Director of Finance
Position Overview
- Pact seeks a Finance Director for the USAID-funded
Strengthening Youth and Women’s Civic Participation Project. The Project
aims to increase collaboration, sustainability, and resilience of civil
society and independent media to advance the inclusion, participation and
leadership of youth and women in Sudan. The activity will apply locally
led, problem-driven, adaptive approaches. This program will be starting Y2
of an anticipated five-year activity, with a dramatic shift in the
operating context since the program startup in Khartoum in October 2o22.
This position will support Sudan programming from a program office in
Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel in the East Africa region.
- Reporting to the Chief of Party, the Finance Director is
responsible for overall project financial operations. S/he has oversight
of project finance and accounting functions; internal control systems and
procedures; and forecasting and realigning project budgets. The Finance
Director is responsible for training and mentoring staff on policies and
procedures, donor regulations, new systems, and financial best practices,
as well as working closely with the country office staff and DC personnel
to ensure compliance with all donor regulations and effective and
proactive management.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management
- Manage all aspects of project, finance and accounting
functions.
- Manage all project finances to ensure effective use of
resources in order to achieve program objectives in compliance with all
donor requirements.
- Lead project financial planning responsibilities, including
ensuring alignment of the budget to expected results and ensuring
cost-effective use of USAID’s and Pact’s resources.
- Ensure funds expended are compliant with US government
regulations and policies.
- Initiate, develop, maintain, and revise policies and
procedures for the general operation of the finance and compliance program
and its related activities.
- Lead project efforts to support sub-recipients’ in addressing
challenges related to receiving project funds across the East Africa
region, while mitigating risk, and coordinating closely with Pact DC’s
finance team accordingly.
- Promote cost efficiency and compliance with all rules and
regulations, ensuring effective internal controls and minimizing
risks for Pact.
- Identify potential areas of financial and compliance
vulnerability and risk and develop or implement corrective action plans to
resolve problematic issues.
- Implement fraud mitigation practices and ensure systems and
processes are implemented effectively to support implementation of the
award.
- Ensure proper financial documentation and reporting,
establish and provide direction and management of project funds.
- Ensure financial monitoring systems provide timely and
relevant reports to Pact staff, including analysis and tracking of grant
commitments (i.e. cash advances), obligations, awards and liquidations, to
support efficient accountable implementation.
- Analyze financial data with attention to the impact of
adaptation on programming.
- Manage the budget, track project spending and prepare
financial reports for submission to USAID.
- Mentor and supervise finance staff engaged in the activities
noted here.
- Conduct training/orientation for other personnel as needed on
efficient, effective financial and internal control systems, budget
analysis, policy and procedure awareness, and compliance.
- Ensure that corrective action plans approved by the DC office
in response to external or internal audits and other monitoring reviews
are implemented as planned and scheduled.
- Ensure financial records organization, retention, and
security.
Administrative/
Operational Management
- Serve as a key representative to USAID to ensure that the
activity conforms to the United States Government financial, procurement
and auditing requirements.
- Act as a liaison to and ensure effective relationships with
relevant donors, Sudanese, Kenyan and Ugandan Government Authorities,
sub-partners, grantees and other key stakeholders ensuring strong
cooperation and collaboration.
- Ensure that the highest standards of ethics and
confidentiality are maintained.
- Employee complies with all company policies and procedures,
including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to
satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that
the training has been completed.
- All other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance,
Accounting, or other relevant field and 11+ years relevant experience
or equivalent combination of education and experience, including 8 years
of accounting, operations, and financial management of large-scale,
complex, international development assistance programs in developing
countries.
- A minimum of eight (8) years of experience overseeing the
procurement administration and financial management and reporting of a
USAID-funded activity, preferably around democracy and governance
activities.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of U.S. Government financial
and procurement rules and regulations, particularly financial reporting
and compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in developing and managing
large budgets, including proficiency in relevant computer applications and
databases.
- Knowledge of U.S. government references including OMB
Circulars (e.g., A-122), 22 CFR 226 and 22 CFR 228, ADS, FAR, AIDAR, CAS,
FFATA, DSSR, and FTR.
- Demonstrated supervisory experience, interpersonal skills,
and team-building experience.
- Must have professional fluency in written and spoken English.
- Demonstrable experience managing grants, contracts or other
mechanisms that allow projects to seamlessly change course in response to
new information.
- Ability to travel regularly within the East Africa region and
Sudan if and when the context is permissive.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with accounting software such as Serenic,
Navigator, ERPs, ACCPAC, or others.
- Proficient in written and spoken Arabic.
- Knowledge of the political, social, and economic context
of Sudan.
- Expertise and experience in one or more areas; operations,
procurement, human resources, logistics, or IT.
- Experience working with civil society organizations or media
actors in Sudan and/or in the East Africa or Horn of Africa regions.
- Sudan nationals with eligibility to work in Kenya are
encouraged to apply.
How To Apply
