Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan International’s stated Global Strategic Goal (2011-15) is to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalized, with high-quality programmes that deliver long-lasting benefits. Plan aims to achieve this goal by working in partnership with others and through high performing teams whose behaviors reflect the corporate values. The Regional Finance Department leads the financial management and accounting teams throughout the Region of Eastern and Southern African (RESA) region.
The Role
The Regional Financial Controller directs the regional Office’s accounting, treasury, financial and internal control practices/systems. The maintenance of its financial records and the preparation of its financial reports. This role further supports the Regional Finance Manager (RFM) to implement global and regional financial strategies.
The position holder shall promote children’s rights within Plan by ensuring that all staff under supervision understand their obligations to protect children and from harm, abuse and exploitation as Plan employees and that all employees under their supervision understand their responsibility to work to the standards and procedures detailed in the organisation's Child protection policy.
The position holder shall ensure all year round productivity of staff under their supervision by planning effectively for performance, which includes setting expectations and goals and defining job responsibilities; coaching and addressing underperformance on time and reviewing or evaluating performance in line with the performance appraisal guidelines set by the organisation.
Dimensions of Role:
• Supervises 4 staff in the Regional Office Finance Department and interact with 12 Country Finance managers and their teams. Supports the implementation of global and regional financial strategies in the region and to provide timely and reliable financial information and analysis that leads to effective decision making at the regional level.
• Contributes to RESA’s strategic objective for Finance by ensuring effective business critical support information is in place and contributing to maximise the availability of resources for programs by cost effective financial processes and other operating activities by timely and accurate management reporting.
• Provides permanent support to in - country Finance teams in order to improve overall transparency and accountability in Plan’s external financial reporting.
• This role is involved in the review and consolidation of regional finance reports for a regional budget worth € 100,000K.
• Contributes to RESA’s strategic objective for Finance by ensuring effective business critical support information is in place and contributing to maximise the availability of resources for programs by cost effective financial processes and other operating activities by timely and accurate management reporting.
• Provides permanent support to in - country Finance teams in order to improve overall transparency and accountability in Plan’s external financial reporting.
• This role is involved in the review and consolidation of regional finance reports for a regional budget worth € 100,000K.
Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:
Oversight and development of an excellent and high performing team composed of Business Analyst, Regional Office accountant and Assistant Accountant and Grants Accountant in the Regional Office and Country finance managers and officers across the region.
• Direct line-management of Regional Office Finance team ensuring excellent service support to whole regional office and Country Finance teams and services
• Line-management to the Finance team in the regional office.
• Producing and monitoring the training schedule for the region in relation to finance systems, policies and procedures.
• Line-management to the Finance team in the regional office.
• Producing and monitoring the training schedule for the region in relation to finance systems, policies and procedures.
Business planning Processes for the Regional Office
• Facilitate and coordinate business planning processes
• Consolidation and review planning inputs for the Region:
Support the Regional Finance Manager in communicating instructions and milestones within the region for business planning, including long term planning, budgeting, quarterly forecasting and cash flow forecasting
Support the Regional Finance Manager in consolidating and reviewing planning inputs from countries.
Monthly financial reports presented in a timely manner to the Regional Management with clear highlights of areas of concern affecting business.
• Monitoring key monthly, quarterly and annual financial performance measures of country offices and regional office, provide advice on corrective measures and opportunities on a timely basis and implement actions required related to financial standards
• Preparation and/or review of business plans and funding requests from countries and departments within the region, challenging the assumptions and quality of the data and presenting these on behalf of the region to International Headquarters for funding and approval
• Supporting development and execution of country funding plans
• Consolidation and review planning inputs for the Region:
Support the Regional Finance Manager in communicating instructions and milestones within the region for business planning, including long term planning, budgeting, quarterly forecasting and cash flow forecasting
Support the Regional Finance Manager in consolidating and reviewing planning inputs from countries.
Monthly financial reports presented in a timely manner to the Regional Management with clear highlights of areas of concern affecting business.
• Monitoring key monthly, quarterly and annual financial performance measures of country offices and regional office, provide advice on corrective measures and opportunities on a timely basis and implement actions required related to financial standards
• Preparation and/or review of business plans and funding requests from countries and departments within the region, challenging the assumptions and quality of the data and presenting these on behalf of the region to International Headquarters for funding and approval
• Supporting development and execution of country funding plans
Financial reporting and analysis across, region, regional office and are accurate and compliant with established policies and procedures.
