South Sudan: Finance Controller Cordaid, South Sudan

Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

Cordaid is one of the leading CSO’s in the Netherlands, working in fragile contexts on Health, Resilience, Economic opportunities, Humanitarian aid and Security & Justice. Apart from our work abroad we also contribute to new forms of job creation and social innovation in The Netherlands.

Cordaid is a member of the international Catholic networks Caritas and CIDSE and we are active in worldwide civil society networks.

For the Cordaid Country office in South Sudan, Juba Cordaid is looking for a Finance Controller

Introduction

Cordaid has been working in what is now South Sudan since 2000, initially through partnerships with local organizations and the Catholic Church in Upper Nile, Juba and Western Equatoria states. In 2012, we commenced direct implementation of humanitarian and livelihoods security projects in the country. Our current South Sudan portfolio covers health care (including nutrition), resilience, security & justice, lobby & advocacy and humanitarian aid.

Position and responsibility

The Finance Controller, as Head of the Finance unit, is responsible for all aspects of overall financial management, as well as administration for all operations of Cordaid in South Sudan.

He/she is part of the Senior Country Management Team and reports to the Director Country Office

with a functional line to the Regional Finance Controller. S/he supervisors the departmental staff and provides technical support to the Programme Finance Officers and ensures that the finance staff in the field are trained and supported to be efficient.

General objective of the posting

The Finance Controller is responsible for managing the accounts receivables and payables of the organization. He also develops the organization’s budget, prepares financial reports and is involved in directing its investment activities. The Finance Controller is also responsible for planning the organization’s long-term financial goals and protecting assets.

Specific objectives

Finance activities, responsibility and accountability

· Develop, implement and continuously review the organisation’s financial, administrative and management systems and processes, and ensure compliance with Cordaid, donor’s & statutory requirements, and adherence to financial reporting procedures and internal control mechanisms;

· Take responsibility for all banking activities, including negotiating fees and interest rates, monthly bank reconciliation, and submit the ledgers to the Country Director for authorisation;

· Minimize Cordaid’s foreign exchange losses by timely acquiring updated official currency exchange rates to ensure the organisation financial records reflect the updated and accurate rates;

· Manage and monitor the organisation cash liquidity levels and status by taking account of the organisation cash planning and forecasting;

· Critically review of all payment requests, including work and salary advances, and ensure that correct procedures have been followed, and the documentation is adequate, prior to obtaining the authorization of the Country Director;

· Ensure that staff understand the chart of accounts and budget codes, and use them correctly for allocation and tracking expenditure;

· Verify the accounting process (entries and adjustments in the accounting system), and ensure that they conform to established accounting principles and also verify the batches of the captured transactions and upload to transit to the Head Office for updating the AX accounting system for South Sudan;

· Lead in budget preparations, profit and loss statement and provide the SMT with technical advice and trend analysis;

· Advise managers on the interpretation and implementation of Cordaid’s business policies and procedures, ensuring consistency and fairness in application, and in accordance with existing policies and local legal requirements;

· Provide financial advice and assess adherence by the management and project staff on Cordaid’s, local regulations and donor compliance processes. Identify any non-compliance procedures and ensure prompt corrective action;

· Manage and report on Cordaid South Sudan’s cost recovery;

· Manage and control approved funds payments, reimbursement and off-setting statements and transactions between the Head Office and the Sound Sudan office;

· Follow-up, track and confirm that such transactions have been effected against our books;
Manage the month-end and year end processes and ensuring the completion and meeting of all the donor and regulatory transactions (i.e. PIT) and requirements;

· Manage the accounts receivables and accounts payables, and ensure timely payments and reimbursements.

Compliance and donor management

· In liaison with the Senior Management Team, prepare detailed budgets for all project proposals/concept notes consistent with Cordaid’s budgeting policies and principles;

· Enforce compliance with Cordaid and donor regulations;

· Lead the financial monitoring of programme activities in line with donor agreements and share observations and recommendations with the Senior Management Team (SMT);

· Ensure that Programme Finance Officers lead in preparing donor reports in a timely manner, ensuring the highest quality and in accordance with Cordaid and donor requirements;

· Develop and maintain funds management tools, such as funding trackers, reporting calendars, templates, and compliance guideline documents; and ensure the team is aware of these timelines;

· Coordinate and complete proposal revisions, follow up and negotiate cost extension requests as and when needed in liaison and collaboration with the programme managers and the Country Director.

Administrative responsibilities and accountability

· Ensure that the financial, administrative and documentation processes meet the audit and donor requirements, and maintain key related documentation for grants/contracts, MOUs, Teaming Agreements, and other relevant documents for audit preparation;

· Lead in the management and resolution of issues identified by auditors and ensure the implementation of relevant audit recommendations;

· Ensure that staff are sufficiently trained on standard financial/donor compliance and enforce compliance with standards and procedures;

· Establish practices that ensure efficient and seamless support and coordination with the field offices and identify gaps and discrepancies in programme delivery and reporting;

· In collaboration with the human resources department review the monthly employee payroll and ensure that all country regulatory payments are done for human resources to remit by the set deadlines;

· In collaboration with the Logistics and Procurement Manager, ensure that all administrative and procurement procedures are aligned with Cordaid’s and donor’s requirements;

· Identify and contribute to the organisation’s development by proposing alternative solutions to improve existing structures, financial and administrative procedures and processes to ensure cost efficiency, improved organisation performance and overall organisation strategy effectiveness;

· Develop, implement and set a secure finance document recording and maintain a finance standard filing, retrieval and archiving systems in accordance with Cordaid and donor records retention policies;

· Ensure that the financial capacity enhancement of partner organisations is enhanced and that programme finance officers periodically assess, identify weaknesses and develop and monitor an improvement plan for partner organisations and the field offices.

Qualifications

· Advanced university degree in Accounting, Business Management/Administration;

· Full membership of a professional accounting body e.g. CPA, ACCA is an asset;

· At least seven years’ experience in working with either a humanitarian organization or in the private sector, of which at least five in a senior financial position;

· Experience in developing complex proposals and/or overseeing reporting/compliance management;

· Proven experience with working with various external (institutional) donors like UN, EC, Global Fund, Worldbank;

· Work experience in fragile, stressful settings.

· Strong negotiation, analytical, problem solving and management skills;

· A self-disciplined person, multi-tasked and takes initiative;

· Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information;

· Proficient in micro-soft office packages (excel and word) and other financial packages such as AX dynamics;

· Strong leadership skills and proven teambuilding skills;

· Strong organisational development, planning and negotiating skills;

· Strong drive to achieve results even in exceptionally difficult circumstances;

· Excellent English writing and communication skills;

· Computer skills to include a solid working knowledge of Excel, including the usage of complex formulas.

Specifics of duty station The Finance Controller will be based in Juba. Occasional travel to other project areas, security permitting, will occasionally be required. The posting is non-accompanied.

Contract information

The contract period is for 12 months starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a Cordaid contract with a competitive salary and a benefit package which includes R&R, a comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, a holiday allowance, 13^th month, and hardship allowance.

Further information & how to apply

Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, including the contact details of at least three professional references, should be forwarded on attn. of Mr. Hubert Charles before 3 December 2018**.** An assessment might be part of the procedure.

Please note that we accept applications through our website only: https://www.cordaid.org/en/vacancies/international/?cd_job_id=115355