Ethiopia: FINANCE DIRECTOR

Shaping a stronger Oxfam for people living in poverty

Country Context
A new Oxfam Country Strategy (OCS) was finalized in 2015 and a Country Operating Model (COM) in 2016. A transition process has been completed to amalgamate all existing Oxfam operations in country under one roof. A new operating model has been introduced for Vision 2020 and will be rolled out and embedded in Ethiopia over the next 3 years. A key component of this is the establishment of an Executing Affiliate (EA) to operationalize the Oxfam programme in Ethiopia, under the oversight of the Oxfam International Country Director (OI CD). As the legally registered entity in the country, it employs in-country staff, is the asset holder, primary contract signatory with in-country donors and suppliers, manages finances and provides back office support and IT systems, and represents the Oxfam Confederation in country. Complementing the work of the Executing Affiliate are Partner Affiliates that provide funding (restricted and unrestricted), thematic expertise and influencing capacity.

Team Purpose
The Finance team will be accountable for ensuring that all financial procedures are adhered to, and
implemented in a manner that is compliant with Oxfam policies, standards and procedures, the Donor’s Requirements and Government rules and regulations. The team will provide finance management in support of the country programme.

Job Purpose
The Finance Director will be the responsible to provide quality financial management and planning in the Country program (with an annual budget of 30 M Euros). This role will ensure compliance to all relevant Government, Donor (20 donors in the country portfolio) and Oxfam policies, procedures and guidelines as well as timely and quality financial reports as required both internally and externally (an average of 10 reports per month). The Finance Director will be accountable for the implementation of defined areas of work within the Finance function including the people’s management.

Key Responsibilities and Accountability

Strategic Financial Management

• Accountable for the implementation of the corporate and regional finance strategy within the country, and ensure effective financial management & accountability within the country programme.

General

• As member of the CMT, attend the periodical meetings and actively engage at country level management and strategic dialogue, planning and activities, providing technical input to the overall operation of the country programme.
• Provide peer support to all CMT members
• Promote “one programme approach” by integrating Finance activities with all Programme Pillars and other support teams; fostering collaborative, coordinated and close working relations with all programme and support team members.
• Contribute to the development & implementation of the one Oxfam in Ethiopia, providing positive leadership with Finance teams of all affiliates operational in country.

Planning and learning

• Developing finance strategic objectives that respond to programme delivery need
• Work with the Business Support Manager, Head of Programme and Humanitarian Programme Manager to identify finance needs, financial management issues and develop strategies to address them.

• Undertake short periods of research or project work to document experience and build up institutional learning on financial aspects of Oxfam work. Budget and Donor Finance Management

• Work with the CMT in annual planning and lead in annual & project budget preparation of the country programme and provide support to the team including field offices in the process

• Compile the projects financial information and budgets in a comprehensive country finance budget/plan for the review by the Ethiopia senior management team

• Verify budgets prepared by programme team for accuracy and advise on design for optimum monitoring. Signing off budgets before submission to CD for authorization.

• Ensure that donor requirement, policies and procedures are met across the programme

• Closely monitor the donor reporting schedule and the programme business cycle to ensure timely and accurate financial donor reports are prepared & submitted consistent with narrative reports.

• Work with the funding team to manage the preparation of financial reports of donors according to set deadlines. Ensure a complete audit trail from primary documentation to the accounting system for accurate and rapid donor reporting and general record keeping. Ensure donors compliance in each transaction.

• Ensure proper donor contract management including systems requirements e.g. OPAL, CRIMSON and HELIOS from the finance perspective.

Operational Financial Management and Compliance

• Ensure that all financial procedures are consistent with corporate and regional standards, are clearly defined, understood and are operated effectively throughout the country
• Ensure effective, timely and accurate functioning and monitoring of the complete PeopleSoft financial systems (GL and OPAL), including maintaining the completeness and integrity of data within the system, generating necessary reports and authorising monthly data compilation in the system.
• Contribute to the design and oversee the preparation of regular (monthly/quarterly) management reports to meet the needs of programme managers within the country and also meet the requirements for regular reporting set by the Regional Platform and Oxford, ensure timeliness and accuracy.
• LEAD and Support programme staff in the preparation of programme (PIP) and project budgets, as well as annual budget for Oxfam, and manage the preparation of financial projections /forecasts on a regular basis that is necessary for effective monitoring and review.
• Ensure payments are released after through verification by checking the documentation, relevant budget codes and ensuring the mathematics accuracy
• Ensure internal control mechanisms are in place & being followed
• Ensure effective asset management in close liaison with logistics
• Liaison with banks, auditors, donors & sister organisations and local tax authorities, etc.
• Maintain an overview of Oxfam policy, systems and procedures relevant to finance and ensure that developments are communicated and implemented appropriately through regular reviews
• Advise programme management of any challenges/developments in governments policies, statutory and legal requirements in Ethiopia with regard to the financial function.
• Ensure that the programme meets system requirements such as PeopleSoft – GL, HELIOS, OPAL and CRIMSON. Support managers on budget phasing and forecasting while working on OPAL budget and its management.
• Take lead in preparing for auditors, sourcing external auditors and support programme staff in preparing for external and internal audits
• In collaboration with the CMT, prepare and submit NGO Council annual & other reports
• Internal / External audit – take the lead in preparing for audits. Support programme staff in preparing for external and internal audits, identifying external auditors, and in the audit process itself. Ensure that audit recommendation are implemented and maintained.

