The Role

Reporting Directly to the Country Director, as a member of shared leadership team, the position holder will collaborate closely with the regional leadership team and Headquarters’ finance team to co-create finance solutions for the country office. The role will lead strategic finance management, risk management, reporting, budget, and asset management. Additionally, the role will ensure finance operational excellence and standards in accordance with Heifer policies and international accounting standards. The role will ensure proactive periodic Finance Internal Audit and lead effective External Audit process in line with Heifer Finance Audit guidelines. The position will be responsible for leading, coaching & developing a high-performing finance team.

The Person 

The position holder will be a bachelor’s degree holder, a CPAK or ACCA finalist and member of ICPAK with at least 15 – 20 years of related experience and 8 years in a senior management role. Additionally, the position holder will have experience overseeing finance management in a donor-funded international development environment. The person will be dynamic, customer focused, and a strategic leader with strong finance acumen, exceptional analytical skills, and a proven track record of managing cash flow, grant, compliance, risk and audit with the ability to navigate a dynamic environment and maintain high standards of integrity and accountability while making sound decisions.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

Financial Management (35%)

• Take a lead role in financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, aligning these activities with strategic objectives to achieve long-term sustainability.
• Lead the development of in-country Finance strategy & annual plans through a collaborative process.
• Proactively assess and address the country office’s financial sustainability, monitor and provide advice for revising financial plans and reforecasting budgets.
• Provide strategic analysis and interpretation of finances, highlighting key areas for improvement to support informed decision-making.
• Act as a customer focused business partner by establishing and maintaining proactive links with country and project “partners” to advise on all aspects of finance management.
• Collaborate with project managers and teams in proposal development, alignment of financial resources with programmatic goals, monitoring budget execution, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization.
• Monitoring & delivering Burn Rates targets in a nimble & agile way.

Financial Control and Risk Management (25%) 

• Proactive management of all financial functions and controls, internal and external auditing and development of risk management plans.
• Oversee adherence to financial policies, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and ethical financial practices.
• Implement comprehensive risk management strategies, identifying and assessing financial risks and proactively developing mitigation plans to safeguard assets and maintain financial integrity.
• Conduct regular reviews and assessments of the organization’s tax position to ensure full compliance with statutory requirements.
• Proactively stay abreast with changes in regulatory requirements and industry best practices, and advise changes required to uphold high compliance standards.
• Spearhead the internal and external audits, working closely with external auditors and implementing audit recommendations for continuous improvement.

Financial Reporting (20%)

• Ensure accurate accounting and reporting of all awards, grants and donor funds.
• Manage the preparation and presentation of financial reports to key organization stakeholders providing insights and recommendations to support informed decision.
• Oversee donor compliance, managing awards and grants, including preparation of financial reports and documentation required for donor reporting and audit.
• Ensure timely closure of books of accounts and donor reports.

Team Leadership, Coaching and Development (15%)

• Foster a culture of customer focus and continuous improvement within the finance team, encouraging proactiveness and innovation in financial processes and reporting.
• Provide coaching and guidance to the finance team, promoting professional development and building a high-performing and accountable finance department.

 May perform other duties as assigned (5%)

Requirements

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Management Accounting, Business Administration, or related field and a master’s degree in a plus.
• At least 15 – 20 years of related experience and 8 years in a senior management role.
• CPAK or ACCA finalist, and a member of ICPAK.
• Experience in a donor-funded international development environment with compliance requirements of the U.S. government and institutional funders for international development, such USAID, EU, IFAD, DFID, mega-foundations and others.
• Demonstrated experience to lead and manage a team.

Most Critical Proficiencies

• Strategic thinker with the ability to drive financial initiatives that align with organizational objectives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present complex financial information to diverse audiences.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to work in a matrix environment.
• Ability to capacity build diverse managers and teams including finance and non-finance staff.
• Proficiency in the local country Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Fiscal Statutes and Payroll Management Statutes.