Finance & Services Manager Zimbabwe – PRACTICAL ACTION 395 views

Job Summary

The post-holder will be responsible for providing finance strategic leadership and take responsibility for finance activities within Zimbabwe. This will be achieved by ensuring the sound financial management and internal controls, to operate according to the group’s financial management framework and reinforce effective program delivery. The role reports to the Country Director with a matrix line to the Head of International Finance.

Title : FINANCE & SERVICES MANAGER
Reporting to : Country Director
Matrix Line : Head of International Finance
Direct reports : Finance Team in Zimbabwe
Location : Harare – Zimbabwe
Duration : 2 Years (Fixed Term)
Grade : TBA
Travel : Occasional international travel may be required

Duties And Responsibilities

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Strategy and leadership
• Contribute to the development of the strategic plan for Zimbabwe and develop and maintain appropriate and effective financial strategies, plans and policies to support the strategic plan.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other SMT members to understand their financial support requirements, co-ordinate appropriate responses and ensure implementation of finance policies and support them in preparation of plans, budgets and reports.
• Lead process change across multi-functional teams to improve value for money within the organisation.
• Participate in SMT meetings and provide strategic input and advice in monitoring and evaluating financial operations across the Country office.
• Provide sound and timely advice to the Country Director on all matters with financial implications to the Country Office to enable effective decision making and manage risk.

Financial Policies and risk management
• Develop, implement and maintain financial management and procurement procedures, risk assessments and control measures to manage and monitor across the country office and to ensure compliance with Practical Action’s group overall policies, generally accepted accounting standards external donor requirements and national laws and regulations, identifying corrective measures as required.
• Develop and implement procedures for assessing the value for money that Practical Action obtains in all its activities to identify cost savings and ensure financial efficiency and value for money principles are an integral part of the programme activities.

Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
• Coordinate country level budgeting process and lead the financial forecasting process to produce relevant, accurate and timely financial forecasts across the country office. Ensure financial plans and reports are aligned with donor budgets
• Consolidate financial information and provide country level narrative for management accounts to support financial decision-making.

Restricted Fund management
• Maintain oversight of the country programme funding position.
• Review of all restricted funding applications to ensure the budget reflects realistic operational plans and support costs are being sufficiently recovered.
Ensure the preparation of client invoices, donor financial reports, relevant reconciliation, relevant audits are completed accurately, on time and submitted as appropriate.

Financial Reporting and Audit
• Leads the preparation and submission of a full set of financial statements and responses to management letter issues, providing interpretation of specific notes and articulating variances to previous years.
• Facilitate and co-ordinate both internal and external audits and lead the development and implementation of action plans based on audit recommendations, monitoring progress on achievements.

Treasury and tax
• Monitor overall liquidity, set appropriate petty cash levels and manage bank accounts operated by the Country Office to ensure prudent operations.
• Actively manage foreign currency balances, exchange rate exposure, debtors, partner balances and supplier terms to minimise working capital requirements. Forecasts multi-currency cash flows.
• Keep up to date knowledge of taxation laws and future changes in the taxation environment and their implication for Practical Action. Advise internal stakeholders on taxation and most appropriate taxation structure.
• Ensure that all statutory and non-statutory deductions are made properly, promptly and are remitted to the respective authority as required by law.

Liaison:
• Liaise with the international/group finance function on all financial matters and ensure that the Country Office is kept abreast and informed of financial developments within the Group.
• Liaise with field offices and staff on all financial and administrative matters.
• Maintain a professional image for the Country Office when dealing with suppliers, NGOs, Government and any other external agencies or organisations.
• Carry out additional tasks as may be requested by the Country Director.
• While maintaining responsibility to the Country Director, ensure that close liaison is maintained with the International Finance function, people and culture function, fundraising colleagues and members of the senior leadership team.

Services
• Oversee the management and administration of IT and Procurement services.
• Ensure Practical Action and donor’s procurement procedures are adhered to at all times.
• Maintaining and manage supplier contracts database.
• Line manage, coach and mentor Finance Officer, IT Administrator, Procurement and Admin Officer roles to ensure high standard performance.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all teams, ensuring an integrated approach, mutual learning and effective use of resources.
• Conduct quarterly People Management conversations with line manager and staff under your supervision.

Other
• Any other duties commensurate with the level and grade of the role which may from time to time, reasonably be requested by the line manager.

Qualifications And Experience

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

– Recognized academic and professional qualifications and experience.
– Proven senior and line management skills.
– Trends and developments within the thematic area of work.
– Outstanding communication and reporting skills, across the organization and with donors and stakeholders at the highest level.
– Partner and stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
– Proactive with a high team spirit and ability to work with colleagues at different levels.
– Expertise with financial management, and monitoring expenditures.
– Excellent (proven) interpersonal communication skills (both oral and written).
– Highly numerate.
– Ability to think strategically with excellent planning and prioritization skills.
– Strong analytical/problem solving skills.
– Successfully leading, managing, building high performing teams and developing capacity in professional finance teams.

Personal qualities

– Self-Motivation: Taking responsibility to ensure commitments are met and achieve objectives despite problems and frustrations;
– Creative and proactive.
– Able to work effectively in a diverse team environment.
– Good motivator of self and others.
– Willing to work additional hours at crucial times.
– Willing to travel at short notice nationally and internationally.
– Personal integrity.
– Commitment to Practical Action’s working culture (inspiring, dynamism, connectedness, learning, creativity, getting the job done)
– Outcome focused.
– Gender & culture sensitive.