Finance Director

Job ID 1301

Accounting and Finance Malawi   Lilongwe

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Description

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.
 
The Organization

Since 1944, Heifer International has empowered over 46 million smallholder farmer families globally to overcome hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. Our new goal is to close the Sustainable Living Income gap for 10 million more households by 2030.

Heifer Malawi contribution to the Global 10 million households target is to help 500,000 of Heifer Africa’s 6.745 million households achieve sustainable living income by 2030. Heifer Malawi’s maiden Signature Program, currently under design – will set the pace, focusing on Dairy, Beef and Banana as primary value chains and Oil Seeds, and Poultry as secondary value chains. Heifer Malawi is where it is happening now – impacting the lives of small holder farmers.
 
Function
 
Reporting Directly to the Country Director, as a member of shared leadership team, the position holder collaborates closely with the regional leadership team and Headquarters’ finance team to co-create finance solutions for the country office. The role leads strategic finance management, risk management, reporting, budget and asset management. Additionally, the role ensures finance operational excellence and standards in accordance with Heifer policies and international accounting standards. The role ensures proactive periodic Finance Internal Audit and leads effective External Audit process in line with Heifer Finance Audit guidelines. The position is responsible for leading, coaching & developing a high-performing finance team.  
 
Responsibilities & Deliverables
 
A. Financial Management (25%)  
  • Take a lead role in financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting, aligning these activities with strategic objectives to achieve long-term sustainability.  
  • Lead the development of in-country Finance strategy & annual plans through a collaborative process.   
  • Proactively assess and address the country office's financial sustainability, monitor and provide advice for revising financial plans and reforecasting budgets.   
  • Provide strategic analysis and interpretation of finances, highlighting key areas for improvement to support informed decision-making.  
  • Act as a customer focused business partner by establishing and maintaining proactive links with country and project "partners" to advise on all aspects of finance management.   
  • Collaborate with project managers and teams in proposal development, alignment of financial resources with programmatic goals, monitoring budget execution, and identifying opportunities for cost optimization. 
  • Monitoring & delivering Burn Rates targets in a nimble & agile way.
B. Financial Control and Risk Management (20%) 
  • Proactive management of all financial functions and controls, internal and external auditing and development of risk management plans.  
  • Oversee adherence to financial policies, accounting standards, and regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and ethical financial practices. 
  • Implement comprehensive risk management strategies, identifying and assessing financial risks and proactively developing mitigation plans to safeguard assets and maintain financial integrity. 
  • Conduct regular reviews and assessments of the organization's tax position to ensure full compliance with statutory requirements. 
  • Proactively stay abreast of changes in regulatory requirements and industry best practices, and advise changes required to uphold high compliance standards.  
  • Spearhead the internal and external audits, working closely with external auditors and implementing audit recommendations for continuous improvement.   
C. Financial Reporting (20%) 
  • Ensure accurate accounting and reporting of all awards, grants and donor funds.  
  • Manage the preparation and presentation of financial reports to key organization stakeholders providing insights and recommendations to support informed decision. 
  • Oversee donor compliance, managing awards and grants, including preparation of financial reports and documentation required for donor reporting and audit. 
  • Ensure timely closure of books of accounts and donor reports.  
D. Team Leadership, Coaching and Development (15%) 
  • Foster a culture of customer focus and continuous improvement within the finance team, encouraging proactiveness and innovation in financial processes and reporting. 
  • Provide coaching and guidance to the finance team, promoting professional development and building a high-performing and accountable finance department.

E. Procurement & Administration (15%) 

  • To lead and manage the procurement function and purchasing requirements for goods, equipment and services. This includes identifying new purchasing opportunities, renewing and negotiating new supplier contracts and generating cost savings through optimal purchasing patterns.
  • Manage purchasing and procurement activities including supplier management and ensure value for money.
  • Property/ Office Management, including ensuring compliance with Health & Safety legislation and managing supplier contracts.
  • Ensures day-to-day supervision and management of the administration staff.
  • Ensure that travel of local and international staff is managed efficiently and in accordance with prevailing policies.
  • Ensure the office building upkeep and negotiate/manage project-related contracts with consultants, contractors and suppliers.  
  • Serve as the technical information technology (IT) contact and intermediary with the IT consultant where applicable 
  • Oversee fixed asset management in accordance with the Heifer’s policies and regulations. 
Minimum Requirements
  1. Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Management Accounting, Business Administration, or related field and a master’s degree in a plus.  
  2. CIMA or ACCA finalist.
  3. At least 10 years of relevant experience, including 7 years in a senior management role. 
Preferred Requirements
  1. Experience in a donor-funded international development environment with compliance requirements of the U.S. government and institutional funders for international development, such USAID, EU, IFAD, DFID/FCDO, mega-foundations and others.  
  2. Demonstrated experience to lead and manage a team.   
  3. Proficiency in the local country Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Fiscal Statutes and Payroll Management Statutes.  
Key Behavioural Competencies   
  1. Accountability  
  2. Professional Excellence  
  3. Humility  
  4. Customer Orientation  
  5. Empathy  
  6. Innovation 

Deadline for Application: 9th September 2024 

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