• Prepare and review of periodic financial reports including year – end reporting and consolidation of periodic regional financial reports for the Regional Finance Manager’s review.
Regional Office, region and Country Offices are fully compliant with all policies and procedures related to internal financial controls and all risk associated with this area are managed.
Ensure appropriate financial controls processes, procedures and systems are in place and adhered to in the Regional Office.
Follow up finance – related audit actions for the Regional Office and implementation of global financial policies and procedures within the region
• Identifying key financial risks and reporting these to the Regional Finance Manager for inclusion in the Regional Risk Register. Recommending and implementing mitigating actions to address key financial risks.
• Maintaining a high degree of awareness of the risk of fraud and necessary fraud prevention measures and ensuring that the global fraud policy and fraud incident reporting and investigation requirements are met
• Implementation and accurate use of global finance systems within the regional office.
• Identifying key financial risks and reporting these to the Regional Finance Manager for inclusion in the Regional Risk Register. Recommending and implementing mitigating actions to address key financial risks.
• Maintaining a high degree of awareness of the risk of fraud and necessary fraud prevention measures and ensuring that the global fraud policy and fraud incident reporting and investigation requirements are met
• Implementation and accurate use of global finance systems within the regional office.
People Management.
• Develop, coach and motivate a high performing finance team for the Regional Office.
Communications and Working Relationships
Internal
Internal
• Finance team in the Regional Office,
• Country Finance Managers
• IH Finance team
• Functional networks
• Country Finance Managers
• IH Finance team
• Functional networks
External
• Regular participation in Regional INGO finance networks,
• Responsible for regional level liaison with the external auditors and managing the annual external audit process for the regional office,
• Responsible for the relationship with the regional office banker and with any preferred bankers for the region,
• External stakeholders for instance Partners or sub granteesKnowledge, Skills, and Behaviours, Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
• Regular participation in Regional INGO finance networks,
• Responsible for regional level liaison with the external auditors and managing the annual external audit process for the regional office,
• Responsible for the relationship with the regional office banker and with any preferred bankers for the region,
• External stakeholders for instance Partners or sub granteesKnowledge, Skills, and Behaviours, Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:
Knowledge
• Professional Financial/Accounting qualification (CPA or equivalent)
• Knowledge of the sector and the financial management issues specific to it an advantage
• Knowledge of the region and local finance regulations an advantage
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, Control standards and Risk management techniques and the reporting requirements of major international grant donors
• Professional Financial/Accounting qualification (CPA or equivalent)
• Knowledge of the sector and the financial management issues specific to it an advantage
• Knowledge of the region and local finance regulations an advantage
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, Control standards and Risk management techniques and the reporting requirements of major international grant donors
Skills
• Proven effective management skills leading teams across several sites and operating in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environments
• Strong team – building and motivational skills
• Strong negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills
• Excellent proven financial analytical skills
• Good written and spoken English Good presentation and communication skills in delivering financial management information
• Proficient in computer skills and use of Microsoft based packages. Experience of using general ledger packages and other databases is an advantage. (Plan uses Microsoft Dynamics, SAP and various bespoke systems).
• Proven effective management skills leading teams across several sites and operating in a multi-disciplinary and multicultural environments
• Strong team – building and motivational skills
• Strong negotiating, facilitating and influencing skills
• Excellent proven financial analytical skills
• Good written and spoken English Good presentation and communication skills in delivering financial management information
• Proficient in computer skills and use of Microsoft based packages. Experience of using general ledger packages and other databases is an advantage. (Plan uses Microsoft Dynamics, SAP and various bespoke systems).
Physical Environment and Demands:
• The position is based at the regional office which is a typical office environment.
• It requires significant travel to international meetings and to country operations, which may account for 40% of working time.
• Country visits will usually involve on-site/field visits to locations which may be remote, provide rudimentary facilities or be physically challenging in other ways.
• The position is based at the regional office which is a typical office environment.
• It requires significant travel to international meetings and to country operations, which may account for 40% of working time.
• Country visits will usually involve on-site/field visits to locations which may be remote, provide rudimentary facilities or be physically challenging in other ways.
Level of Contact with Children:
• The position involves low to medium interaction with children
• The position involves low to medium interaction with children
HOW TO APPLY:
Type of Role: 3-year fixed term contract.
Please note that only applications and CVs written in English will be accepted.
The job title should be the subject of your email application. Applications should be sent to:plan.resajob@plan-international.org
References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plan's Child Protection Policy.
Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.
