Jobs in Zambia and Zimbabwe

British Council Job Vacancies in Zambia: Finance Manager

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  • Company: British Council
  • Location: Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia
  • State: Lusaka
  • Job type: Full-Time
  • Job category: Accounting Jobs in Zambia

Vacancy Description

Pay band: 8/E (Locally engaged); Location: Lusaka, Zambia; Contract type: 14 Months (February 2018 to April 2019); Requirements: Existing rights to work in Zambia/ Country –appointed terms & conditions; Closing date and time: 07th February 2018 (23:59 UK Time)

About the Job:

The Finance Manager will lead, manage and coordinate all aspects of the Programme’s finance and resources functions, ensuring control and compliance in line with client, corporate and programme quality standards. S/he will ensure that value for money is enshrined across the Programme and with its partners, and above all will promote transparency and integrity in ZAPs dealings with its stakeholders, modelling and advocating best practice at all times.

Role Purpose:
The post holder will lead the development and implementation of the programme’s Financial Management, ensuring high standards of financial management across all programme areas.

The opportunity: 

The Finance Manager will be responsible for the management and timely reporting of all ZAP finances in line with corporate, client and programme quality standards and deliver on value for money. S/he will be accountable for the delivery of accurate and realistic financial plans, forecasts and budgets to the client and British Council while ensuring the realisation of programme’s expenditure and income projections.

The post holder shall ensure timely and effective financial support services to the Programme Team, to facilitate efficient, effective programme delivery across Zambia as well as managing the financial month-end process to ensure consistent, accurate and robust financial accounting for the British Council and client.’.

See details of what we require of the successful candidate:

Financial systems and controls

  • Financial systems and processes effectively aid operational programme delivery and are compliant with client Head Contract requirements and British Council standards.
  • Financial policies and guidelines are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to support operational requirements and meet both external and internal standards.
  • Maintain an effective & efficient system of internal controls which comply with British Council’s corporate standards.
  • Ensure that all financial records & accounts are compiled timely, accurately and in line with British Council accounting standards and manuals, donor regulations and statutory standards.
  • Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of existing and new financial management strategies which contribute to programmes’ business objectives
  • Act as the first point of contact in relation to processes involving external financial institutions and statutory bodies (banks, tax authorities etc.) and advise programmes on existing and new statutory, or corporate obligations
  • Ensures internal audit receives a ‘satisfactory’ rating at minimum; facilitates and leads ZAP team preparation for external audits; leads ZAP management response to audit recommendations
  • Audited accounts summary prepared in sufficient time for presentation in Annual Report and for presentation to Programme Governance bodies
Financial Planning & Reporting

  • Detailed annual and quarterly programme budgets are prepared in line with Head Contract requirements; multi-annual planning budgets are revised to accommodate contractual changes
  • Lead on the delivery of financial planning and forecasts of programme’s income and expenditure in line with British Council’s planning and forecasting cycles.
  • Annual financial targets for operational expenditure, management income, management expenses and staff costs are me;
  1. Consolidation and review of budgets undertaken periodically.
  2. Consolidation of cash flow forecasting for the programme undertaken appropriately
  • Preparation of twice yearly financial reports; Client reporting formats and conditions complied with an internal corporate financial process are undertaken on time and to standards specified
  • Ad-hoc periodic reports for budget holders, senior management and donors prepared to standards required.
  • Value for money analysis is undertaken regularly and reported on to SMT, the British Council and to the client
Grants Management

  • Establishment of an effective Grants Financial Management process, including appropriately qualified and trained staff, consistent policies and procedures responsible for driving quality standards in grant-making, grant-management and contract management
  • Periodically revise Standard Operating Procedures and Manuals and deliver training in its implementation; monitor effective use of system by all staff
  • Oversight of development of integrated tools and mechanisms for due diligence assessments of proposed grantees to assess their ability to manage grants and to identify where ZAP can provide support and capacity to manage grant funds;
  • Oversee work with grantees to revise their budgets (if required) to ensure that they are realistic, legally and contextually appropriate, and ensures value for money (VfM).
  • Supervise all grant agreements and contracts and ensure that staff and grantee personnel understand all clauses of the contract;
  • Establish & maintain a mechanism for monitoring grants given to sub-contractors, and ensure proper financial reporting & records of same, in line with donor guidelines and British Council accounting standards; where necessary, develop and implement control and compliance strategy.
  • Lead on grantees’ financial capacity development strategy; develop recommendations for support and undertake some hands-on training of CSOs.

Risk Management 

  • Lead on Financial Risk Management, Control and Compliance, including managing the annual audit process
  • Ensure corporate Financial Control and Compliance Framework (FCCF) and Enterprise and Risk Management Framework (ERMF) are followed and meetings are held in line with the corporate standard and schedule.
  • Ensure process owners understand the framework requirements and report risk adequately and effectively
  • Ensure minutes of meetings meet corporate standards.
  • Ensuring programme-wide compliance with British Council financial management, contract management, procurement and other key standards and policies.
  • Supervise coaching and mentoring of process owners and ensure that appropriate training are held at the right time.
Teams Management & support 

  • Support the ZAP Finance team through effective delegation, support and follow up, to ensure that key financial processes are carried out timely, effectively, and in line with ZAP, British Council and donor policies and standards
  • Support the ZAP Grants team with effective grants management and monitoring, including negotiating, monitoring and evaluation of award budgets and expense reconciliation.
  • Maintains motivated and effective teams through high quality line management, including through the ZAP performance management mechanisms and through the encouragement of the professional development of his/her team.
  • In conjunction with the Financial Controller, lead on recruitment of grants and finance staff, including post design, and candidate selection
  • Induction and training of new finance and grants staff conducted to Programme and British Council standards
  • Provides key financial support, training and advice to non-finance team members