Grants and Finance Manager 102 views1 applications

An exciting opening has arisen in our Ethiopia programme for a Grants and Finance Manager who will manage the day-to-day and monthly grants and finance activities of the Addis Ababa office for Tearfund and be involved in the capacity building of Tearfund partner organisations.

The preferred candidate for the role is responsible for maintaining a system of financial record-keeping from which to provide the Country Director, Tearfund at regional/Cluster and UK level with timely, accurate and meaningful financial management information to enable them to monitor and manage the programme covering both partner programmes and partner field offices. In accordance with Tearfund policies and guidelines, to maintain a system of sound internal and partner controls in order to safeguard Tearfund assets, mitigate against the risk of financial loss and fraud and satisfy donor and statutory audit requirements.  To ensure the programme’s financial accounting records and systems and procedures, both for directly implemented work as well as partners are compliant with Tearfund standards, Donors and Government requirements

Tearfund is looking for a candidate with strong analytical and problem solving skills, a good command of the English language, experience in working with financial software, flexible and resilient and able to accommodate changing priorities and to remain calm under pressure, self-disciplined with ability to work proactively, using own initiative, attitude of servant leadership and willingness to travel to the field.

Please note, applicants must be committed to Tearfund’s values and missions. All posts involve potential contact with children and vulnerable adults and the recruitment process will include specific safeguarding checks.

Job overview 

As part of the Senior Management Team the Grants and Finance Manager (GFM) is responsible for maintaining a system of grants and financial record-keeping from which to provide the Country Director, Tearfund at regional/Cluster and UK level with timely, accurate and meaningful financial management information to enable them to monitor and manage the programme covering both partner programmes and partner field offices. In accordance with Tearfund policies and guidelines, to maintain a system of sound internal and partner controls in order to safeguard Tearfund assets, mitigate against the risk of financial loss and fraud and satisfy Donors and statutory audit requirements.  To ensure the programme’s grants and financial accounting records and systems and procedures, both for directly implemented work as well as partners are compliant with Tearfund standards, Donors and Government requirements.

Key responsibilities

Programme Strategy

• Support the Country Director in developing and maintaining an appropriate funding strategy to support programme implementation in accordance with target expenditure ratios and Tearfund’s funding strategy guidelines.
• Supervise the preparation, and submission for approval, of the annual core budget by the Head of International Finance.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organising actions and financial resources to contribute to the implementation of country strategy.
• Represent the finance function in SMT discussions, ensuring financial considerations are taken into account in reviewing and planning programme and project planning and activities.
• Advise the Country Director on a strategy working with partners, providing guidance on partners’ financial capacities and limitations and capacity building needs.

Project / Support function management

• Work closely with project and partner staff in developing proposals (including budgets and activity schedules / plans) and subsequent donor reporting, in accordance with external donor requirements. Ensure that project budgets are complementary to the programme-wide financial strategy.
• Conduct regular field trips to project sites and partners to monitor compliance with financial procedures, review activity progress and assist managers in identifying the financial implications of changes in proposed activities and revising budgets as required.
• Conduct regular visits to partners to review progress against budget for donor projects and associated transaction listings, reporting major deviations to the CD
• In collaboration with the Country Director undertakes the assessment of partner financial management capacity pre-award; monitoring partner BvAs and transaction listings, and building capacity by providing relevant financial advice, coaching and training.
• In consultation with the CD, oversee staff salary preparation and timely payment for staff salaries.
• Induct and regularly advise project and partner staff on finance systems and controls and how to effectively supervise the finance function in their locations.
• Oversee briefing and training of new staff on financial procedures relevant to their roles
• Advise the Country Director on the cost implications concerning the selection, lease and management of appropriate office, residential and other buildings as required and the cost implications of fleet management, warehousing management and stock control and procurement of goods and services.
• Lead on the year-end process and statutory accounts.
• Support in rolling out PSF

Corporate policy and compliance

• In conjunction with the Country Director to ensure the programme is compliant to financial policies and procedures set out in Tearfund’s Global Operating Manual (GOM)
• Set up and maintain appropriate accounting systems and procedures as prescribed in accordance with standard Tearfund policies, donor requirements.
• Monitor procedures to prevent and mitigate against fraud as per the Fraud Prevention and Response Plan.
• Conduct regular field visits to partners to monitor compliance with accepted financial management systems, providing training and advice on improvements, and reporting concerns to the CD
• Conduct regular visits to partners to review progress against budget for donor projects and associated transaction listings, reporting major deviations to the CD.
• Ensure all documentation for completed projects is archived and stored for audit in accordance with Tearfund’s Project Completion Requirements.
• Ensure partner compliance with TF and donor guidelines and ensure the quality of external audits.
• Takes leading role in updating finance systems including transitioning to IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) reporting standard.
• Ensure all finance related audit recommendations are implemented effectively across the programme.
• Ensure all government financial compliance returns are completed in accordance with mandated deadlines

