An exciting finance opportunity at the heart of an East African Organisation
The East African Business Council (EABC), the regional apex body for private sector associations and corporate members, was established in 1997.
EABC’s role is to represent and voice the concerns of the business community, with a view to creating a constituency for change that will lead to sustainable policy reform and an environment conducive to attract return on private sector investments.
With financial support from TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), EABC seeks to recruit a Finance Manager to strengthen its financial management capacity.
The Position
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Finance Manager will be part of the senior management team and will be responsible for establishing and maintaining an efficient financial management, governance and administration system which will include instituting a proper risk and compliance management framework for the EABC.
The key duties of this post will include setting up efficient and effective financial controls and systems based on international best practice principles and development and implementation of finance based capacity building programmes.
S/he will require experience in the management/operation of international donor financed programmes and financial reporting.
Finance Manager Terms of Reference
Background:
1. DFID and other partners have created a new regional programme to support regional integration in East Africa known as the Regional East African Integration Programme (REAP). The programme is to be implemented by a dedicated institution known as TradeMark East Africa (TMEA).
2. As part of a broader programme of assistance, TMEA has agreed a programme of assistance to regional PSOs and CSOs to support regional integration reforms. The programme aims to operate in the following areas:
(i) Increasing efficiency and safety of regional transport corridors and trade facilitation;
(ii) Improving efficiency & effectiveness of the EAC regional institutions, policies and programmes;
(iii) Strengthening national capacity for policymaking, negotiating, and implementation for EAC regional integration reforms;
(iv) Strengthening civil society & private sector inputs, analysis and monitoring of East African regional integration; and
(v) Improving monitoring and evaluation systems and knowledge management for regional trade and integration.
3. Under Output 4, enhanced private sector and civil society inputs, TMEA will provide assistance to the East African Business Council (EABC) a membership-based private sector organisation based in Arusha, Tanzania, to enable them to recruit a Finance Manager.
Overall objectives of the post:
1. The objective of the post of Finance Manager, EABC, will be to assist the EABC Executive Director in achieving specific objectives by establishing and maintaining an efficient financial management, governance and administration system. Additionally, the Finance Manager will stand in for the Executive Director in the latter’s absence.
2. The key duties of this post are to develop and strengthen the functions of Finance, Administration, Procurement and Management within the organisation – to ensure that EABC is effective and efficient and that its financial systems and control meet international best practice principles.
3. The Post will be based at EABC Offices in Arusha, Tanzania.
Scope of work:
1. The Finance Manager (FM) will be a member of the senior management team at EABC, and will be responsible for the Finance and Administration Department. The FM should work effectively with the Executive Director, the Executive Committee and the Heads of Department. In addition, the FM should work with the TMEA Regional PSO/CSO Director and other consultants and counterparts allocated as appropriate by the Executive Director. He/She will act as the Executive Director in the latter’s absence.
2. Specifically, the FM will support all actions required to develop and enhance the capacity/capability of the finance and accounting function of EABC; and to promote professionalism and transparency throughout the organisation. The FM will work closely with the current staff within the EABC, including Heads of Department, to review current systems and make recommendations to improve financial controls, as well as to build the capacity of staff to operate and implement the systems effectively.
3. The FM will update the TMEA PSO/CSO Regional Director on a regular basis, of progress of activities against an agreed work/action plan that has been developed to strengthen the finance function, by TMEA, in conjunction with the EABC Executive Director.
4. The FM will ensure the activities of the work plan meet the needs of the EABC within the parameters defined.
Specifically the duties and responsibilities are:
i. Develop and maintain an efficient financial management, organisational governance and administration system for the EABC according to the financial procedures of the EABC and in line with International Accounting Standards and
best management practice;
best management practice;
ii. Ensure effective and timely financial management and accounting on all EABC matters, in addition to reporting to donors in accordance with laid down guidelines;
iii. Be responsible for the development, administration and monitoring of the EABC budget and work plan according to the requirements of the EABC financial management procedures;
iv. Work with external consultants, as necessary, to improve the financial management software and ensure that any recommended systems improvements are completely and seamlessly integrated across the organisation and are in line with the EABC Financial Management procedures and current legislation.
v. Work with Heads of Department and appointed consultants to develop appropriate statutory and development partner reporting formats and monitoring and evaluation plans for all stakeholders, in line with international best practice. This should include monthly, quarterly and annual budget monitoring and reporting, reporting against strategic planning targets; as well as regular financial reporting to partners and the Executive Committee.
vi. Develop and maintain an effective procurement system;
vii. Assist the Executive Director to plan and implement internal and external audit recommendations;
viii. Report to the Executive Committee and the Finance and Administration Sub-Committee as required;
ix. Deputise for the Executive Director in the latter’s absence.
x. Ensure frequent and efficient communications with development partners and other stakeholders as required by the Executive Director;
xi. Perform any other financial and administrative tasks as may be delegated by the Executive Director.
Skills and Competencies:
The FM should be a professionally qualified accountant with current membership of a professional accounting body; and should:
- be appropriately qualified with a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university;
- have at least 7 years working experience, at least 5 of which should be in a senior management and/or advisory role within Finance;
- have experience in the development and implementation of finance based capacity building programmes and of one-to-one staff training and strengthening;
- have experience in the management/operation of international donor financed programmes;
- be very experienced in the application of financial management systems; including knowledge and experience in IT skills
- should have good knowledge of current developments in international financial management, and should show demonstrable experience in at least two of the following areas:
i. Accounting techniques – budgeting, cash and accrual bases of accounting, commitment and fund/project accounting;
ii. Finance management and a solid understanding of current budgetary control systems;
iii. Preparation and interpretation of financial statements (IAS standard);
iv. Design and management of internal controls, implementation of risk management frameworks, and knowledge of both internal and external auditing systems techniques; and
v. Programme budgeting, performance budgeting, strategic planning.
- Experience in producing Statutory Accounts, work well under pressure and managing deadlines.
- Be a strong team player, with excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills.
- Good management skills, including meeting deadlines, working under pressure and managing and motivating staff.
Requirements
The Finance Manager should be a professionally qualified accountant with current membership of a professional accounting body with at least seven years working experience, five of which should be in a senior management and/or advisory role within Finance.
The position will be based at the EABC Offices in Arusha, Tanzania.
How to Apply
How to Apply
Applications including detailed curriculum vitae, a working e-mail address and daytime telephone contacts should be sent electronically in PDF file format to:
Executive Selection Division,
KPMG East Africa,
E-mail: esdtmea@kpmg.co.ke
on or before Monday, 20 September 2010 by 4.30pm East African time.
Applications received after the deadline time and date will not be accepted.
Our clients reserve the right to accept or reject any application.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.You can also visit www.kenyanvacancies.com for more jobs