People Management and Capacity Building

• Manage the Addis and field based (through matrix management) finance team according to the Oxfam standards
• Lead in the review and updating of all finance profiles within the programme and support in the development of performance Development Plans (PDP) and progression planning for all finance personnel.
• Input/support the recruitment of finance staff in the programme
• Ensure new staffs receive appropriate inductions on the finance issues
• Using Oxfam performance management systems, work for the objective setting & performance reviews of all the staff including where required as overview manager
• Continuously assess and recommend training and skills upgrades for all finance in all locations
• Coaching and advising finance and non-finance staff on financial issues
• Provide direct support to the CD, Programme Coordinators, Programme / Project Managers, BSM and Officers on all matters of finance specifically budget preparation, monitoring, control and reporting with a view to ensuring good financial standards are met. This will also include some finance training depending on the needs of individual managers

Partnership management

• Lead on the Project Partner Assessment and Grants Management Plan.
• Proactively engage in the development and implementation of Partner Capacity Building Plans, from a finance management perspective in line with initial risk assessment
• Build finance management capacity of national partner organisations to meet the compliance requirements of the Government, Donors and Oxfam
• Ensure regular finance monitoring visits to Partner organisations and follow-up monitoring visits recommendations

Risk Management

• Maintain an overview of Oxfam policy, systems and procedures relevant to finance and ensure that developments are communicated and implemented appropriately through regular reviews
• In coordination with the BSM, maintain a risk register for the country programme, proactively review existing risk, identify new/potential risks and put in place measures to mitigate. Bring significant risks, real & potential to the attention of management & ensure timely action
• Advise Oxfam of the changes/development in Government policies, statutory requirements with regard to the finance function.
• Be familiar with the laws of the country and ensure its compliance, support the BSM and CD to ensure that the programme adhered to all relevant statutory/legal requirements in the country.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Masters / Postgraduate academic qualification in Finance, Business Management or related discipline (where appropriate in the local context)
• Relevant experience, of 5-7 years for Masters and Postgraduate holders (including donors contract management and large NGOs budget) or 7-10 years for Bachelor holders, preferably in an international NGO out of which 3 years should be supervisory/managerial experience.
• Qualified member of an accountancy body or holder of an equivalent qualification,
• Meet the requirement for a commercially astute, articulate, technically strong, dynamic, insightful and influential leader with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.
• Ability to operate and think strategically, coupled with proven analytical skills and the use of these to problem solve and make firm decisions.
• Expertise in the application of strategic financial management and experience in maximising resource utilisation
• Knowledge of institutional donor requirements, especially EU, ECHO, DFID, UN Partners, OFDA etc.
• Proven experience to get conduct complex audits of country programme & project
• Experience of managing donor reporting schedules and production of donor report
• Experience of leading the implementation of operational improvements and persistence to achieve change in a challenging environment
• Thorough understanding of financial systems and how it interacts with other operational systems to maximise its information generating capabilities
• Ability to gain and apply knowledge of the statutory requirements of the country
• Experience to work using implementing partners & their capacity building
• Strong budget preparation and personnel management skills
• Ability to handle high levels of pressure and critical decision-making.
• Strong IT skills, always being ahead of new technologies. Ability to work using online systems (preferably PeopleSoft)
• High integrity and openness combined with a commitment to good governance.
• Energetic, highly motivated, with an enquiring mind and passion for excellence and innovation in pursuit of business growth and success.
• Leadership qualities and people management expertise to provide direction and effective support to a multidisciplinary and multicultural team. Capacity to build experience, training and coaching skills and a willingness to support development of others. Experience in matrix management of functional staff to ensure effective delivery of functional objectives.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including high-level interpersonal and representational capabilities; fluency in written and spoken English.
• Strong commitment to Oxfam’s purpose, a broad understanding of the work culture in the “development” sector and its impact on key areas of responsibility and a commitment to humanitarian principles and action.
• Understanding of gender and diversity considerations within key areas of responsibility and commitment to addressing inequalities in the workplace and the programme

Desirable

• Advanced degree in business management or equivalent
• Familiar with Ethiopian laws and regulations
• Familiar with Oxfam financial systems
• Ability to communicate in the local language

Other

• Proof of your right to work in Ethiopia, such as your passport or any necessary work permit or visa is required.

Interested applicants who meet the above requirements should submit their application letter and CV through www.ethiojobs.net or https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/vacancy/6220/description before OR on June 22, 2017.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Women are particularly encouraged to apply

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation
Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty & suffering