Team management 

• Support the development and modelling of a team culture characterised by a shared understanding of Tearfund’s vision and programme objectives, and commitment to Tearfund’s values and behaviours.
• Lead and manage direct reports and the wider finance function ensuring clarity over plans and priorities, providing supervision, guidance and mentoring, encouraging effective teamwork and inclusiveness and building a team spirit through regular meetings and events.
• Create a sustainable work environment of mutual respect that attracts motivated, skilled and effective team members and enables them individually and collectively to strive to achieve excellence.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts; building constructive internal relationships; help team members identify problem solving options and ensure integration of all team members into relevant decision-making process

External representation

• Assist the Country Director with representation to the government, securing and maintaining the necessary approvals to operate, ensuring coordination and constructive working relations.
• In conjunction with the Country Director and other staff, represent Tearfund to other NGOs, UN agencies and visitors ensuring coordination and attendance at relevant interagency technical, sectoral and security coordination networks as necessary.
• In consultation with the Country Director, liaise with in country donors on all aspects of financial management and reporting.
• In collaboration with Country Director represent Tearfund’s corporate procedures and compliance requirements with partner finance and management staff.

Position in organisation

• Grade:3
• Reports to: Country Director
• Dotted line report to Cluster Finance Lead
• Works closely withsenior management team members
• Works closely with:Cluster and Global finance staff.

Start Date:

• As soon as possible

Group

• International Group

Team

• East and Central Africa

Responsible to

• Country Director

Job Requirements

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL

• Degree and/or equivalent qualification in business administration, financial management, or a related discipline.
• Full/part qualification in Accountancy (ACCA, CCAB or similar).

DESIRABLE

• Management qualification
• IPSAS certification

Experience

ESSENTIAL

• Proven application of good practice standards: SPHERE, Core Humanitarian Standard and Red Cross Codes of Conduct.
• Proven experience in project design and management
• Experience of using “PS Financials’ accounting software
• Experience in team management
• Proven experience in working with local NGOS on financial capacity development

DESIRABLE

• Proven application of good practice standards: SPHERE, Core Humanitarian Standard and Red Cross Codes of Conduct.
• Proven experience in project design and management
• Experience of using “PS Financials’ accounting software
• Experience in team management
• Proven experience in working with local NGOS on financial capacity development

Skills/Abilities

ESSENTIAL

• Fluent in written and spoken English and Amharic
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly in communicating complex financial data to non-finance staff
• Excellent leadership and management skills
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• Ability to safeguard the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults
• Good computer skills (MS Office, Google Suite)

DESIRABLE

• Mentoring, training and capacity building and training skills
• Excellent report writing skills
• Negotiation skills

Personal Qualities

ESSENTIAL

• Committed to Tearfund’s Mission, Values and Beliefs
• Self-disciplined with ability to work proactively, using own initiative.
• Flexible and resilient able to accommodate changing priorities and to remain calm under pressure.
• Demonstrates sensitivity and skills in working cross culturally.
• Self-aware and able to learn from others.
• Servant leadership
• Able to balance task-delivery and people-focus
• Willingness to travel to the field

DESIRABLE

• A people and team developer

Organisational requirements

• All staff are expected to live out Tearfund’s values as they represent Tearfund externally
• All post-holders are expected to fulfil their personal objectives set by their line manager, contribute to their team’s overall objectives, take responsibility for reviewing their ongoing personal development and maintain an awareness of Tearfund’s strategy.
• All Tearfund staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

OTHER COMMENTS:

• All roles require a DBS/Police check
• Personal identification information will be submitted against a Watchlist database to check against criminal convictions as a counter-terror measure

How to Apply

If you would like to join Tearfund, please quote the position in the subject and send your CV and application letter with contact details of three work-related referees, through [email protected]  Please ensure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the requirements for this post. The closing date for submitting applications is Friday 20th December 2019. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

 Telephone calls to the office is strongly forbidden.