Programme Finance Manager at Options Consultancy Services Limited

Options Consultancy Services Limited was established in 1992 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marie Stopes International. We are a consultancy organisation providing technical and management expertise in the health and social sectors to governments and international development partners to transform the health of women and children.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Finance Manager

Reference: SAFIRE
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Contract type: Fixed term, between February 2022 and April 2023
Department: Programmes
Reporting to: Programme Manager (UK)
Responsible for: N/A
Liaison with: Finance and programme staff in Options UK/Kenya/Nigeria, Safire programme management, Safire Team Leader and Senior Management Team; partner organisations
Hours: 40 hours per week
Type of contract: Flexible, short/long term or permanent contract. Also open to consultancy.

Main Purpose of Job

• Based in either Nairobi or Abuja, the Safire Programme Finance Manager is responsible for the efficient, timely and accurate financial management and accounting of the programme, in line with Options quality standards, procedures and funders’ requirements; and will lead on the interpretation of financial information to advise senior management on efficient allocation of programme resources.
• In addition, the post holder will be responsible for preparing programme budgets, financial reports and financial tracking mechanisms in different currencies (GBP, USD, KES and NGN) for Options and for submission to funders.

Main Duties
Financial management, planning, systems and controls:

• Act as a business partner to the Safire Senior Management Team, providing them with relevant and accurate financial information for them to make informed decisions on resource allocation to deliver the programme objectives. This will include a monthly presentation at SMT meetings.
• Maintain a strategic overview with regard to the financial management of the global Safire programme.
• Able to confidently challenge financial decisions ensuring they are compliant with funder requirements and Options processes and procedures.
• Provide financial expertise to the Team Leader, Programme Manager and Senior Management Team in developing and implementing the programme financial strategy.
• Manage the budget ensuring the cost-effective use of the programme resources to support achievements of its objectives, ensuring that projected margins are achieved, spending is according to forecast and that all programme partners have access to funds to implement the programme.
• Interface with Options’ staff in the UK, Kenya and Nigeria on all day-to-day finance matters related to the programme
• Working closely with the Programme Manager, convene and lead the biannual financial reporting to funders, and any required consortium forecasting, developing and disseminating relevant guidance to consortium partners and country teams.
• Support the Safire team by reviewing budgets and financial reports submitted by consortium partners and CSO partners, to identify errors and areas of concern (eg low burn rate, inconsistent unit costs)
• Consolidate the quarterly financial reports from Safire partners into a biannual consolidated financial report spreadsheet for submission to the funders
• Produce statistics, charts, tables and graphs to illustrate the financial situation to funders and Options staff
• Conduct programme costing analyses, following a Safire-developed methodology, to generate insights as required by programme leadership and funders
• Act as a finance business partner to the Safire programme, including the development of a robust process of routine quarterly re-forecasting and budget reallocation for all Safire partner organisations, within contractual agreements
• Provide financial risk management oversight across the programme, conducting reviews and/or internal audits as necessary to prevent any mismanagement of programme funds

Programme accounting:

• Check payroll and associated costs for Safire programme staff in Nigeria and the UK
• Check monthly transaction listings generated by the Business Accountant in London; liaise with programme staff in the UK, Kenya and Nigeria to check and amend transaction codes
• Using transaction listing data generated by the Business Accountant in London, populate various expenditure tracker documents (Excel spreadsheets) in GBP/USD/KES/NGN every month and produce graphics to illustrate key statistics
• Complete monthly variance analysis of the global expenditure/profit verses the forecast budgets in GBP and USD; support programme staff in Kenya and Nigeria to analyse monthly variances in KES and NGN
• Support the management of quarterly advances to partners and milestone-based payments to sub-contractors and maintain trackers of payments and expenditure
• Support the Options Kenya and Options Nigeria Financial and Administrative Controllers to carry out face-to-face audits and periodic expenditure analyses of CSO partners’ operations, as necessary
• Update finance manuals when required and provide training to Safire staff on financial management and reporting
• Monitor the delivery of milestones and financial implications; monitor cashflow against grants received from both funders
• Prepare payment requests and approve programme expenditure within delegated authority
• Lead on supporting audit processes, alongside programme manager and business accountant
• Ensure financial information is filed and held securely in line with Options policies and procedures

Other Capacity building and teamwork:

• Support programme staff in Kenya and Nigeria with procurement (eg evaluation of financial proposals), due diligence checks on partner organisations, asset management
• Contribute to the development of programme tools/sharing best practice within the team/organisation
• Provide mentoring and capacity building support on financial management to programme staff in Options and partner organisations
• In the spirit of teamwork, provide flexible support to colleagues across Options and the consortium
• Represent Safire in the Kenya and Nigeria Procurement Committees and other relevant internal groups as relevant
• Cover for colleagues in their absence. 

Person Specification
Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Commerce, Business Administration, or related Undergraduate Degree
• Member of recognised accounting professional body, such as Institute of
• Management Accountants or Association of Chartered Certified
• Accountants or Chartered Public Accountants (CPA, ACCA, CIMA).

Experience:

• Significant experience supporting programme finances and administration of complex multiple governments or donor-funded budgets in a similar role
• Experience of monitoring payroll and related systems and policies
• Experience providing administration and logistical support to team colleagues over multiple locations
• Experience in procurement according to best practice guidelines
• Experience of close working relationships with sub-grantee partners and consortia
• Experience of managing consultants
• Experience of creating external financial reports for stakeholders and able to produce meaningful narrative reports
• Experience in communicating complex financial information to non-finance colleagues.

Skills and attributes:

• Advanced IT proficiency including financial software, Excel and Word
• In particular, advanced skills in Excel (SUMIFs, pivot tables) and graphics eg pie charts, bar charts, graphs
• Ability to mentor and support non-financial staff with complex financial scenarios
• Knowledge of large institutional donors and their operational and reporting requirements
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Self-starter, can work independently or as part of a team
• Critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving skills

Other requirements:

• Commitment to equal opportunities
• Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment.
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Applicants must have the right to live and to work in the UK
• The applicant must be pro-choice.

Salary

• Commensurate with experience.

Application Closing Date
12th January 2022.