Country Financial Controller - South Sudan

Contract Grade: B

Contract Length: 2 years

Date Needed By: ASAP

New Post or Replacement: Replacement

Accompanied / Unaccompanied: Unaccompanied

Exact Job Location: Juba, South Sudan

Reports To: Country Director

Responsible For: Directly responsible for 2 Finance Officers in Juba. Links with other finance officers in the field locations (Aweil, Unity).

Liaises With: : ACD Programmes, General System Manager (GSM), HR Manger, Programme Managers, Representatives of relevant Government line ministries, partner organisations, UN organisations, NGOs, donors; relevant Concern Dublin staff and the Concern HoA Regional Accountant.

Job Purpose:

To maintain effective finance systems for the South Sudan programme to Concern Worldwide standards and to ensure financial accountability within Concern’s programmes and local partners. The post holder will be a member of the senior management team for South Sudan and will participate in all major decisions relating to the country programme.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting

• Responsible for  the overall management and supervision of the accounts function, ensuring that it produces relevant, timely and accurate reports for field management, Dublin Head Office and for external agencies.
• Preparing detailed management accounts for the use of all management and other staff who are budget holders and who are responsible for implementing projects or providing support services.

• Providing the HQ based Regional Director and Overseas Financial Controller on quarterly basis summaries of field financial results in the form of the Concern Worldwide Financial Reporting Pack (FRP).
• Preparing reports on utilization of grants from external donors as they are required both internally and externally including Consortia grant.

 Financial Control & Systems:

• Ensure effective systems are in place to safeguard CWW in South Sudan’s fixed and current assets and effectively support the CD and senior management minimize the risk of fraud or financial mismanagement.
• Ensuring that proper and effective audits of field finances are carried out on an annual basis.
• Responsible for ensuring that the field management systems and records are properly maintained to identify and protect the assets and interests of the organization and to enhance as far as possible the efficiency and effectiveness of the manner in which assets are utilized.
• Maintain Concern bank accounts and ensure that there are strong and effective controls over cash and bank holdings.
• Ensuring that there is a complete record of capital/fixed assets in Juba office and Field locations – Aweil & Unity.
• Ensuring that all programme inventory/stock is properly managed and accounted for.
• Work with field management and internal or external auditors etc. in the on-going review and development/enhancement of field systems.
• Responsible for  establishing  effective reporting system with Consortia members and  financial monitoring of the consortia grant.
• Maintain an up to date Balance Sheet, with full and proper supporting documentation and systems, to ensure effective management of assets and liabilities of the organization.
• Maintain CWW’s finance system software (‘MGP’), liaising regularly with relevant staff at HQ, etc. to address any significant issues with the software on a timely basis.

 Budget Preparation & Budgetary Control:

• Responsible for ensuring that effective procedures are implemented so that a proper system of budgetary control can be operated.
• Ensuring that field management prepares and obtains approval for the annual field budget and subsequent revisions which should reflect as accurately as possible the financial impact of proposed activities.
• Assisting all budget holders and senior management in the preparation of the above budgets as well as budgets for donors including budget for Consortia grant.
• Ensuring that clear reports are provided to field management which enable them to identify variances from approved budget and to take necessary corrective action (see management accounts above).
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 Staff Management & Capacity Building of Staff and Partners:

• Recruit and manage national finance staff, with an emphasis on their development and capacity building.
• Undertake performance appraisals of finance staff and develop their skills in finance functions.
• Conduct financial systems assessments with partner organizations (‘CLOFATs’). Identify areas of finance where capacity building work is required with partner organizations and directly or indirectly help to address these capacity gaps (training, mentoring, etc.).

Other Financial Duties

• Reviewing and updating accounting and finance manuals as required.
• Liaise closely with systems/logistics staff on purchases, stock control, insurance, transport costs management etc.
• To keep up to date on programme priorities and make frequent field trips to monitor finance related issues and procedures.  Also liaise regularly with programme and other staff as relevant in terms of providing relevant support, etc. as needed.
• Ensuring that all statutory deductions and taxes in respect of national and international staff are complied with and liaise with relevant authorities in this respect.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

Education & Qualifications Required:

Essential:

• Recognized third level accountancy qualification or professional qualification – ACCA/CA/CPA or DCG, DSCG etc.
• Computer skills, especially advance Excel skill
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working as an accountant/in a finance function
• Excellent computer skills, familiarity with Great Plains or similar accounting package
• General management experience
• Previous relevant overseas experience in an NGO with some experience of    working/living in an insecure or otherwise challenging environment.
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience of managing and training staff and capacity building work with external organizations (i.e. partners).
• Able to use initiative and work with limited supervision, be organised, motivated and       reliable           
• Attention to details.
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Understanding and support of need for full accountability to beneficiaries and other stakeholders, including need for adherence to protection policy/code of conduct.

Desirable: 

• Previous experience with Concern
• Experience of working/living in an insecure environment
• Training experience,
• Familiarity with DFID, EC/ECHO, USAID/OFDA, Irish Aid and other donor reporting requirements
• Experience of working with partner agencies
• Knowledge of development issues and concepts

3. Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:

Flexible, reliable, culturally sensitive, ability to work under pressure, a feel for the way Concern operates and our target group. Willingness to travel very frequently and live under fairly basic conditions.  A good team player with a desire to build local capacities and teams. Good interpersonal and networking skills. Needs to have initiative and be able to work with minimal supervision. Good persuasion skills and persistence.

Any Other Special Requirements:

Physically fit and good stamina. Resourcefulness.  Knowledge and understanding of participatory programming techniques.

All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date.

CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length.

Due to the urgency of his position we may offer the post before the closing date.