitrate between parties and to find solutions to difficult financial issues is necessary
• A source of expertise on the subject.Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

  Knowledge

• A degree in Accounting plus a professional accounting qualification such as CIS, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• A post graduate qualification is desirable
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience  in a similar strategic management role
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, Control standards and Risk management techniques and the reporting requirements of major international grant donors
• Knowledge of the INGO sector and the financial management issues specific to the sector in Egypt.
• Knowledge of local finance laws and regulations
• Fluency in Arabic and English spoken and written;
• Understanding of the Egypt, the geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country as well as the political, social and economic opportunities for development are an advantage.
• Candidates with experience of MS dynamics system are preferred.Skills

• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
• Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and the ability to convey sound judgement and assurance to team members and other key internal stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues through remote means and in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking, both is English and Arabic.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and problem solving skills.
• Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to provide management support to budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.
• A strong understanding of key institutional donor compliance rules and principles.
• Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performing teams that work together to achieve goals.
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategicallyBehaviours (Plan International’s Values in Practice)

  1.We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people.2.We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.3.We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.  4.We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.
• Level of Contact with Children: Medium level – Occasional interaction with children

Type of Role: One year fixed term contract

Location: The position will be based in the Country Office (Cairo, Egypt) with frequent in country travel and some international travel.

Reports to:  Country Director

Closing Date: 4th of June 2020

Female candidates are higly encouraged to apply

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Please note that only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

 Plan International operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.