vacancy Announcement from Save the Children : Finance Director
Finance Director – (220000CD)
The Opportunity
Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential. We work together, with our partners from civil societies and government, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We reached approximately two million populations and invests over 40 million US dollars annually to reach more children than ever before, through programs in Health, Nutrition, Education, Protection and Child Rights and Governance, Livelihood, HIV and AIDS, and Humanitarian crises.
As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Nepal, the Finance Director is responsible for developing financial strategies, engage in the development and delivery of Country Strategy Plans (CSPs), developing financial annual plans and reporting on results. The Finance Director – as a member of Senior Management Team (SMT), shares the overall responsibility for the financial direction and coordination of the Nepal/Bhutan Country Office. The position holder will be accountable to the Country Director (CD) for effective financial, planning, control and compliance services in both emergencies and development programming contexts.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Country Director. This position reports functionally to Regional Finance Director, Asia.
Staff Reporting to this position: Direct Reporting – Financial Planning and Analysis Manager and Finance Operation Manger and technical reporting of large awards, Sr./ Finance Manager and Field Finance Managers
Role Dimensions: As one of the most senior staff in the Country Office, the Finance Director must demonstrate the qualities of agile leadership. S/he plays a key role in defining and pursuing the strategic direction for Save the Children’s programs in Nepal/Bhutan, ensuring the relevance, coherence, safety and impact of our programs for children in all contexts. The position holder will be responsible to oversee the overall country office’s financial management. The job requires the establishment of standards, overall checking of progress, the formulation of policies, etc. It also involves negotiation, influencing and representation of SCI position with senior level representatives including governmental level decision makers, donors, wider Alliance and global SC community. It requires to take decision on several inter-related issues, crossing programs and service areas to achieve broad objectives. One of the major responsibility of the job is coordinating and collaborating with varied work groups, programs and external stakeholders.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Strategic Direction:
- Responsible for strategic direction and leadership to Save the Children Nepal Bhutan overall finance team.
- Responsible for long term financial planning in line with Child Safeguarding Policy, coordination of annual budget exercise, revision, and update of in-country financial policy, analyse financial performance of the country operation, undertake capacity building initiatives for the field office-based finance staff, set financial performance standards and re-engineer processes within Finance for smooth operation.
- Guide/Assist the Country Director and the SMT in the Financial management / administration of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices.
- Implementation of Global Finance Strategy at Country Office Level.
Role as Senior Management Team member
- Support development of an organizational culture that reflects our dual mandate values; 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
- Assist CD and the SMT to develop an effective internal control framework and operationalize such framework
- Act as key business partner of DCD-POD and other Departments heads in driving the BVA KPI performance across the CO, helping to meet ‘zero GA outstanding audit findings’ target and improving procurement and stock control environment.
- Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with – host government authorities, partner agencies including humanitarian and development donors. and local and international NGOs
- Establish and maintain good relationship with relevant government ministries and departments, UN agencies, donors, and NGOs, in order to strengthen coordination and collaboration and to generate interest and funding for Nepal Bhutan Country Office programs.
- As a Senior Management Team member contribute towards overall organizational goals and objectives by participating in strategy formulation, policy development and various business processes design and providing required financial analysis to aid decision making.
- Maintain strategic links with government of key ministries at national, regional and district levels, identify opportunities and ensure Save the Children’s participation in key activities of the national, provincial, and local level government
- Ensure that Save the Children policies are coherent and relevant to current policies in Nepal and internationally
- Maintain and develop relations with the Government and other relevant Government related stakeholders including represent SCI at high level and routine Government meetings
Financial Performance and Standards:
- Leading Country Office staff to ensure the effective delivery and control of key systems and functionalities of the country program financially.
- Lead design of the Scheme of Delegation (SoD) in line with SCI policies and procedures and provide guidance to the budget holders on appropriate usage of SoD
- Ensure Nepal/Bhutan Country Office complies with all Save the Children Management Operating Standards and Standard Operating Procedures
- Communicate financial information to non-finance staff in a programmatic and understandable language
- Ensure that all required support is provided promptly, at scale and in line with the rules and principles during emergencies working closely with the Regional Office
- Ensure integrity of budget, accounts, forecasts and strategic plans
Financial Leadership, Talents Retention and Development
- Responsible for the overall Finance function, (FPA and CC) ensuring compliance with GAAP, SCI, donor accounting and financial reporting requirements
- Supervise FPA Manager and Finance Operation Manager and ensure development, review and finalization of all project budgets and/or amendments, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, SCI’s internal financial guidelines, requirements of the SCI GMS and consistent with SCI programming principles and the Country Program Strategy Plan
- Ensure appropriate staffing within Finance department
- Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.
