Finance Director

• TEAM/PROGRAMME: Ethiopia Country Office Senior Leadership Team
• LOCATION:  Addis Ababa
• GRADE:  Executive
• POST TYPE: National
• Child Safeguarding: 
• Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people

ROLE PURPOSE: 

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Ethiopia, the Finance Director shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office (CO).

The Finance Director is responsible for strategic and operational financial management of the Country Office portfolio in both emergency and development programming contexts. This includes internal controls and accounting, financial reporting, financial risk management, financial data accuracy and integrity, treasury, and financial aspects of award management. The position holder has a key role in ensuring the effective and efficient use of Save the Children’s resources and works closely with other departments to create a zero-tolerance culture towards fraud.

As a member of the SLT, the position holder is also expected to play a significant role in ensuring gender equity among staff is maintained across the organization.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to: Country Director, with technical reporting line to Senior Finance Lead, Africa

Staff directly reporting to this post: Deputy Finance Director, Head of Units (2)

• Save the Children’s program in Ethiopia consists of a complex portfolio with USD 60 – 70 million annual budget, 60+ awards and 30 donors.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to:

• Leadership of the Ethiopia Country Office
• The development of an organizational culture that, promotes accountability and high performance, encourages a team culture of learning, creativity, and innovation, and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors
• Design and implementation of a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to program needs
• Establishing, maintaining, and improving active and regular working relationships with host government authorities, and partner agencies including humanitarian and development donors, and local and international NGOs
• Ensuring Ethiopia Country Office complies with all Save the Children Management Operating Standards and Standard Operating Procedures
• Ensuring that all required support is provided promptly, at scale, and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies, working closely with the SCI Global Team

Planning and Budgeting

• Work with the Country Director and SMT in the management /administration of the Country Office resources and sub-offices including
• the formulation of the Country’s Annual Plan and resource allocation,
• providing effective support and guidance to the Senior Leadership Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises.
• monitoring implementation of resource utilization.
• highlighting variances, providing analyses, and recommending resolution or reallocation of resources
• Work with the Director of New Business Development, Director of Program Development and Quality and Director of Operations in developing plans to meet funding and programming needs. This includes diversification of funding resources.
• Identify and effectively manage all key risks, especially financial, related to delivering the Country Office program.
• Ensure the correct level of budget authority exists within Country’s Office Scheme of Delegation.
• Manage financial aspects of budget development for new proposals, ensuring accuracy of the budgets, including for CAM projections.
• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency finance and grants procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale-up.
• Ensure budget holders understand their responsibilities (e.g., through training).
• Ensure sub-offices receive adequate support to operate efficient accounting systems, including timely receipt of monthly budget variance analysis by budget holders, timely answers to queries, and scheduling tasks and deadlines.
• Work with the Director of HR to establish equitable staff compensation policies and practices within the Save the Children’s policies and procedures, approved budget and donor requirements.
• Work with the SLT and the Director of HR to design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to approved budget and program needs.
• Work with the SMT to ensure that the Ethiopia Country Office is financially sustainable and that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control

• Manage the Country Office financial systems and provide the SLT and all budget holders a monthly update on the budget variance analysis.
• Ensure in collaboration with Programmes and Administration that systems are in place for the control of all assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities; submit timely financial reports to the SCI Global Team and donors as required.
• Ensure that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control including:
• Annual accounts and tax statement preparation.
• Accounting and management information systems.
• Cash and cash flow management and control in particular gain/losses on currency exchange.
• Financial procedures during emergency responses, including meeting all relevant responsibilities in the Rules and Principles for Emergency Response.
• Expenditure procedures, especially around procurement.
• Documentation of all controls and procedures.
• Finance training for staff in the field and partners as necessary.
• Availability of funds for sub-offices and the Country Office.
• Monitor accurate and timely submission of financial reports and attachments to members, donors, and government regulatory agencies.
• Ensure quarterly effort reporting is prepared with major variances discussed with the SCI Global Team.
• Coordinate submission of control reports, respond to findings, and recommend resolutions or action plans
• Lead and participate in the development of finance policies and procedures to be able to maintain a well-financially controlled environment in both development and emergency contexts.
• Coordinate and assist CD during any internal or external audits.
• Ensure Monthly Financial Reports (MFRs) and other deliverables are prepared, reviewed with SLT, and submitted to the SCI Global Team regularly

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development 

• Ensure appropriate staffing within finance
• Ensure that all finance staff understand and can perform their role in an emergency
• Manage finance team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure the availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team-building processes.  Establish result-based system and follow-up mechanisms
• Ensure adequate segregation of finance duties within the Country Office
• Manage the performance of all staff in the finance work area through:
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews, and fair and unbiased evaluations.
• Coaching, mentoring, and other developmental opportunities.
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance, and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their personal development, and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future-orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members, and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, and sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency