Associate Finance and Administration Manager

Finance/Accounting/Compliance

• Uphold and enforce IPA ethics, conduct, and financial policies and procedures as well as assisting with the adaptation of the global finance manual to local standards;
• Provide oversight of in-country financial operations, ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of all awards being implemented in the IPA Francophone West Africa offices, applicable financial and accounting standards, and host government regulations;
• Supervise monthly bank reconciliations and petty cash maintenance and reconciliation, ensuring that these key tasks are completed in a timely and accurate manner;
• Assist IPA HQ with all relevant audits, e.g. support in-country external audit processes;
• Develop strategies that minimize financial risk to IPA in Francophone West Africa;
• Ensure that the payroll meets all legal requirements for statutory deductions and taxes and is executed and delivered to IPA staff in Francophone West Africa on time;
• Oversee other general financial matters, including accounts payable and receivable functions, preparation and submission of tax and VAT reports, satisfaction relevant host government financial reporting requirements;
• Liaise with global staff to ensure banking services, liquidity, and operating cash flow is sufficient to lead local financial reporting;
• Coordinate and ensure timely closure of the monthly books and reporting processes;
• Review monthly bank reconciliations and quarterly balance sheet reconciliations;

Grants and financial reporting

• Oversee financial and administrative processes, including assisting on budgeting modifications, executing financial transactions in accordance with IPA policies and procedures and international best practices;
• Contribute towards Regional and Country Office (CO) Finance strategic planning;
• Ensure effective management of CO Funds received from HQ in the FWA offices;
• Collaborate with Programs and Operations team members, and Country Office leadership to support plan for expenses, track expenditures against work plans, and ensure resources are effectively and efficiently budgeted and managed to achieve deliverables;
• Provide regularly and timely financial reports and analysis to CO management;
• Work with project teams to ensure adequate monitoring and documentation of financial workflow processes, forms, templates, reports, and data to assure full compliance with internal controls and legal requirements;
• Ensure that all donor financial management and reporting requirements are met, providing a clear, concise, and timely overview of the financial status of the award;

General Management and Operational Support

• Effectively manage, train and supervise finance and administrative personnel, ensuring effective and efficient financial and procurement processes and outputs for internal and external ‘clients’;
• Provide capacity-building for country office staff on financial, procurement and administrative processes;
• Support country office leadership (Deputy Country Director and Country Director) on oversight for safety, legal and regulatory compliance of teams;
• Monitoring, fully digitizing, and innovating on inventory management;
• Support the development and subsequent training of IPA policies and procedures concerning financial management, local standard financial operating procedures, ensure compliance and alignment between IPA global policies and procedures and related country office procedures;
• Participate in necessary program, finance, and administration meetings.

Other Key Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of finance-related technology systems and other relevant technology improvements that apply to the IPA offices in Francophone West Africa, including development plans and timelines, staff communication, testing and troubleshooting, documentation, training, and release cycles;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate is a career-focused individual with a minimum of 7 years’ finance and accounting management experience. 10 years of working experience and prior experience working for an international NGO highly preferred.  Position may be hired at an Associate Manager or Manager level, depending on qualifications and experiences;
• Prior personnel management experience is required;
• Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field from a recognized university or equivalent is required.  MBA and/or Charted Accountant/Certified Public Accountant (ACCA or CPA) highly preferred;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines;
• Demonstrated experience supporting and working with program technical staff to ensure resources are used efficiently and to accurately account for expenditure;
• Outstanding interpersonal, solutions-oriented collaboration skills and ability to work in a multicultural organization.

Language

• Fluency in French, verbal and written, is required. Very advanced / fluent in English is also required.

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with national and sub-national regulators;
• Exceptional computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel, and substantial experience using commercially available accounting software programs such as QuickBooks and ERP platforms. Prior experience with NetSuite a plus.