Regional Finance and Grants Director at Action Against Hunger International

Summary of position

As a key member of the Action Against Hunger Horn and Eastern Africa Regional management team, the Regional Finance and Grants Director, is responsible for the leadership and management of the financial and grant infrastructure and systems at the regional level, developing and managing financial tracking, resource flows, reporting and compliance for the regional portfolio. The Regional Finance and Grants Director reports to the Regional Director and in close coordination with the HQ’s Finance department, ensures sound financial systems and grants management within the region through optimizations' of current resources, developing team capacity to deliver and promote excellence and sustained growth.

Purpose:

• Be a trusted partner of the regional director and his/her immediate team to provide decision support on all finance related matters;
• Develop the capacity of the country office finance directors and their teams to ensure that they meet the Action Against Hunger international finance and award management essential standards;
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight to Finance and Grants teams to ensure that the guidance and support provided by these subunits effectively facilitates organizational growth and change while guarding against risk;
• Ascertain compliance with funding agency regulations, timely address of any compliance issues, prepares and/or oversees the preparation of all reports required by Action Against Hunger and donor agencies (USAID, EU, ECHO, UN, etc.)

Engagement

• Collaborate with the HQ’s Chief Financial Officer and HQ Controller in providing regular, accurate financial overviews (including burn rate, variances, summaries of risks) and support in the annual budgeting, planning and review processes.
• Enable appropriate operational and investment decisions to be made on the grounds of sound financial analysis’
• Regularly assess field financial capacity at country level, identifying opportunities for improvements and deployment of appropriate resources for punctual support

Delivery:

• Ensure high quality support, communications, and training in finance and grants administration to the Country offices.
• Ensure appropriate policies and controls are in place across the region and that financial risk is minimized.
• Reviews and documents Action Against Hunger’s internal rules and organizes regular internal control compliance checks
• Direct financial and grants planning and strategy for the region.

Essential Job Duties

• Contribute to the development of the Action Against Hunger-USA strategy, helping develop the overall functional strategy, leading on in the financial initiatives of the strategy and driving its implementation within the region and the organization as a whole.
• Provide high quality financial and accounting support to Action Against Hunger by providing support to ensure;
• COs provide accurate and timely recording of transactions
• Financial controls are in place
• COs comply with Action Against Hunger financial standards
• The implementation and review of financial, accounting and budgeting systems, policies and procedures
• Oversee the strategic development of the Regional Finance and Grants Management unit, including Contracts & Grants Administration and Compliance Administration to streamline key functions, facilitate decision making, and deliver quality financial and budgetary support.
• Ensure Country and Regional offices’ financial operations are effectively managed and appropriate internal controls are in place to ensure funds are used as intended and accountable for control of assets and liabilities,
• Reviews and reconciles financial and grants data and reports from Action Against Hunger’s field offices, ensuring the appropriate use of Action Against Hunger’s resources (including cash management, assets utilization, etc.).
• Focus on cost effectiveness and cashflow; champion of cost effectiveness in general to ensure countries and the regional office are operating with a sustainable cost base, taking into account cost recoveries and the strategic role.
• Supervises the integration of field financial data into the Action Against Hunger’s financial database/ systems and ensures that the field and HQ systems are kept connected and updated.
• Ensure that regional office finance team actively participates in proposal development processes and effectively guide budgeting processes to ensure that country offices optimize program budgeting opportunities
• Leads annual and multi-year financial planning processes in the region (and country offices) with a focus on deepening strategic alignment and stewardship and being accountable for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the financial plans through targeted financial analytical review and forecasting accuracy.
• Supports country directors in pre-award negotiations with a focus on ensuring that ACF secures favorable conditions related to indirect cost rates, pre-financing and quick reimbursement by donors of all costs pre-financed by donors
• Ensure timely and realistic treasury forecasts and efficient/effective management of payables and receivables to maintain continuous cash flow and financing of project activities in country offices
• Conducts monthly financial analysis to identify and mitigate all financial management risks to ensure performance is as per the target and identifying action plans required to ensure the region is on track for achieving objectives.
• Builds a strong community of practice for regional and country office finance teams and uses this mechanism to promote continuous learning, coaching and development.
• Regularly visits country offices to perform routine checks on internal controls and supports country directors on systems strengthening and to address any potential risks.
• Provides oversight to all regional and country office audits (including pre-audit preparation, management and tracking implementation of audit findings.
• Ensure compliance with legal and grant regulations and financial management policies and procedures; reviewing monthly exception reporting in conjunction with CO finance Country Directors to understand the issues at hand.
• With CO FDs, develop the financial management capacity of financial management capacity of the finance staff and budget holders at CO level to ensure the organization's goals and business objectives are met.
• Manage the regional office budget, providing financial support to the regional office including and being jointly accountable for achieving the results laid out in the regional plans.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises three (3) direct reports (2) Regional Finance Specialists and (1) Regional Grants & Contracts Manager), and coordinates with the Senior Regional Finance Specialist ensuring that they have the necessary technical knowledge and skills – organizing and implementing coaching and training as needed, both for individuals and the entire team.
• Manage the regional finance team, defining expectations, providing leadership and technical support required and evaluation performance regularly as per policy for all direct reports.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Work closely with the HQ’s Finance Department and the Senior Regional Finance Specialist to provide regular reporting in line with the organizational financial and grant management policies and procedures.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• Prepares and administers the annual budget and financial report for the regional/country offices under his/her responsibility to ensure deployment of financial resources to all key activities of the region.

Gender Equality commitments

• Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, boys and girls regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, colour, ancestry, national origin, age or marital status,
• Value and respect all cultures.

Physical demands

• To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as infectious diseases.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• A chartered accountant (CPA/ACCA) with a Master’s degree in accounting or related field
• At least 10 years progressive experience in International Humanitarian and Development Organization in a significant supervisory role, with a preference for working in financial management in the field and/or in a regional position in a large and complex international NGO or organization.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in managing large grants funded by multiple donors i.e., USAID, BHA, ECHO, BPRM, SIDA, EUTF, World Bank, GAC, UN-agencies, etc.

Required Skills & Experience

• Excellent oral and written verbal communication skills including ability to explain organization's policies & procedures – both verbally & in writing and production of timely, comprehensive & well-written documents.
• Strong networking, influencing and liaison skills and ability to interact with Action Against Hunger staff from various hierarchical levels as well as external stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to establish, maintain and manage relationships with various internal and external stakeholders, and proven ability to successfully manage, coach and mentor others
• Excellent organizational and time management skills including ability to plan for multiple contingencies and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and can easily adapt to changing circumstances; and flexible approach/willingness to take on additional tasks
• Demonstrated experience and/or personal commitment to promoting gender equality within the humanitarian and/or development work.
• Significant experience with automated business and financial systems, spreadsheets, word processing, database software is essential
• Demonstrable experience and skill with budget preparation and analysis, financial reporting preparation and presentation, and the proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the rules, regulations and donor policies governing the compliance/regulatory management of grants from the US Government, the EU, ECHO, the UN and other agencies.
• Ability to clearly explain complex financial concepts and to communicate well in writing.