Save the Children began working in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1994 when the conflict started in the east of the country. The Democratic Republic of Congo is acknowledged to be one of the most difficult countries in which to grow up. Access to essential services is very limited and children are subject to widespread exploitation and abuse, including recruitment into armed groups, forced labour, sexual abuse and abandonment.

Purpose of the Job 

• Reporting to the Director of Finance, the basic function of this position is to provide efficient and effective financial support services to all programs/projects.
• The position will specifically be tasked with the financial management of field offices and providing support to all projects, including effectively managing the financial functions, ensuring that accurate and timely financial information is produced for the management team and assist budget holders in day-to-day management of their budgets.
• With an extensive travel to field offices (estimated at 60% of his or her time) will supervise the finance officers and facilitate all financial activities and internal control of the field offices.

Key Performance Areas

1. Controllership

• Ensures that all policies and procedures are in compliance with SCI and funding source policies. Strengthen finance function, systems, policies and procedures
• Meets all financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by the country office and funding source.
• Ensures balance sheet reconciliations of the relevant field offices are reviewed and submitted on a timely basis.
• Closely monitors all financial activities, and keeps the Director of Finance and the budget holders advised of all situations, which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance.
• Directs the preparation of all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, compliance and contractual requirements. Facilitates and co-ordinates external, internal, donor and statutory audits.
• Identifies risk, develops schedules and performs the completion of country internal control measures and initiates necessary action correct weaknesses and mitigate risks.
• Oversees the protection of the assets (cash, inventory, GIK, fixed assets) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures.
• Collects and compiles all relevant field offices information for monthly, quarterly and annual reports as per SCI financial reporting calendar.

2. Staff Training, Capacity Building and Management

• Develops and implements a training program for budget holders, finance and non-finance staff to ensure staff development and minimize SCI’s exposure to risk when staff are absent or depart. This includes among others, training, recruitment, annual leave planning, etc.
• Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed on a timely basis, and facilitates discussion of performance and career options with all finance officers.
• Prepare and updates the induction pack and ensures newly hired (national and international staff) deployed in relevant area of work have received timely and adequate induction in all applicable Finance policies and procedures.
• Supports field finance officers to understand and execute their tasks and meet the annual objectives of finance department and the expectations of field offices.

3. Treasure Management

• Supervises all bank relations and bank account activities of relevant field offices including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates. In compliance with SCI policy develops policies for cash holding limits, cash movements and foreign currency holdings in field offices. Oversees the timely preparation, monthly cash and bank reconciliations.
• Designs, implements, and monitors systems, procedures to maintain accurate forecasts of cash required to meet future spending, including commitments and obligation of the field offices.
• Ensuring sound filling system of the financial information of the field offices.
• Supervises the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests of the relevant field offices and ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation.
• Ensures the development and implementation plan to minimize the country’s foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses.

4. Budget and Reporting

• Assists with the preparation and revision of program and grant proposals budgets including operating budget with budget guidelines to assist program managers in formulating budgets.
• Ensure all grant financial reports are prepared and submitted to the member/donor on timely basis.
• Coordinate and supervise field Finance Coordinators and ensure the required skills and competencies are in place.
• Ensures all budgeting tools (Master Budget, Salary and costs allocation schedule, etc) are reasonable and regularly updated to guide management decisions.
• Assists the Director of finance to develop a methodology for allocation of overhead to grant budgets. Prepares the annual and monthly cash budgets based on approved funding.
• Complete the mapping of the new grant budget in line with SCI coding structure and upload it into Agresso.
• Present and facilitate the review of actual to budget and expenditures reallocations with budget holders, program managers.
• Ensures month end financial activities of field offices are timely completed and entered into Agresso with accurate information. This included, month end adjustments, checking and posting accurate GLACOS of the field offices, bank reconciliation are completed, etc.
• Responsible for the consolidation of field offices Grant and Finance meetings; regularly lead Grant and Finance meetings and ensures all recommendation are addressed efficiently on time.

5. Sub-grantees/Partners

• Works with operation, grant and program on sub grantee/partner pre award assessment.
• Develops training plan for sub grantees/partner on grant financial management and donor specific requirements.
• Reviews sub grantees/partners book of accounts and financial documents as per the grant agreement. Ensures transfer of fund, reporting requirement, and liquidations are as per sub grant agreement.
• Ensures that all project accountants or Finance specialists carry on project financial management activities in accordance with the SCI and relevant donor rules and regulations.

Profile

Qualification and Experience

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized institution or a Masters degree in Accounting.
• Minimum three years of non-profit managerial financial experience, Requires extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems preferably in SUN or Agresso or ERPs, standard spreadsheet and database programs.
• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support. Must be a patient and good communicator who can function in an organizational environment involving a diversity of cultures, languages, and personal interests and agendas.
• Good at role of facilitator and team player in solving problems and committed to staff training and development.
• Proven experience in grant management and donor reporting.
• Fluency in written and spoken French and good command in English.
• Ability to work with limited supervision.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims values and principles.

How to Apply

All applications and queries must be addressed to KM Global Consulting and sent directly to info@kmglobalconsult.com stating SC-FM-DRC in the subject line. Please make sure to submit a comprehensive Resume and Letter of Application in application.