Overall Purpose: Provides strategic leadership for the Finance and IT function as well as take responsibility for all financial and Information Technology functions within the country programme. He /She ensures the application of WaterAid financial and IT policies and procedures in collaboration with other members of the Country Management Team, West Africa Regional Team and the UK Team. He/She assists building the capacity of WaterAid partner organisations and sub offices to undertake finance and IT activities to meet WaterAid and donor requirements.

The position holder reports to the Country Representative for Ghana and will be a member of the Country Senior Management Team with line management responsibility for all departmental staff. The position will be based in WaterAid Office in Accra, Ghana and will require periodic travel to the districts where WaterAid currently works to support partners as well as other WaterAid country offices in the West Africa region as and when the need arises.

Specific Responsibilities:

•   Ìnternal Controls:  Ensure required financial documentations exist and remain current, including, updating Fixed Asset Register quarterly, Delegation of Authority, update Risk Register quarterly, manage Conflict of Interest Register, Cash and authorisation limits. Review and update procedures and accounts manuals and ensure WaterAid assets are adequately safeguarded.

•   Finance Systems:     Responsible for ensuring the financial systems in the country programme are regularly updated and accurately capture all financial and programme information i.e. Global Accounting System and PROMISE. Ensure all authorised users are able to use the organisational accounting systems efficiently.

•   Policy & Procedure: Lead the development of policies, procedures, tools and systems for WA in Ghana in line with WaterAid policies, country legislation and regulations, external donor requirements. Ensure these policies, tools and systems are implemented. Support and Facilitate the implementation of required change in Financial Management or accounting recommended by WaterAid Global. Lead his/her team to support the right management of policies and procedures in the Country Programme

•   Cash Management: Ensure necessary tools and systems are in place and adequately used to manage the cash flow process including requests for funds from UK and donors who fund programme activities. Responsible for managing the treasury activities to ensure these funds are adequate, secure and utilised only for WaterAid and Partner activities and in line with organisational policies and procedures

•   Budgeting/Budgetary Control:    Co-ordinate the budget related matters during planning and reporting processes. Coordinate the budgeting process for proposals to external donors. Design and produce regular budgetary reports for budget holders, interpret and analyse actual results against budgets, feedback with advice and recommend actions necessary for improving performance and lead the budget revision process. The post holder will also be a member of the budget committee of the country programme.

•   Reporting:    Produce monthly, quarterly, six-monthly and annual financial reports for the country programme highlighting major performance issues and variances from plan for sharing with Country Senior Management Team and submission to Regional Team with recommended actions and responsibilities. Produce financial reports to external donors in compliance with their specific requirements. Undertake financial year end reporting process in the agreed format.

•   Audit: Facilitate and co-ordinate internal and external audit activities of the country programme. Lead the development of action plans based on audit recommendations, monitor and report progress on addressing audit issues to Country SMT and Regional Team.

•   Information, Communication and Technology (ICT):   Ensuring IT facilities and systems (software and hardware), network infrastructure and administration, phone systems, etc., are regularly maintained and functioning. Maintain and update all country staff records in line with the relevant data protection legislation in the country; chair the Purchase Committee to ensure the procurement policies of the country programme are followed and maintenance of a cordial inter and intra-departmental working relationship.
Facilitate the development and application of innovative ways to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in the WASH sector, including support for country programme departmental use of the internet and organizational website.

•   Staff Development :    Develop, design and conduct training/coaching for Finance, Programme and Partner staff on financial systems, ICT, word processing, budgeting and financial management. Co-ordinate learning and sharing of best practices for consistency in financial operations including risk analysis and management. Promote knowledge sharing across the West Africa region and proactively network within the regional senior management and finance teams.

•   Partner monitoring:    Develop tools and processes to facilitate financial management and reporting by partner as well as enhancing their financial management and IT capacity through training, coaching, system design and implementation. Ensure regular and joint partner monitoring visits are undertaken, review and scale up issues arising from partner monitoring for appropriate actions. Assess and make recommendations on potential partner’s financial and IT capacity prior to signing partnership agreement or not. Overview in-country transfers based on requests made by partners and approved by budget holders prior to submission to the CR for final approval.

