Head of Finance

TITLE: Head of Finance

TEAM/PROGRAMME: Finance

GRADE: 3

LOCATION: Monrovia Office with frequent travel to operational areas

POST TYPE: National

CONTRACT LENGTH: Indefinite

Child Safeguarding:

Level 3: the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff

JOB PURPOSE: Responsible for the general accounting and financial management functions of SC. In addition, the position will be responsible for the efficient and effective management of SC's cash flows, updating and reconciling accounting books, managing end-of-period procedures, capitalizing fixed assets, and ensuring the generation of monthly financial reports for headquarters.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the incumbent is expected to work outside the normal scope of the role and be able to be flexible with working hours.

ROLE SCOPE:

Reports to: Country Director

Employees reporting to this position:

Direct:

Indirect:

Budget responsibilities: N/A

Function dimensions:

Key Areas of Accountability

• Responsible for implementing SCI's financial policies and procedures, updating and maintaining account structures, coordinating data and transaction processing, providing technical support to users, and training financial and non-financial staff in the use of Agresso, ensuring that all financial data is backed up and retained in a timely manner;
  
• Responsible for generating accurate and timely monthly financial statements and preparing financial analyses for the CFO to review and present to SLT;
  
• Review and perform monthly reconciliations of accounts receivable, accounts payable, bank accounts, inventory, cash accounts, and other balance sheet accounts to identify material differences and discrepancies in the respective accounts and ensure that relevant adjustments and corrections are made in a timely manner;
  
  Review documents for payment to suppliers, partners, and consultants in the
  
• internet banking system for approval by the Directors.
  
• Verify, maintain, and strengthen internal financial controls at the RFSA office as well as at field offices;
  
• Coordinate regularly with financial staff at field offices to ensure accurate and timely closing of monthly accounts and implementation of donor policies and procedures,
  
• Responsible for producing monthly financial reports meeting specific deadlines, Country regulations, SCI, and donor requirements;
  
• Support donor-specific internal and external audits in accordance with SCI and donor requirements and ensure that management letter issues are followed up and resolved/implemented;
  
• Maintain a system to track financial commitments and outstanding contract amounts by employees and third parties negotiating with SCI and ensure they are diligently executed when due;
  
• Responsible for ensuring that the Liberia Counrty office complies with all statutory requirements
  
• In conjunction with the Human Resources department, develop directly supervised financial staff as an effective and motivated team through the implementation of a continuous professional development program;
  
  Financial Management and Reporting
  
• Responsible for financial planning, forecasting, and cost allocation
  
• Responsible for the periodic preparation of budget control and monitoring reports.
  
• Periodically assess the development and capacity needs of direct reports and develop appropriate systems and improve staff performance and capacity.
  
• Strengthen interdepartmental and sectoral links between finance and other SCI departments and sections and contribute to other collaborative SCI work;
  
• Conduct support visits to field offices to reconcile accounting records and provide relevant technical support at intervals as necessary.
  
  
  
  Child Safeguarding
  
• Ensure that children’s activities are safe for children and that all steps are taken to ensure their meaningful and safe participation.
  
• Ensure that all SCI contractors and processes are safe for children and apply safe programming approach.
  
  BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
  
  
  
  Accountability:
  
• Holds themselves 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 their team to do the same
  
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
  
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
  
  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; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
  
  QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
  
  
  
• Degree in accounting. Professional qualifications in Accounting like ACCA/CPA will be an added advantage.
  
• At least five year’s INGOs experience especially in budget setting and financial accounting
  
• Excellent understanding of budgeting and budget management.
  
• Strong analytical, decision making and strategic planning skills with the ability articulate complex information in an easy to understand manner
  
• Strong team player
  
• experience of solving complex issues through analysis
  
• excellent attention to detail and accuracy
  
• Ability to prioritise, plan ahead, and manage a complex and diverse workload with tight deadlines
  
• Ability to coach, mentor, delegate appropriately and provide developmental guidance to supervised staff.
  
• self-motivated with good time management skills and ability to prioritise workload, anticipate requirements, work to tight deadlines and communicate decisions on a regular basis
  
• ability to operate in a changing environment: adaptable, flexible and supportive approach
  
• Proven skills on managing changes, achieving results, ensuring quality, team building and capacity building.
  
• Strong computer skills, especially on Accounting packages & excel
  
• Ability and willingness to work under pressure as part of a professional team.
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including cultural sensitivity, assertiveness and negotiating skills.
  
• Willingness to travel to field offices occasionally