- Establish result-based system and follow up
- Ensure finance team have the right finance skills and experience to carry out their roles. Manage the professional development of future finance leaders.
- 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
- Encourage a team culture of learning, creativity, and innovation
Financial Control and Financial Compliance
- Document and maintain complete and accurate supporting information for all financial transactions
- Develop and maintain financial accounting systems for cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, credit control, and petty cash
- Maintain KPI cash flow for Nepal and Bhutan in coordination with large projects and field office.
- Ensure accurate recording of accounting transactions into the accounting system (Agresso) and maintenance of Financial Management System (FMS)
Financial Planning and Analysis
- Present accurate financial data/information to SMT, ARO and HQ.
- Monitor business performance, and oversee budgets and that staff is following
- Work along with program and support function in developing plans to meet long-term funding and programming needs including diversification of funding sources
- Ensure Nepal/Bhutan Country Office’s financial sustainability is effectively managed through the optimization and mastery of the Country Office’s Cost Structure, Proposal Development, CAM Calculator, NAF Management and Funding Gap analysis
- Guide the new proposal development budget ensuring appropriate cost recovery and developing wining proposal budget
Financial Risk Management
- In place CO internal check and control system as required by SCI SOP and ensure funds are used as intended
- Provide financial leadership to large awards and ensure functional mechanism is in place to integrate basic financial functions to central systems
- Ensure maintenance of timely and accurate accounts and financial internal control
Statutory Compliance
- Ensure that all statutory requirements of the organization are met including Charitable Status, Withholding Payments, Income Tax, Goods and Services Tax.
- Prepare all supporting information for the annual audit and liaise with the external auditors as necessary
Finance Business Partnering
- With the Award management team review donor contracts and negotiate, consultancy agreements and provide guidance to strengthen budgeting and budget monitoring; and provide training and TA to Program managers and Finance team
- Work closely with field finance team for TA and capacity building.
- With key members of the finance team visit Nepal/Bhutan sub offices on regular basis and provide training and technical assistance in the area job responsibilities
- Create an enabling environment to business partner for all the strategic and operational financial management
- Ensure all the procurements are in line with donor compliance and financial requirements are fulfilled while selecting vendors.
Finance Transformation
- Implementation of Finance Transformation Projects (eg S2P, CAAP) according to rollout plan and to achieve the improvements in effectiveness and efficiency of the projects.
Government Relationships
- Maintain strategic links with government of key ministries at national, regional and district levels, identify opportunities and ensure Save the Children’s participation in key activities of the national, provincial, and local level government
Ensure that Save the Children policies are coherent and relevant to current policies in Nepal and internationally
Maintain and develop relations with the Government and other relevant Government related stakeholders including represent SCI at high level and routine Government meetings
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
Academic Qualification
- At least Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Certified Account or equivalent in related discipline(s) with specialization in Finance
Working Experience
- At least 10 years (7 years for GSI group*) of experience in leading financial and grant management and progressive senior management experience.
*GSI group includes Female, Dalit, Madhesi, People with Disabilities and other indigenous/minorities
Job related knowledge and skills
- Excellent experience of financial management including financial planning, budgeting, and strategic modelling
- Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures
- Ability to analyse complex financial data and design and produce effective management information.
- Analytical, decision making and strategic planning skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities
- Demonstrated people management skills with the ability to manage a complex, large and diverse team
- Ability to coach, mentor, delegate appropriately and provide developmental guidance to supervised staff
- Demonstrated credibility with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels of an organization
- Leadership skills, including the ability to inspire and motivate qualified professional staffs with strong personal value systems
- Ability to plan and organize a substantial workload that includes complex, diverse tasks and res possibilities in both development and emergency contexts. Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
- Fluency in written/oral English; Nepali language skills a plus
- A commitment to the vision, mission, values, and principles of SCI
- Having the attitude of non-discriminatory and gender sensitive.
Desirable
- Experience of exposure to developing countries
- Experience working in humanitarian emergencies
- High level of commitment to the principles of development and to the organizational and programmatic goals of Save the Children
Required No.(s): 1(Nepali Citizens only)
Contract length: Fixed Term
Location: Based in Country Office, Kathmandu
The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
- No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
- All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
- Violence against children is no longer tolerated
We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
Application Information
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.
Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Location: Kathmandu
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Closing Date: Jan 26, 2022
