Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

WWF, the global conservation organization, is seeking to recruit a:

Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Programme Office

Reporting to the Regional Representative, WWF Eastern & Southern Africa Programme (WWF-ESARPO), the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) has overall responsibility to provide effective leadership to ensure strong and professional financial management at ESARPO and country offices in the sub-region.

The CFO will ensure development and preparation of regional and national budgets ensuring that timing and cost of planned work is accurately reflected while taking relevant donor requirements into consideration.

The position leads and co-ordinates the development and implementation of policies, procedures and systems for all financial support services throughout the Regional Programme, including accounting, financial reporting, auditing, budget management, and adherence to WWF International guidelines.

Position title: Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

Reports to: Regional Representative, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Programme Office

Supervises: Regional Financial Controller and CO MANAGER

Missions

To ensure a high performing WWF International Programme Office with efficient and strong financial resources as key components of WWF’s business

To support the Regional Representative in the implementation of the Programme's Strategic and Business Plans for the entire region and in ensuring that the programme has enough financial resources to comply with its contractual obligations.

Major Functions:

To provide effective leadership to ensure strong and professional financial management at ESARPO and throughout sub-region's presences

To supervise and co-ordinate the development and implementation of policies, procedures and systems for all financial support services throughout the Regional Programme, including accounting, financial reporting, auditing, budget management, and adherence to guidelines developed by the WWF International

Major Duties and Responsibilities:


A. Policies, procedures and systems

• Ensures that all Programme locations apply the established WWF International Field Financial Operations Policies & Procedures as set out in the appropriate manuals and the WWF Network standards issued by WWF International;
• Ensures that all Programme locations operate in strict application of the laws and regulations in force and ensures that the policies and procedures are adapted, where necessary, to reflect these laws and regulations in coordination with the Home office where local laws & regulations contradict WWF International policies & procedures;
• Ensures that all Programme locations are properly equipped with the appropriate WWF International approved accounting systems, and that these are updated in a co-ordinated and timely manner.

B. Financial Management and Reporting

• Ensures that all Programme locations have appropriate financial structures with properly qualified and trained staff;
• Ensures the adequacy and quality of financial reports, systems, procedures and internal controls in all Programme locations; oversees the financial consolidation of all programme offices reporting into the Sub-Regional Office;
• Develop a timetable for data transfer from Country Offices and Projects within the sub-region to ensure timely preparation of consolidated financial reports. Directs the preparation and distribution of all consolidated financial reports;
• Supervises the development of and modifications to the Programme's Chart of Accounts, in co-ordination with the Country Offices and WWF International;
• Ensures that all contracts are properly developed and that all Programme locations and sub-contractees properly monitor and fulfil their contractual obligations, including reporting to donors;
• Ensures that all project budgets, and particularly that of the Sub-Regional Programme Office, are fully funded;
• Ensures that staff contracts are funded and appropriate systems are in place for payment;
• Ensures that the financial reports for all Programme locations are regularly reviewed, analysed and followed-up jointly by senior finance staff and the project executants:
• Co-ordinates transfers of funds to Projects under the direct management of the Sub-Regional Office;
• Ensures quality of service of the Financial departments, monitors the Financial Key performance indicator (KPI) reporting.

C. Strategic and Business Planning

• Ensures that the Sub-Regional Programme develops and maintains a Business Plan appropriate to the requirements of its Strategic Plan.
• Directs and improves WWF ESARPO’s performance to meet WWF International's operations and management systems network standards and best practices as well as contractual requirements of WWF ESARPO.
• Co-ordinates the preparation of the annual operations and programme budgets for the Programme, in accordance with the annual planning cycle. Budget planning will require close collaboration with finance, accounting, administration and programme staff.
• Based on the above ensures systems and business processes in all ESARPO COs are streamlined and harmonised;

D. Special Projects

• Oversees any special projects, conducts analysis as required on any of the above activities.

Profile

Required Functional Skills:

• A university degree in Finance, Commerce, Business Administration or related field; possession of an MBA or equivalent post-graduate qualification would be an advantage.
• Full accounting qualification i.e. CPA, ACCA or equivalent.
• Over 10 years working experience in a senior Finance position preferably in a major international organisation/NGO.
• Demonstrable skills in the development of finance and accounting policies, procedures and systems in the context of an international NGO.
• Good knowledge of fund accounting including reporting requirements of major Government and Aid Agencies. Hands-on knowledge of the ACCPAC, Oracle or any other ERP accounting software would be a distinct advantage.
• Fluent in English.

Required Behavioural Skills:

• Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Engaging, Optimistic, Determined and Knowledgeable.
• Critical behavioural competencies include: ability to promote team synergy in a multi-cultural work environment, integrity, customer orientation/relations, analytical thinking, problem solving, decision making, flexibility, team spirit, organisational skills, change management, effectiveness, strategic thinking, reliability;

Working Relationships

Internal - Interacts with the WWF ESARPO SMT and staff on a daily basis, WWF International, and other WWF Network staff.

External - Interacts with audit firms, fiscal body, donors, specialists / consultants, and other stakeholders, in collaboration with the ESARPO Representative.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.

Interested candidates should send a letter of application and a detailed CV with three professional referees to the WWF-ESARPO Human Resource Department; email HResource@wwfesarpo.org not later than 15 April 2011.

Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.