CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES LESOTHO
FINANCE MANAGER
REPORTS TO: HEAD OF OPERATIONS
About Catholic Relief Services (CRS):
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
Job summary:
The Finance Manager (FM) is responsible for managing the CP’s Finance Department. As a member of the country program’s leadership team, s/he is responsible for ensuring the robustness of the CP’s financial management systems and processes. S/he is in charge of financial reporting, financial grant management and compliance, communication, capacity building of all finance staff in CP (including those in Sub-Offices or project specific finance positions) as well as capacity strengthening of subrecipients in the area of financial management. The Finance Manager designs, improves and maintains effective financial systems and processes. In line with CRS’ strategic priority to reinforce an organizational culture of high performance and accountability, s/he works with CP management to ensure that the country program maintains a high level of resource stewardship and strict financial accountability.
Roles and responsibilities:
- Ensure that the country program’s financial accounting environment is in compliance with CRS’ policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations and legal requirements.
- Ensure the overall accuracy of financial information recorded in the Country Program’s general ledger and reflected on the country program’s trial balance and other financial reports submitted to HQ, donors and other stakeholders.
- Ensure that all assets including cash, investments, inventories, accounts receivable and fixed assets are accurately reflected on the trial balance.
- Oversee monthly analysis of the country program’s trial balance and other financial reports. Such reports include but are not limited to budget comparison reports, aging reports, grant liability reports, efficiency reports and currency exposure reports.
- Lead the process of analysis and interpretation of financial reports to ensure that accurate financial data is provided to budget managers to inform decision making.
- In close collaboration with the Head of Programming (HoP), Head of Operations (HoOps) and other senior managers, leads the preparation and submission of the Annual Program Plan (APP) and the Quarterly Spending Forecast.
- Ensure that the country program’s board-approved budgets and subsequent amendments are correctly recorded in the Planning and Budgeting Module. Ensure budget amendment processes are in accordance with CRS’ policies and procedures.
- Support Program Managers in developing budgets for new programs/projects and revisions of existing projects. Ensure that reasonable estimates of direct cost and shared direct cost are used in budgets based on historical data and current market conditions. In addition, s/he ensures that accurate indirect cost and support services rates are used in accordance with policies and guidelines.
- Analyze and review quarterly cash forecasts submitted to HQ to ensure efficient management of cash flows. In addition, ensure that cash forecasts submitted to donors are accurate and based on proper cash flow planning.
- Ensure availability of sufficient, but not excessive, cash in the CP’s operating account by establishing cash balance monitoring systems to trigger timely accounts’ replenishments.
- Ensure that monthly bank reconciliations are performed in accordance with the Bank Reconciliation Procedure for all bank accounts and that approved bank reconciliation forms are submitted to HQ/Finance on a timely basis.
- Promote efficient and innovative solutions to cash management based on current trends. Such solutions might include electronic banking and mobile banking when feasible and appropriate. Designs and implements internal controls adapted to such innovative solutions.
- Build and strengthen the capacity of subrecipients in the area of financial management. Plan and organize regular trainings and other capacity building initiatives such as exchange visits to ensure that subrecipients acquire and maintain the skills required to manage financial resources provided by CRS and other donors.
- Assess and regularly monitor subrecipients’ ability to safeguard financial resources entrusted to them. In addition, assess and monitor their ability to accurately record and post all financial transactions. Work closely with subrecipients to ensure that they design and implement effective internal control improvement plans.
- Ensure subrecipient advances and liquidations are managed in accordance with the Subrecipient Financial Management Policy and the terms of the related subrecipient agreements.
- Oversee the month-end financial closure process and coordinate the timely submission of monthly financial reports to CRS/HQ and the region.
- Ensure timely dissemination of monthly financial management reports based on the country program’s protocols. Such reports include but are not limited to budget comparison reports, aging reports, grant liability reports, efficiency reports and currency exposure reports.
- Supervise the preparation and submission of financial reports to HQ, donors and local government entities based on CRS’ policies, local laws and donors’ requirements. When required, provide background information on the nature of costs to donors and other stakeholders.
- Oversee timely and accurate financial year-end closure and submission of year-end reports.
- Monitor grant agreements to ensure spending is within obligated budgets and the approved project periods; communicate with HQ/ Finance when new agreements are signed, or existing agreements are modified.
- Review and understand the financial sections of all agreements with donors to ensure financial terms are reasonable, practical, do not contradict CRS’ policies and procedures and are in CRS’ favor when possible. Proactively set up systems that enable CRS to respect the agreements’ financial terms and requirements, such as special reports, supporting documents and justification of cost.
- Coordinate the submission of monthly, quarterly and final financial reports to donors in accordance with donors’ regulations or as stated in agreements and CRS’ Grant Reporting Policy. In addition, when required, ensure supporting documents are accurate, financial reports tie to the Project Portfolio Management module and General Ledger, and the cost can logically and accurately be explained to donors.
- Ensure grant liability balances are analyzed and reconciled on a regular basis. Liaise with Program Managers and/or Chiefs of Party and ensure that cash due from donors is collected in accordance with CRS policies and donors’ terms and conditions.
- Lead the timely and complete closure of all expired grants and cost shares in conjunction with HQ/Finance.
- Oversee the recruitment, training and development of a competent pool of finance staff that can effectively discharge the mandate of finance function.
- Supervise, mentor, coach finance staff. In addition, design and implement succession plans for finance staff.
- Attend and actively participate during management meetings.
- Act as primary liaison with all financial institutions. Where possible, and in close collaboration with the CR, Head of Operations or Equivalent, negotiate premium customer services for CRS. Using CRS’ annual bank relationship scorecard, ensure that banks provide financial services that meet or exceed the industry standards.
Preferred qualifications and experience
- University Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field or equivalent work experience required. A professional certification in Accounting or a related field highly desired.
- Minimum of five years professional experience in a financial management position of responsibility, at least three of which is in a supervisory position required;
- Budgeting and budget management experience required.
- Knowledge of Oracle financial accounting package or similar financial reporting software highly desired.
- Proven ability to analyze reports or issues and to provide appropriate recommendations required.
- Availability to perform work assignments out of the country required.
- Sound knowledge of local law in the areas of taxation and local regulatory reporting obligations is required
- Strong knowledge of effective management practices desired
- Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations will be highly desired.
Required languages – Fluency in Sesotho and English.
Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 15 % of time.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
Submission:
Please note that the position is only open to applicants who are Citizens of Lesotho. Interested candidates should submit CV, cover letter and certified copies of academic qualifications, no later than 17 November 2022 at 14:00 by email to [email protected] with the subject line: FINANCE MANAGER. APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IF THE SUBJECT LINE DOES NOT INDICATE THE POSITION. HARD COPY APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
Please be advised that CRS requires its employees to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, all successful candidates will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and their personal/professional references will be required to evaluate their behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.