Finance Director

Job Description

INTRODUCTION

Save the Children has been working in Rwanda since 1994, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and local stakeholders, to promote a bright future for children. We have experience operating in all 30 districts across the country. Our main areas of focus include education, child protection, child rights governance, and health and nutrition in both humanitarian and development contexts.

ABOUT SAVE THE CHILDREN

Save the Children is the world’s largest independent child rights organization, with a vision of a world in which every child attains their right to survival, protection, development, and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We implement both development and humanitarian assistance programs in Rwanda and Burundi.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Finance Director is responsible for all finance functions for Save the Children in Rwanda & Burundi. This includes ensuring the integrity of financial systems, that all financial transactions are properly recorded, that all financial reporting (budget, cash flow, forecasts) are delivered in a timely and accurate manner, and ensuring full compliance with internal policies and procedures, legal and donor requirements. This is a senior management role, providing crucial support to the Country Director with oversight of all finance staff.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Country Director

Staff reporting to this post: Financial Planning and reporting Manager, Kigali Office Finance Manager, Burundi Office Finance Manager, and Kirehe Finance Coordinator

Role Dimensions: Save the Children works in all 30 districts in Rwanda and selected districts in Burundi with a current staff complement of approximately 256 staff and a current budget of approximately $13 million

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to:

• Finance Leadership of the Rwanda Country Office
• Development of an organisational culture that reflects our dual mandate values, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our Members and donors
• Help design and implementation of a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to programme needs
• Compliance of Rwanda Country Office with all Save the Children Management Operating Standards and Standard Operating Procedures
• Ensuring support services are provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles to project and program activities, including during emergencies
• Design of a coherent organisational structure consistent with agency practices and appropriate to approved budget and program needs
• Drive continuous improvements in efficiency and effectiveness in the operations of SCI, to increase the value for money we offer our donors.
• Drive an ambitious finance transformation agenda and provide leadership to the CO finance team in driving effective delivery of key global transformation projects relevant to finance (including coding & Source to Pay).

Planning and Budgeting

• Assists the Country Director (CD) in the management /administration of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices including (a) the formulation of country work program andresource allocation, (b) effective support and guidance to the Senior Management Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises; (c) monitoring implementation of donor agreements and resource utilization.
• Manage the financial aspects of the annual planning process and ensure the preparation of aquality and timely master budget and reforecasts. Review the documents and share them with SMT before final submission and respond/address the comments received from the ESA Finance Specialist and Save the Children Members.
• Manage the financial aspects of quality budget development for new proposals and budget revisions and review them before they are submitted to Members/Donors.
• Working with the Awards Manager, highlights budget variances, provides analyses and recommends solutions or reallocation of resources.
• Identifies and effectively manages all key risks, especially financial, related to delivering the Country Office program
• Ensures correct level of budget authority exists within Country Office
• Perform periodic financial analysis on Rwanda CO cost base; this should include but not limited to staffing and non-staff support costs analysis and provide strategic financial recommendations for CD and SMT members on the CO financial sustainability; this should be done in consultation with business development and with CD, SMT Counterparts and relevant Regional Business Partners.
• Ensures appropriate and adequate emergency finance and grants procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up
• Ensures budget holders understand their responsibilities and ways to carry out their financial responsibilities (e.g. through training.)
• Ensures sub-offices receive adequate support to operate efficient accounting systems, including timely receipt of monthly budget variance analysis by budget holders, timely answers to queries and scheduling tasks and deadlines
• Supports the Head of Human Resources in establishing equitable staff compensation policies and practices within the approved budget and donor requirements

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control

• Manages the Country Office financial systems and provide the SMT and all budget holders a monthly update on the budget variance analysis to ensure reaching of target KPIs
• Ensures that systems are in place for the control of all assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities; submit timely financial reports to centre, ESA Finance Business partner and donors as required
• Ensures that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control, including:
• Annual accounts and tax statement preparation;
• Accounting and management information systems;
• Cash and cash flow management and control in particular gain/losses on currency exchange;
• Financial procedures during emergency responses, including meeting all relevant responsibilities in the Rules and Principles for Emergency Response;
• Expenditure procedures, especially around procurement;
• Documentation of all controls and procedures;
• Finance training for staff in the field and partners as necessary;
• Availability of funds for sub-offices and the Country Office
• Monitors accurate and timely submission of financial reports and attachments to members, donors and government regulatory agencies
• Ensures quarterly effort reporting is prepared with major variances discussed with Regional Office and centre
• Coordinates submission of control reports, respond to findings and recommend resolutions or action plans
• Leads and participates in the development of finance policies and procedures to be able to maintain a well-financially controlled environment in both development and emergency contexts
• Ensures monthly financial reviews (MFRs) are prepared, reviewed with CD/SMT, and submitted to the global financial accounting and controls team
• Works with budget holders and provincial program managers to estimate funds request on a timely basis to ensure resources are in place for project activities
• Ensures Country Office treasury operations are adequately managed
• Review and approve the proper accounting and closing of books upon receipt of completed reports and documents from various sub-offices.
• Prepare annual financial statements after the year end, organise all statutory and donors audit as per set time frames.
• Oversee and monitor the financial aspect of partner Sub-Grant Agreements with focus on budgets, partner financial reporting schedules etc
• Develop sub-grantees financial management through training and capacity building.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Finance

• Ensures appropriate staffing within Finance
• Ensures that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency
• Manages the finance team; define result-based expectations, provides leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluates direct reports regularly.
• Ensures the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
• Incorporates staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process
• Manages the performance of direct reports through:
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/work plans

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of seven years management experience in a corporate or InternationalNGO(INGO) environment, with three years at a management level within the financedepartment of a national or international organization.
• Bachelor’s Degree, Finance /Accounting (or equivalent)
• CPA or equivalent certification (CA, ACMA, ACCA,CIMA) strongly recommended
• Strong background in external donor reporting for an INGO and experience working withmajor donors like NORAD, ECHO, USAID, EU, DFID, UN etc
• Strategic thinker with demonstrated experience in financial management, budget management,leading and motivating teams, knowledge of computer Accounting packages, and a goodunderstanding of major donors’ financial requirements and government budgets and tax policies
• Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling
• Excellent analytical skills – the ability to analyse complex financial data and design and produceeffective management information
• Excellent experience of budgeting and budget management
• Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures
• Strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to strategic decisions
• Excellent experience of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Experience of general administration work
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines
• Ability to build a small, proactive team, motivating staff and working collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary
• A full appreciation of the value of collaboration, both internationally and within a team environment
• Understanding of Save the Children’s vision and mission and a commitment to its objectives and values
• Written and verbal fluency in English (essential) and French (Preferred)

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS 

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

Level 3: The responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.

ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY

Save the Children is committed to creating a safe working environment for all, including staff, children, and community members. We enforce a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment, exploitation, abuse, and any discriminatory or disrespectful behavior.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

*Save the Children does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process. *