Finance and Awards Lead_Bis

JOB DESCRIPTION

(Females candidates are highly encouraged)

Position Title: Finance and Awards Lead

(This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding)

Position Structure:

Employee Type: X Full-time regular ☐Part-time regular ☐Temporary

Supervisor Title: Chief of Party

Department: Finance

Division: International Programs

Work Location: Bamako, Mali

Child Safety: ☐Level 1- No Contact ☐Level 2- Limited Contact XLevel 3- Contact

Deadline: November, 30, 2022 (Please note that applications will be processed on an as-received-

basis. Therefore, the process will end as soon as a qualified

candidate has been identified).

Summary

Save the Children is currently accepting applications for a Finance and Awards Lead for an anticipated USAID-funded Community-based Basic Education Activity in Mali. This 5-year cooperative agreement will improve early grade read and math skills of young learners with a focus on improving the quality of instruction boosting community demand, and broadening safe, equitable formal and non-formal education services. The goal of the project is to expand access to education pathways and improve reading and math outcomes, especially for girls and marginalized children in Mali.

The Finance and Awards Lead is responsible for the overall leadership of the project’s finance team and oversees all financial management, internal controls, and financial compliance aspects of the program, in accordance with USAID guidance and regulations. They will manage the implementation of accounting systems, budgeting, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting for Save the Children and any subawards. The Finance and Awards Lead is responsible for ensuring that an appropriate structure exists to ensure effective support of field operations and to protect the integrity of the country office financial and administrative operations. They will also need to maintain consistent coordination and teamwork with other senior positions and individuals working on the program as well as with USAID guidelines.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Management and Oversight

• Provide day-to-day leadership, management, and oversight of the project’s finance team.
• Review and consolidate monthly financial reports to ensure accuracy and to provide regular feedback to senior management.
• Ensure all financial plans, invoices, reports, and other financial documents and transactions are accurate, timely, and consistent with Save the Children and USAID guidelines and regulations.
• Help maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with host government authorities, SCUS, US Donor, local and international NGOs.

Budget Management

• Prepare and monitor budget implementation to ascertain that spending occurs as planned and those variances are anticipated, noted, and corrected; ensure that key program personnel are aware of budgetary resources and can monitor their budgets respectively.
• Monitor burn rates and advise on spend projections and maintain and up-date the status of obligated funds.
• Prepare budget revisions and projections to respond to the needs of the program, donor requirement and Save the Children’s management structure.
• Track, report and ensure proper documentation of match funding.
• Track the cost share of the project and advise on its documentation and reporting.

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control

• Ensure that effective systems of accounting are put in place daily, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management
• Prepare and revise finance and operation guidelines in order that they adhere to SC and USAID requirements.
• Perform financial review of purchase requests, purchase orders, and payment requests to ensure compliance with Save the Children’s policies and procedures and donor grant requirements.
• Prepare quarterly reports, consolidated annual fiscal report, cumulative life of project report, and any other required donor submissions.
• Manage the reporting component of the award including reconciling timesheets with financial reports; oversee administrative duties as needed.

Award Management

• Oversee sub grant monitoring and compliance including organizational assessments, review of financial reports/advance requests, and financial tracking; develop sub grant monitoring plans; perform and document compliance visits.
• Prepare contract agreements and amendments for sub recipients.
• Coordinate the release of donor fund summaries from SCUS to ensure accurate and systematic accounting of grant transactions
• Provide guidance to finance and non-finance staff and coordinate efforts to ensure compliance with USAID donor requirements
• Work with the project team to estimate fund requests on a timely basis to ensure resources are in place for carrying project activities
• Provide monitoring and training to partners’ staff in management of USAID grants and other requirements of the donor.

Administration

• Close follow up of the status of VAT claims and refund for both partners and Save the Children.
• Follow up for the recording and reporting of project assets on quarterly basis.
• Prepare close-out documentation at end of funding cycle in compliance with donor regulations

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Finance

• Supervise the project finance staff including performance evaluation and revising job descriptions as necessary.
• Develop the capacity of the team and facilitate their professional growth.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, accounting or other relevant field; professional qualification in accounting desired, CPA or equivalent degree (CA, ACMA, ACCA) strongly recommended.
• Minimum five years’ experience managing finance for USAID-funded projects; in-depth knowledge of USAID financial management rules and regulations.
• In-depth knowledge of US Government rules and regulations including 22 CFR 226.22 CFR-145 OMB Circulars A-122 and A-133.
• Proven ability to prepare multi-year budgets, donor financial reports and USAID audits.
• Strong analytical, leadership and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Experience as a coach/mentor to train staff and develop financial skills of colleagues.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required.
• Expert computer skills in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• Ten years’ progressively responsible experience in financial management for large and complex programs funded by international donors, including the U. S. Government.
• Knowledge of local taxation laws is preferred.
• Experience in managing inter-agency consortiums is preferred.
• Written and verbal fluency in English and in French
• Commitment to child rights, gender equality and social inclusion, as well as to enabling the participation of children, women, and minority voices

Qualified Malian candidates, especially women, people with disabilities and people from minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

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