Country Finance Manager
Date: 27-May-2020

Location: Yaounde, CE, CM

Company: Plan International

Plan International is an independent non-profit development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

ROLE PROFILE

Title: Country Finance Manager
Functional Area: Country Finance Team
Reports to Operational: Deputy Country Director – Operations
Functional: Regional Finance Manager
Location: Yaounde Travel required: 30%
Effective Date: January 2020 Grade:

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is an independent non-profit development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

We work together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners.

We strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for close to 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

The Country Finance Manager (CFM) is responsible for leading, managing and developing the Finance Team. The CFM supports the implementation of Plan International financial standards, processes and systems throughout Plan International Cameroon.

The CFM promotes a working environment which effectively supports Plan Cameroon program delivery and ensure accountabilities to children, communities, and donors.

The CFM supports Plan International Cameroon Management Team to improve our operational excellence by regular reviews to our systems and processes.

As a finance team leader the CFM must demonstrate a high understanding of the financial policies and strategies and their impact on Plan international operational in the country, as well as advise the Plan International management team on country financial matters, including taxation.
The Country Finance Manager is responsible for providing timely and reliable financial information, analysis and reports for effective management decision making.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

• The position of Country Finance Manager is an integral part of the team responsible for the overall management of all areas related to finance: budgetary management and financial reporting and analysis; Accounting and treasury; internal financial control oversight, and contractors’ payments;
• Lead the Finance contribution to proposal writing and resource mobilization;
• The position manages the following Line reports: Country Accountant; Business Analyst; Project Accountants; PU Finance Coordinators;
• The Country Finance Manager leads the financial services with an estimated annual portfolio of over 10 Million Euros;
• Supports the Grants Management Team on proper FAD/SPAD Processes;
• Supports Country Leadership Team in providing regular high level analysis of budgets for programs and operations to allow appropriate management decisions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES
Country Leadership Team:

• Participate in Country Leadership Team decision-making
• Support the Country Leadership Team to manage partnership relationships and processes (Government, organizations/NGOs and communities)
• Manage the financial risks exposure of Plan International operations in-country

Budgeting and planning:

• Support Country Leadership Team (CLT) by providing regular high level analysis of budgets for programs and operations for effective and timely management decisions
• Lead the business planning, including budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and cash flow forecasting, including staff capacity building
• Organize and control the annual budget and quarterly financial processes, ensuring timely communication of instructions and meeting deadlines
• Implement the country cost recovery and apportioning processes through a structured protocol.
• Leads financial proposal writing and resource mobilization

Financial reporting and cash management:

• Build capacity of the country finance team to facilate timely completion of financial transactions which respect fully the corporate requirements and procedures
• Ensure that all financial risks management tools and controls are periodically reviewed to eliminate any financial malpractices from the operating environment (Authorization Matrices, Duty Matrix, Financial Transactions Checklist, Cash Forecasting, etc.)
• Act as the country focal point for the corporate financial software and cash management processes, and ensure that staff capacity is adequately built to ensure an effective country operations
• Participate in the organiastion’s overall partnership management processes through partner capacity assessments, capacity building, financial reporting where necessary
• Ensure compliance with national financial regulations, including taxation
• Lead the submission of timely and reliable financial management information for all projects (both grants and individual giving funds) including key aspects of compliance and financial accountability as required by Donors, internal rules and regulations
• Support the Country Leadership Team (CLT) to improve the organsaition’s operation excellence (regular review of our systems and processes)
• Lead finance contribution to proposal writing and resource mobilization
• Support grant management team on proper FAD/SPAD approval process

Grants and Sponsorship financial reporting and record-keeping:

• Establishing complete grants and sponsorship projects’ budgets which include cost recovery of staff costs and support services
• Accurate maintenance of grants and sponsorship projects’ expenditures records including supporting documentation
• Review of financial reporting prepared for submission to donors to ensure it is accurate and on time.
• Maintaining close monitoring of advances to partners, expenditure reporting by partners and complete supporting documentation

Risk management:

• Ensure appropriate financial standards, controls processes, procedures, and systems are in place and adhered to
• Ensure finance related audit actions are implemented and alternative actions taken as required to address weaknesses in financial controls and procedures identified in finance and other forms of audit reports

Team leadership:

• Recruit, develop and motivate a high performing finance team
• Leading regular meetings of finance team members, including those at the Program Units.
• Ensuring performance management of all finance staff occurs in line with the global standard

Implementation of Child and Youth Safeguarding measures

• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports to Country Director
• Provides financial services and business advice to CD and project management teams
• Manages the performance of Finance staff including those directly assigned to projects
• Regular participation in national INGO finance networks
• Responsible for project-level liaison with external auditors
• Responsible for the project level liaison with the national office in the finance matters
• Work closely with Plan International National offices and country office staff on internal and external financial reviews and audits
• Work closely with project finance/grants/administrative staff and sub-grantees to ensure appropriate implementation of the project
• Work closely with bank officials and other financial institutions
• Work closely with Program Unit Managers on budget and expenditures monitoring

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge

• Relevant university qualification(s) in Accounting or Finance or a professional qualification in accountancy (e.g., CPA/CA/ACCA) or a related field with a minimum of 5 years’ experience preferably with INGO. A Masters degree in finance and above is an asset
• Knowledge of the sector and the financial management issues specific to it an advantage
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, Control standards and the reporting requirements of major international donors

Skills

• Proven effective and practical management skills leading teams across several sites and operating in a multicultural and matrix management structure
• Excellent proven financial analytical skills
• Ability to demonstrate and foster in team members a strong commitment to meeting the needs of other employees and managers for financial services
• Good written and spoken French and English an asset
• Proficient in Microsoft office packages, general ledger, grants tracking and automated financial systems

Behaviours

• Striving for high performance across the team and for Plan’s business
• Strategic thinking and innovation – finding efficiencies in the use of resources
• Decision making and risk management – identification and action on financial risk management in line with compliance requirements
• Building effective teams and partnerships – with teams and suppliers
• Developing people – leaving a legacy of a locally able team
• Self-awareness and resilience – operating in a highly volatile and developing context

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
This position is based at the Country Office in Yaounde. The incumbent is required to travel 30% of the time according to the need of support from program areas

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN
MID CONTACT: OCCASIONAL INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN

The job responsibilities of this position does not require the post holder to have any one-to-one contact with children on a daily basis. There would be occasional contact with children and it is expected that children shall be protected at all times.

To apply for this job, kindly click on « Apply ». Your application should include:

A cover letter
A comprehensive CV including details of three referees, one of whom should be your current of most recent supervisor

Location: Yaounde – Cameroon

Closing date: 20 December 2019

Plan International Cameroon operates in an equal opportunity environment and actively encourages diversity. Only applications received in French or English will be treated and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Plan international has a child protection and gender equality policies that are integral part of the recruitment process.