Tangaza CollegeThe Catholic University of Eastern Africa
Job Title: Finance Manager
Reports To: Principal
Department: Finance
Employment Status: 3 year contract renewable
General Description:
The overall objective of the Finance Manager is to provide strategic and operational leadership to the Finance Department so as to offer effective, professional and customer-oriented service to Tangaza University College (TUC) and related stakeholders.
The Finance Manager is responsible for ethical and responsible financial stewardship of TUC, the development of the financial strategy and working with all departments to foster its implementation in decisions and actions with a view to ensuring overall financial viability and compliance with statutory regulations and practices in the higher education sector and adherence to internal policies and practices.
Strategic Financial Planning and Management
Ensure the financial health of TUC by developing, gaining approval for and implementing, a financial strategy which underpins the financial aspects of the strategic plan and optimizes the use of the assets of TUC;
Monitor and evaluate the budgets, financial performance and financial risks of
Institutes and Service Departments in line with the strategic plan in conjunction with the management.
In collaboration with the Development Office, assist in supporting TUC to identify new income sources, opportunities to increase existing income lines and identify ways of improving operating efficiencies;
To provide financial input in the assessment of different cases and to ensure that proposals are fully evaluated, taking into account future commitments, i.e. investment appraisal, risk assessment, cash flow and financial forecasts;
To produce financial and management accounts and accompanying narrative reports with explanations and interpretation aimed at common understanding among the users and soliciting consensus in consequent decisions and actions.Role in University Management
As a member TUC’s management, play a full role in the corporate leadership and management and assist in the determination of strategic direction;
Support the Directors, Dean of Schools and other managers to understand the financial implications of their decisions and actions and thereby increase their proactive participation in financial management and ownership of the outcomes;
Promote the development of targets and benchmarks and agreed key financial performance indicators (KPIs) for all Institutes, departments and other strategic units and monitor performance by ensuring that data is effectively reported and appropriate action taken;
Provide effective leadership and management of the Financial Department, ensuring high quality customer focused services that support and enable the delivery of priorities on the College.Key Management Accounting Roles
To oversee the co-ordination of the preparation of the annual operational plans and budgets and ensure that they are presented at the different levels for consideration and final approval by the Board of Trustees;
Preparation of accurate and timely financial information and monitoring of monthly results and reports, including comparison against budget and prior months, to provide accurate information on financial performance for Finance Committee to enable effective strategic decision making;
To encourage dialogue with all budget managers to explain the reasons for variances in their respective budget reports and ensure that sound remedial actions are presented to the Management Board and Finance Committee, approved and implemented;
To manage the investment of short-term funds and to advise the Principal and the Board of Trustees on longer-term investments and investment strategy;Financial Accounting and Reporting
Supervise the Financial Accountant and other staff in ensuring the maintenance of accounting records and their timely completion and the reconciliation of the bank, cash accounts and general ledger control accounts;
Ensuring appropriate authorization, timing and dispatch of payments (electronic and cheque);
Taking responsibility for the high standards of financial reporting in order that the Management Board, Finance Committee, Governing Council and Board of Trustees are fully informed about financial performance;
Assist Directors and managers of TUC in the discharge of their financial responsibilities and in the effective management of resources through the provision of timely and accurate financial information,Internal Controls, Regulatory Compliance and Auditing
Provide advice to the BOT through the Principal on all matters of financial compliance and ensure that systems are in place which provide that compliance and underpin the highest standards of financial integrity across the College;
To continuously develop, disseminate and maintain the financial policies and procedures and ensuring full compliance at all levels so as to foster integrity in financial, systems, processes, controls and the overall financial reporting environment;
To give oversight to the preparation of the financial statements for TUC, including liaising with the external auditor and preparing analysis to enable the financial statements to be audited;
To work closely with the internal and external audit and other specific studies that may be commissioned by the university so to ensure that they have full support to report on the systems within the university and that their relevant recommendations are implemented;
To advise the Board of Trustees through the Principal on matters which relate to the compliance with statutory requirements drawn from the respective laws affecting diverse aspects of the TUC;
To be responsible for the formulation and delivery of policy in the areas of borrowing, banking, credit control, insurance and for all aspects of taxation.Leadership of the Finance Department
To provide inspiring and innovative leadership to the staff in the finance department, oversee their individual and team performance with the agreed standards and timelines;
To ensure that the staff in the department are fully skilled to handle the equipment and technology provided for their responsibilities and organize upgrading and refresher courses;
To encourage professional development and ensure that the team are highly motivated to perform to the best of their abilities;
To liaise with internal and external clients so as get feedback on level of satisfaction so as to promptly address challenges and implement continuous improvement of customer relations.Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience Requirements
Qualified accountant in good standing with professional board (CPA, ACCA, CA, CIMA);
Bachelors degree in commerce, business administration or economics;
MBA or other masters level qualification with specialization in finance, accounting or strategic management;
Proven track record of working in the Finance Department in a complex organization, preferably an institution of higher learning or business organization (3-5 years);
Strategic capability with experience in operating at a senior strategic financial management level (3-5 years);
Demonstrate portfolio of solid achievements in previous roles;
Ability to devise, drive and deliver a clear vision of change and take people along with them on the journey;
Working knowledge of a range of accounting softwares and ability to interface management information systems;Personal Attributes
Person with high integrity, moral probity and embracing the values of TUC;
Financial management professional able to have a bird’s eye view of the affairs of an organization;
High motivation and commitment to driving change in a complex and diverse organization;
Ability to create and sustain work partnerships and engage effectively with a strong senior team and work across boundaries internally and externally;
Sound emotional health and ability to manage self and others when under pressure;
Open to owning up to personal challenges and continuous learning.Apply by or on 25th February 2015 and enclose copies of relevant certificates, testimonials, curriculum vitae and names of three referees to:
The Principal,
Tangaza University College,
P.O. Box 15055-00509,
Langata, Nairobi
Or Email vacancies@tangaza.org
