Tide Ventures

Job Title: Head of Finance

ABOUT WINDLE INTERNATIONAL UGANDA (WIU):  

Windle International Uganda (WIU) formerly Windle Trust Uganda is a registered INGO whose mission is to promote peace and development in communities through provision and coordination of Education and training for Refugees and people affected by conflict.  

Since 1996, Windle International Uganda has provided access to University, Secondary, and Primary Education, as well as Early Childhood Development and Vocational Training for Refugees and the host communities.  

WIU is implementing Education Projects for refugees and host communities in Refugee settlements across Uganda.  WIU is multi-funded operating in 12 Field locations across South West and West Nile Regions of Uganda. WIU seeks to recruit a suitably qualified person to fill the position detailed below:

POSITION TITLE: HEAD OF FINANCE  

REPORTS TO: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DUTY STATION: Head Office (Kampala) with frequent travel to all Field locations

MONTHLY GROSS SALARY OFFER: Ugx. 10,000,000/- plus other benefits

ANNUAL ORGANIZATION BUDGET: Approximately UGX50b

  1. JOB PURPOSE:

This position is responsible for coordinating the strategic activities of the finance function; and managing organizational resources in line with organizational policies and procedures.

The Head of  Finance is also responsible for preparing and monitoring budgets ensuring that expenditure is in conformity with approved grant/donor agreements. S/he will set up and refine financial systems and procedures; that enhance efficient use of funds within approved budget lines and good Financial Management practice. He/She will lead a team that consists of over 20 employees based at the Head Office and at the various Field Locations across the country. The Head of Finance is a member of the Senior Management Team.

  • RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Supervise and monitor the liquidity position and treasury function of the organization to ensure that the organization can meet its financial obligations as they fall due.
  • Develop meaningful finance indicators against which to assess impact, cost effectiveness and value for money in the main areas of our work, drawing on internal and external best practice and contributing to the further improvement of WIU’s expertise in the area.
  • Design a system to monitor field expenditures/bank balances ensuring that all projects have funds, have accounted for funds previously received and have requested for the necessary required funds.  
  • Ensure monthly bank reconciliation statements and petty cash statements and balance sheet reconciliation are prepared in a timely manner.
  • Prepare and monitor the organisation cash flow status based project budgets
  • Manage the organization foreign currencies bank accounts and the transfers thereof.

Supervise, support and retain a competent finance team as well as training of the non-finance team in line with the Financial Management Policies.

Conceptualize and analyze accounting systems and disseminate this to the finance team especially in solving complex problems.

Provide technical support to the finance team in building their capacity and ability to deal with finance related issues.

Participate in recruitment of Finance staff in accordance with organizational policies and procedures and with mutually agreed plans & budgets.

In collaboration with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and as part of the annual planning process, analyze staffing levels and capacities to deliver work-plans.

Recommend and follow up on staff development initiatives, i.e. induction, appropriate training, appraisals and ensure these are in line with organization mission.

Budget preparation and Monitoring

Provide technical guidance during preparation of project budgets and budget review exercises

Use approved software to monitor actual expenditure against budget

Produce monthly, biannual and annual financial reports to monitor actual expenditure against budget and share these with Management

Review, check the accuracy and completeness of the project budgets before upload in accounting software.

Design budget templates with appropriate formulae for use during budgeting exercise.

Provide support to project teams in the area of costing of activities and budget preparation.

Responsible for the financial implementation and reporting of donor funded projects.

Respond timely and consistently to audit queries and implement audit recommendations from both external and internal auditors.

Coordinate sanctioned audit exercises (scheduling, provision of documentation, response to audit queries and Refer auditors to relevant persons who can clear any non-finance matters)

Implement the audit recommendations as stated in the report or take appropriate action as required.

Train and share experiences with the concerned units/projects in areas of weaknesses identified.

Monitor Finance activities at various locations through support supervision visits to projects to ensure the recommendations are being implemented.

Improve and maintain financial and management gathering of information systems that will enable accurate and timely reporting. (Both internally and externally)

Understand the workings of approved software and be able to disseminate this information to finance staff.

Check for accuracy, completeness and validity of financial data before it is posted into accounting software

Refer to software manual to solve problems.

Backup and restore procedures to ensure system integrity /security and also relate this to operation of the system and detection of system failures.

Manage and administer approved software to ensure it runs efficiently.

Design and write reports from approved software to address the information requirements of stakeholders.

Through analysis and evaluation of performance reports develop a learning culture for capturing both personal and institutional learning and knowledge and making it available in a way that ensures it can be accessed, adapted and used by others.

Monitor and maintain the general internal control environment by ensuring proper utilization of organizational resources.

Apply financial polices to daily operations in the finance department.

Regularly evaluate the accounting system and propose possible improvements.

Take the Lead in the review and periodic updating of the Financial Policy and Procedural Document

Check that all authorizing persons are operating within their authorized limits.

Support the organisation in the development and maintenance of good and generally accepted financial discipline, financial management and accountability.

Ensure that there is full compliance to organizational financial policies and procedures.

Assets and Corporate management

Contribute and maintain policies on the use of organization assets

Contribute to decisions on strategic resource allocation.

Contribute to policy and management decisions as a member of senior management team.

Board Relations

Prepare and present Quarterly reports to the Finance and Audit &Risk Board Committee

Participate in the induction of Board members in their Finance Management role

Provide periodic input and advice at board meetings on matters relating to Finance Management

Qualification and Experience

S/he must possess a University degree, in Commerce/Finance/Accounting/Business and Fully Certified Accountant- CPA, ACCA or FCCA. A Masters qualification is an added advantage

Must have at least 8 years of proven experience at managerial level related to Financial Management and reporting in the (I)NGO sector.

Proven experience in carrying out high quality financial analyses in the (I)NGO sector.

Managing country wide programmes.

Knowledge:  

  • Comprehensive knowledge and experience with UN Agency Financial reporting guidelines and procedures
  • Knowledge of capacity building, learning and development activities and understanding of how to create learning and sharing environment with a strong knowledge management philosophy
  • Politically astute, with a good understanding of key external organizations, how they operate and make decisions, and the country development context
  • Knowledge of, and experience in working with multiple donors and partners

Necessary Skills and Essential Competencies:

  • Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills; able to understand complex issues and translate them into simple, workable actions and plans  
  • Excellent presentation and report-writing skills
  • S/he must demonstrate good familiarity with Accounting software and use of Enterprise Resource Systems/ Programs Software.
  • Proven administrative leadership and management ability in the areas of strategic planning and Organizational development.
  • Ability to develop, monitor and maintain Management Information Systems and procedures.
  • Ability to lead and to contribute to the team.
  • Must be result-oriented with high level of negotiation skills
  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and interpersonal skills;
  • Ability to work under strict deadlines: high caliber time management competency
  • Ability to adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through
  • Ability to think strategically; work creatively, effectively and in an innovative manner

Application deadline:

Thursday, February 18th 2021

Send application to: cv@tideventures.org 

Clearly Marked as: Head of Finance.

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