Reference:PO/CFC/MW
Country: Malawi
Job Title: Country Financial Controller
Contract Grade: B
Contract Length:Two year
Accompanied / Unaccompanied: Accompanied
Exact Job Location:Lilongwe
Reports To: Country Director
Responsible For:Direct Supervision of Malawi head office finance staff and strong co-management support to field f inance staff.
Liaises With: Regional Accountant; Oversees Finance Department; ACD’s, Concern Malawi programme teams; local Banks and Suppliers
Job Purpose:
The Country Financial Controller is responsible for managing all aspects of the finance function of the Concern Worldwide Malawi country programme so that we achieve our objectives in line with Concern Worldwide’s policies, procedures and standards.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
Financial Systems
· Ensure that country financial management systems & records are adequate in order to identify and protect the assets & interest of the organization.
· Ensure that the systems in place, enhance, as far as possible, the efficiency & effectiveness of the manner in which assets are utilized
· Ensure that the global accounting package (Microsoft Great Plains) is maintained in a proper manner, and utilized in an appropriate & effective manner.
· Establish & maintain a donor financial management system in order to optimize funding & to ensure efficient & accurate reporting to donors.
· Ensure adequate controls over cash & bank management are constantly monitored & updated to minimize the risk of fraud or misappropriation.
· Undertake regular field visits in order to assess the financial systems in place & implement improvements wherever need
· Closely monitor all financial activities, and keep the CD/Country Management Team advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial management performance
· Undertake financial assessments & evaluation of partners, in line with Concern’s standard financial procedures.
· Participate in the review, monitoring and capacity building of partners
· Ensure that partner finance reports are thoroughly reviewed in coordination with the respective Programme staff.
Financial Control
· Maintain an effective & efficient system of internal controls which comply with Concern Worldwide’s financial guidelines.
· Review existing systems on an on-going basis in order to develop and improve internal controls, in compliance with Concern’s policies and procedures
· Ensure that all financial records & accounts are compiled timely, accurately and in line with international accounting standards & donor regulations
· Ensure that the country financial operations comply with legal & statutory requirements e.g. audit & financial reporting to all relevant national authorities.
· Ensure that country management prepares the annual & revised Country budget and donor budgets, as accurately as possible.
Financial Reporting
· Ensure timely & accurate preparation of monthly management accounts for budget-holders and Country Management to ensure that they can monitor the budget utilization and take appropriate action on any significant variances.
· Ensure timely & accurate preparation of quarterly financial reports for Dublin (Financial Reporting Pack (FRP))
· Ensure timely & accurate preparation of donor reports for external donors / agencies.
· Reconcile all balance sheet items on a quarterly basis, in accordance with Concern Worldwide policies & procedures
· Finalise year end accounts for external auditor and provide any ad-hoc year end reports for Dublin
Staff Management & Capacity Building
• Develop the capacity of the local finance team in Lilongwe and in the field offices of Mchinji, Nkhotakota, and Nsanje to ensure that a good standard of financial management is maintained.
• Develop a second layer of staff who can provide cover and/ or fill the gap whenever any position is vacant in the finance team.
• Undertake financial training of budget-holders, to assist them in enforcing financial controls & making decisions based on financial reports.
Other financial duties
• Facilitate internal, external & donor audits
• Follow up on the implementation of internal and external audit findings and their reporting
• Ensure that all statutory deductions & taxes in respect of national staff are complied with & to liaise with relevant authorities in this respect
· Assist in the development and implementation of the Country’s Strategic Plan
· Actively participate in the CMT and SMT meetings and be proactively involved in the decision making processes
• Any other finance-related assignments
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
- Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:
- Accountancy Qualification (e.g. CPA, ACA, ACCA)
- 3 years post qualification experience in Concern or a similar organization preferably as international staff.
- Experience in developing staff capacity technically and management
- Experience managing large and multi-donor programme budgets,
- Fluent English
DESIRABLE
Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:
- Knowledge of development issues and concepts.
- Ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines
- Good team worker
- Good Communication and negotiation Skills
- Knowledge of computer applications i.e. Microsoft word, Excel, communications systems.
Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:
- Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity
- Empathy with Concern’s goals and a commitment to capacity building, protection and participation
- Good communication and training / capacity building skills
- Proven organisation, planning and management skills
- Ability to work on own initiative and lead diverse teams
- Flexible and adaptable to a changing environment
- Strong interpersonal and team work skills
How to apply:
All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date.
CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.
Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.
Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Programme Participant Protection Policy
Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.
Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).
Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.