•   Value for Money:    Promote value for money as part of the organisational culture. Develop procedures for assessing value for money that WaterAid obtains in all its activities in Country Programmes, with a special regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness using various assessment tools. Provide support for managing purchasing and supply operations and make sure they are in line with WaterAid’s value for money procedures and principles.

•   FIT Office Management:  Maintain all Financial and IT records for the office electronically and/or manually, making them accessible when necessary.

•   Restricted Funds Management:     Develop systems for recording and accounting for Donor restricted funds by ensuring donor income is accurately recorded or accrued in the financial systems and all restricted expenditure charged to the relevant cost centre. Produce reports covering income and expenditure for restricted funds in compliance with donor requirements and responding to any queries from donors. Support the fundraising team in the general management of restricted funds for contracted by the country programme. Lead on updating and holds ownership of CP funding matrix.

•   Programme Learning: Promote a learning environment in the Country Office and among partners by identifying and prioritising topics for specific programme learning in each intervention area in line with WaterAid in Ghana Country Strategy priorities, the requirements of WaterAid’s International Operations Department’s priorities and the Corporate Strategy.

•   Organisational Networking:  Promote and support intra-country, co-operation and networking within WaterAid West Africa by participating in relevant regional events including Regional Management Team meetings, Regional Finance Meetings, Global Finance and IT Meetings and any other meetings as may be necessary for furthering the interests of WaterAid in Ghana, West Africa and the Global Organisation. Be an active member of the Regional Finance and IT Group.

•   Leadership: be an active member of the Country Senior Management Team and contribute to the effective leadership of the Ghana Programme by supporting other Heads of Departments and CR to fulfil their objectives.  Be an inclusive and empowering leader; contribute to creating and maintaining an enabling and supportive culture within his/her department and the Country Office.

•   Work with the best interest of WaterAid and its target beneficiaries’ in mind.

•   Any other duties as assigned.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Relevant professional accounting qualification/certification e.g. CA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA.
•   A Masters Degree would be an  advantage and highly desireable Experience
•   Minimum of seven (7) years work experience in finance and accountancy at a senior level in a major organisation (preferably an international development organisation).
•   IT literate and excellent knowledge and skills in using Microsoft Excel and Word.
•   Experience of using one or more accounting packages
•   Experience in preparing and monitoring budgets & developing monitoring and reporting systems.
•   Ability to provide financial analysis and interpretation to Country Management Team for decision-making.
•   Writing procedure manuals
•   Knowledge of International Donor reporting requirements
•   Risk analysis and risk management experience
•   Knowledge of water, sanitation or hygiene projects.
•   Strong knowledge of fund accounting regulations for non-profit organisations.
•   Experience in using SUN and Vision accounting systems will be an advantage
•   Experience in Donors contract management

Skill and Abilities    

•   Fluent in spoken and written English language. Some  knowledge in French will be an advantage
•   Highly numerate
•   Excellent planning and prioritisation skills
•   Ability to think Strategically
•   Strong analytical/problem solving skills.
•   Leadership, coordination, management of resources, monitoring and supervision
•   Excellent (proven) interpersonal both oral and written communication skills
•   Experience of designing, co-ordinating and delivering training programmes
•   Basic understanding of Project Management

Personal Qualities    

•   Creative and takes initiative.
•   Able to work effectively in a diverse team environment
•   Good motivator of others
•   Willing to work additional hours at crucial times
•   Ability to work under pressure
•   Willing to travel at short notice nationally and internationally.
•   Self motivated person, able to work without close supervision
•   Effectively promote WaterAid’s mission values, and objectives

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Submit your CV and cover letter to:-

ghrecruitment@wateraid.org

Closing Date: 26 November, 2014