Finance Manager (Budget & Reporting)

Country Office: Ethiopia

Work Base: Addis Ababa

Availability: As Soon As Possible

Salary Scale: EMS09

               Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger-USA is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the lives of malnourished children and we enable entire communities to be free from hunger. With more than 8,000 staff in over 50 countries, our programs reached 17 million people in 2019.

About the Country Program in Ethiopia

Action Against Hunger has been operational in Ethiopia since 1984 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sectoral strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience. Action Against Hunger currently operates in 5 different regions (Oromia, Somali, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Gambella) with a portfolio of 20m USD/year of emergency, resilience building, research, and innovation programs. We have a country team of around 600 staff in 17 regional and satellite offices. Our main donors in Ethiopia in 2020/2021 are BHA, ECHO, Europaid, UNHCR, UNICEF, GFFO, BPRM, SIDA, EHF, WFP, CIAA, and others.

Summary of position 

• Under the supervision of the Deputy Head of Finance Department-Budget & Reporting, the Capital office Finance Manager, Budget & Reporting is responsible for
• Budget Proposal Development; Donor Reporting; Government Budget Development; Government Report; PL and SPO Validation and BFU Update.

The Finance Manager role’s purpose, engagement, and delivery are:

Purpose: The purpose of the role is to ensure high-quality preparation of budgets for proposals in accordance with donor guidelines, timely preparation of financial reports for donors and government, provide proactive financial analysis on burn rates to enable the deputy and head of finance department to make sound management decisions.

Engagement: The Finance Manager- Budget & reporting- closely collaborates with Business Development Lead, Grant team, and Technical Advisors, and Head of Departments while executing his/her role in financial pre and post-award management of grants. Besides, he/she oversees sub grantees’ financial activities, while monitoring and reviewing partner's financial reports, advance requests, and updating partner's financial report tracking. 

Delivery: Preparation of high-quality and timely budget proposals; donor reports; government budget development; government report; purchase line and supplier purchase order(SPO) validation and Budget Follow Up (BFU) updates.

Essential Duties

• Work closely with Business Development Lead/Team in the preparation of budgets for proposals in accordance with donor guidelines and deadlines, ensure that all such budgets are submitted to Deputy Finance HOD/ Finance HOD for review and validation;
• Prepare budget proposal templates and modify existing templates to meet the demands of new donors requirements;
• Ensure required information are shared with Technical Advisors and Head of Departments ahead of time;
• Ensure that the cost information (Personnel and Logistic/support costs) are updated, accurate/ realistic, and reasonable for the proposed budget;
• Advise Technical Advisors in formulating their budget proposals, on the eligibility and compliance issues related to budgeting;
• Review activity budgets for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with laws and other regulations;
• Design and prepare BFUs for newly signed contracts in alignment with donor reporting templates;
• Update the BFU on monthly basis with actual expenditure and forecasts from the bases;
• Administer and monitor the assigned donor budget(s);
• Take the lead on Grant Budget revision/Modification/Amendment for assigned budgets/grants, if any;
• Monitor and control current expenditure, liaising with program staff when necessary, to ensure that expenditure stays within available funding and agreed budgets using BFU and highlight as appropriate under/overspends and burn rates and communicate agreed to actions to the relevant authority for decision;
• Performs various analyses to support financial recommendations on variances.
• Provide support to Program Managers with regard to financial policies/practices and related areas as required;
• Participate in grant opening (kick-off) meeting, monthly BFU review meeting, and Grant closing meetings;
• Coordinate with Grant management team to ensure timely submission of donor reports, government reports, and other reports to concerned staff or the relevant authorities;
• Ensure that all financial reports are in compliance with AAH and donor’s policies, procedures, and requirements;
• Provide support on Donor specific audit process;
• Follow up on payments received and receivables on regular basis for completed and active grants by coordinating with the Country Grant team, HEARO, and HQ;
• Ensure the payment received in-country is correctly (the correct amount, correct account code, and correct donor code) recorded in the accountancy;
• Follow up on payables to partners according to the signed partnership agreement
• Request the regional office/HQ for payment to partners;
• Update receivables follow up tool every month and share with Deputy Finance HoD/ Finance HoD;
• Oversee subgrant activities, monitoring, and compliance including organizational assessments, develop subgrant monitoring plans; perform and document compliance visits;
• Review of partners financial reports, advance requests, and update partners financial report tracking;
• Develop and implement capacity building training and technical support to the country program team, field office (base) staff, and the partners to ensure effective management of grants as well as building the capacity of staff and partners in relation to finance;
• Regular field visits to the bases to provide technical support;
• Validation of procurement requests based on threshold limits;
• Other tasks and responsibilities as directed by the immediate supervisor;

Supervisory Responsibilities

• N/A

Gender Equality Commitments  

• Foster an environment that supports the values of women and men, and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 
• Value and respect all cultures. 

Fiscal Responsibility

• N/A 

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with many interruptions. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 Working Conditions, Travel, and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business purposes. While performing the duties of this job in the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases. 

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

• BA degree in Accounting or finance; Professional certification in Accounting or Finance would add an advantage.
• Minimum of 7 years professional work experience in a finance or accounting role for an NGO (accounting, cash, and budget management, knowledge of donor’s and ACF guidelines, internal audit process). Experience in coaching and team building; Experience in communicating financial results to managers; Experience in managing & supporting staff.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and planning skills
• Ability to forecast, Computer skills
• Good oral and Written Communication Skills
• Decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work to deadlines,
• Independently organize and complete assigned tasks under minimal supervision, Plan and organize work to meet deadlines; review and edit documents for accuracy and completeness; prepare clear and concise correspondence and reports on a variety of financial, budgetary, and administrative issues.

Expected Qualities

• Professionalism
• Team Work, Proactive
• Motivational
• Autonomy
• Independence

How to Apply

APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

If you are interested, please send your application composed of none returnable CV, a Covering Letter with “Finance Manager (Budget & Reporting)” written in the subject line, and three references, applicants to the following address:

Through CLICK HERE

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be, communicated on and the selection process includes technical tests and an interview.

Action Against Hunger-USA provides all staff with an attractive salary & benefits package. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Action Against Hunger-USA complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.