Volunteer Regional Financial Controller (East Africa) Job in Nairobi, Kenya

Job Title: Volunteer Regional Financial Controller – East Africa

Location: 
Nairobi and in-country travel in Kenya

Salary: Voluntary
 
Contract: 6 months minimum; 12 months maximum extended or renewed through mutual agreement 

Responsible to: Regional Programme Manager - East Africa, Chief Operating Officer (UK) – Global Programmes Manager (UK) 

Responsible for: Regional operational and financial management and reporting 

Overall purpose:                
 

To manage and report of the regional financial performance of the East Africa office and the regional programme and its projects.

To support the RW East Africa Regional team in all financial aspects relating to the East Africa region.
Main duties and responsibilities
 
Support the Regional Programme Manager, C.O.O. (responsible for Finance - UK) and Global Programmes Manager to:

Report the regional financial performance of the East Africa office
  • Report by account code a monthly P&L and YTD P&L and monthly balance sheet with variance analysis from budget.
  • Allocate the restricted expenditure to project funds and transfer to the requisite projects and donors.
  • Prepare a quarterly forecast of the financial year’s regional operational budget and variance analysis.
  • Maintain accurate records of all financial transactions following Renewable World financial policy and guidelines.
  • Assist in supporting information for the annual statutory audits and compliance audits.
Cash management
  • Payment processing for administrative and projects in accordance with policies and payment authorities.
  • Financial management – perform and submit for review monthly operational petty cash and bank reconciliations.
  • Update the intra-company funding account with the RW UK office.
  • Manage donor financial reporting, including income, debt and deferred income accurately and timely in accordance with each donors requirements.
Project financial management
  • Manage the project financials in co-operation with the Regional Programme Manager – East Africa, C.O.O, and Project Managers and implementing partner financial controllers.
  • Project accounting using the Renewable World financial toolkit including the Finance and Scope of Works for partner claims, issue of Purchase Orders, Invoices, update and reconcile actual expenditure and cash movements, in order to arrive at committed project costs and forecasts costs to complete.
  • Prepare regional project financial reporting on a monthly basis at project and implementing partner level with project managers and consolidate to regional level for Global Programme Manager review.
  • Prepare and issue Renewable World quarterly recovery purchase orders and invoices and accounting for these regionally.
  • Prepare a quarterly forecast of project spend and variance analysis at project and partner level against project budget for the remaining duration of the project.
  • Prepare a consolidated forecast of recoveries and partner expenditure.
  • Liaising with the UK team and regional Programme managers to ensure all financial reports are submitted accurately and on time to donors with sufficient variance analysis and context to enable transparency.
  • Ensure project donor audits are organized and conducted to achieve compliance.
  • Strengthen our project financial systems and processes where appropriate.
  • Working with external Auditors from a statutory or project/donor perspective and implement recommendations arising.
Project proposal development
  • Work with potential donors and proposed implementing partners on the financial aspects of project proposals.
  • Prepare a proposed financial commencement budget for project proposals.
Administration and Day to day running of the office and resource management
  • Communication and reporting –facilitating project monthly financial review meetings, communicating with local partners and stakeholders.
  • Documentation – Monthly update of all the project accounting documents and project paperwork, time sheet.
  • Regional payroll management.
  • Lodging and managing all aspects of tax compliance and reporting to local authorities.
Other
  • Attend regular supervision and take active initiation in personal professional development
  • Tasks as appropriate and as agreed with the Chief Operating Officer or Global Programme Manager and Regional Programme Manager.
  • Preparation and submission of financial matters relating to government  line ministries (NGO Board) requirement and report
Candidate Specification
 
Essential competency and experience requirements
  • Qualified accountant (e.g. one of: ACA, CIMA, CPA, ACCA)
  • Educated to Bachelor’s degree level in relevant discipline
  • Strong financial analytical and problem solving skills
  • Functional knowledge of financial accounting systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills
  • Understanding of project accounting
  • Must be flexible, adaptable, and quick to learn in our fast paced dynamic environment (arising out of the new projects and relationships)
  • Keen attention to accounting detail and a commitment to continuous improvement
  • Ability to prioritise and deliver results on time
  • Effective communicator (including excellent written and verbal English) as demonstrated on financial and narrative reporting, and verbal skills
Desirable competency and experience requirements
  • Experience of donor fund (grant) accounting
  • Relevant international NGO and major donor (e.g. EU/DFID/USAID) experience 
  • Infrastructure (e.g. Energy Systems) economic and financial analysis experience
Terms and Conditions
 
Salary: None but in country travel & subsistence expenses and daily stipend. 
 
Hours of Work: Minimum 3 days a week preferably 5 days (8:00am to 5:00pm)
 
Place of work: Nairobi, Kenya
 
Closing date: 24th March 2015
 
How to Apply: please email your C.V. and cover letter to geoffrey.mburu@renewable-world.org detailing:
  1. Your reasons for applying
  2. How you meet the requirements in the person specification

Term: Starting 1st April 2015