Financial Manager

POSITION : Finance Manager

ORGANISATION : African Parks – Fondation Odzala Kokua

LOCATION : Republic of Congo (Odzala HQ)

REPORTING TO : Directly to General Manager and functionally to the Regional Finance Manager

EXPECTED START DATE : As soon as possible/ January 2023

BACKGROUND:

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 17 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Odzala harbours some of the largest populations of Western lowland gorilla and forest elephant in Central Africa protected areas covered 13,500 km2 . It has the richest primate fauna of Central Africa, with at least 10 diurnal primate species, including gorillas and chimpanzees. The park also supports a large diversity of tropical forest ungulates, such as bongo, sitatunga, red river hog, giant forest hog and at least seven species of forest duikers. The forest-savannah mosaic probably hosts the last viable population of spotted hyenas in the Congo Basin while a viable population of hippopotamuses can be found in open areas along the park’s larger rivers. In addition, three different cat species are also found in Odzala: leopard, serval and African golden cat.

African Parks is recruiting an experienced Finance Manager for Odzala National Parks and the position is located in the Park : Mbomo (HQ of PNOK)

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Finance Manager is responsible to oversee the end-to-end finance operations, financial planning and analysis, donor and partner management, establishing procedures and enforcing controls, preparing financial reports and maintaining the financial health of the organization.

The incumbent will ensure that all financial compliance and audit requirements are met while ensuring that all financial data is accurately entered into our financial system. He or she will provide support and advice to senior management, and budget managers or on donor compliance issues and budget monitoring.

MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grant Management – Odzala receives numerous grants from multiple sources and the correct utilization of these grants is essential, including:

• Organising or participating in grant startup workshops;
• Ensuring that grant administration processes are being adhered to by the park;
• Ensuring that there is the coding of grants received into serenic (accounting software) to enable automatic financial reporting;
• Reviewing grant allocations on a monthly basis to ensure that the utilization is correct;
• Ensuring that there is the reconciling the undrawn funds of each park and repay disbursements on a quarterly basis;
• Reviewing and/or preparing financial grant reports;

Accounting and Reporting:

• Supervise the recording, classifying and summarizing of the financial transactions of the park and ensure the proper update and maintenance of the accounts to ensure that the accounting system provides the basis for an efficient financial information system for both internal and external users that it is compliant with internationally accepted accounting principles, legal and statutory requirements of the country;
• Review and provide guidance and coaching to accounting staff ensuring accuracy, correctness and completeness of transactions recorded;
• Ensure the timeliness of required financial reports to project managers, donors, government partners and Board Members are met;
• Prepare periodic reports of financial performance and discuss with HOD’s.
• Ensuring legal and taxation compliance

Treasury and Cash Management :

• Conduct treasury planning;
• Liaises with banks to ensure best rates on forex, transfers, bank charges etc.

Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting Reporting:

• Assist in the planning and budgeting for the park / project, take the lead in the financial plans and budgets, and ensure that the assumptions, parameters, guidelines and policies in planning are complied with;

• Review and monitor budget performance of the park / project and provide recommendations; POSITION : Finance Manager

  ORGANISATION : African Parks – Fondation Odzala Kokua

  LOCATION : Republic of Congo (Odzala HQ)

  REPORTING TO : Directly to General Manager and functionally to the Regional Finance Manager

  EXPECTED START DATE : As soon as possible/ January 2023

  BACKGROUND:

  African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 17 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe.

  Odzala harbours some of the largest populations of Western lowland gorilla and forest elephant in Central Africa protected areas covered 13,500 km2 . It has the richest primate fauna of Central Africa, with at least 10 diurnal primate species, including gorillas and chimpanzees. The park also supports a large diversity of tropical forest ungulates, such as bongo, sitatunga, red river hog, giant forest hog and at least seven species of forest duikers. The forest-savannah mosaic probably hosts the last viable population of spotted hyenas in the Congo Basin while a viable population of hippopotamuses can be found in open areas along the park’s larger rivers. In addition, three different cat species are also found in Odzala: leopard, serval and African golden cat.

  African Parks is recruiting an experienced Finance Manager for Odzala National Parks and the position is located in the Park : Mbomo (HQ of PNOK)

  JOB OVERVIEW:

  The Finance Manager is responsible to oversee the end-to-end finance operations, financial planning and analysis, donor and partner management, establishing procedures and enforcing controls, preparing financial reports and maintaining the financial health of the organization.

  The incumbent will ensure that all financial compliance and audit requirements are met while ensuring that all financial data is accurately entered into our financial system. He or she will provide support and advice to senior management, and budget managers or on donor compliance issues and budget monitoring.

  MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  Grant Management – Odzala receives numerous grants from multiple sources and the correct utilization of these grants is essential, including:

  • Organising or participating in grant startup workshops;

  • Ensuring that grant administration processes are being adhered to by the park;

  • Ensuring that there is the coding of grants received into serenic (accounting software) to enable automatic financial reporting;

  • Reviewing grant allocations on a monthly basis to ensure that the utilization is correct;

  • Ensuring that there is the reconciling the undrawn funds of each park and repay disbursements on a quarterly basis;

  • Reviewing and/or preparing financial grant reports;

  Accounting and Reporting:

  • Supervise the recording, classifying and summarizing of the financial transactions of the park and ensure the proper update and maintenance of the accounts to ensure that the accounting system provides the basis for an efficient financial information system for both internal and external users that it is compliant with internationally accepted accounting principles, legal and statutory requirements of the country;

  • Review and provide guidance and coaching to accounting staff ensuring accuracy, correctness and completeness of transactions recorded;

  • Ensure the timeliness of required financial reports to project managers, donors, government partners and Board Members are met;

  • Prepare periodic reports of financial performance and discuss with HOD’s.

  • Ensuring legal and taxation compliance

  Treasury and Cash Management :

  • Conduct treasury planning;

  • Liaises with banks to ensure best rates on forex, transfers, bank charges etc.

  Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting Reporting:

  • Assist in the planning and budgeting for the park / project, take the lead in the financial plans and budgets, and ensure that the assumptions, parameters, guidelines and policies in planning are complied with;

  • Review and monitor budget performance of the park / project and provide recommendations;

• KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

• Regional Operations Manager

• Park Manager

• Regional Finance Manager

• Heads of Department

• Internal and External Auditors

• EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum eight (8) years of experience in a similar role, with a preference but not mandatory of two (2) years with a conservation or non-profit organization;

• A degree in accounting or finance (Master/Bac+5 with five (5) years of experience;

• Previous experience with any donor-funded programs or external audits;

• Results-oriented and focused, with the ability to follow guidelines and controls required of the position;

• Expert knowledge in budgeting, financial analysis and MS Excel;

• Proficiency with accounting software;

• Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills;

• High level of integrity and impeccable record in previous accounting positions.

• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communications skills in both English and French will be an advantage;

• Strong capacity to manage time and competing priorities;

• Strong initiative, perseverance, and resilience; and

• Willingness to live in a remote setting and with previous experience living in Africa.