Nile Basin Initiative Head, Finance & Administration (HFA)

Head, Finance & Administration (HFA)
Reference	NBI-FA/01/013
Job Type	Full-time
Job Status	Sourcing
Date Posted	Thursday, 04 April 2013
Location	The work station will be in Entebbe, Uganda, although work will necessitate trips to the other Nile Basin countries
Duration	This is a regional position. Contract duration will initially be for three (3) years through annually renewed extensions based on performance and availability of funds starting with a 6-month probation period
Job Description	Job Title:    Head, Finance & Administration (HFA) Refrerence:  NBI-FA/01/013 Position:          Regional Reports to:    Executive Director Application deadline: 26th April 2013 1.    Introduction The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is an inter-governmental organization initiated and led by the Nile riparian countries to promote joint development, protection and management of the common Nile Basin water resources. NBI has a Shared Vision, namely: \'to promote sustainable socioeconomic development through the equitable utilization of\', and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources\'. A wide range of programs and projects are currently under varying stages of identification, preparation and implementation under NBI designed to contribute towards the realization of the NBI Shared Vision. The NBI provides a unique forum for the countries of the Nile Basin to move toward a cooperative process to realize tangible benefits in the basin and build a solid foundation of trust and confidence. The Nile Council of Ministers [Nile-COM] serves as the highest decision-making body of the NBI. The Nile-COM is supported by the NBI Technical Advisory Committee [Nile-TAC], which is composed of two senior officials from each member country. NBI is managed from three Centers. The first Centre at Entebbe, Uganda, forms the NBI Secretariat (Nile-SEC) and was launched in September 1999. Another Centre at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ENTRO) and a third Centre at Kigali, Rwanda (NELSAP-CU) both manage the facilitation of cooperative water resources development in their respective sub-regions. A series of confidence and capacity building projects under an initial Shared Vision Program (SVP) along with the Subsidiary Action Programs (SAPs) marked the start of development program work in NBI. Most SVP projects were concluded in December 2009 except the regional power trade which closed December 2011 and Water Resources planning and management which closed on  December 2012. The SVP was followed by an Institutional Strengthening Project (ISP) covering a wide range of institutional, technical and management capacity building. Core Functions The NBI performs three core functions: Building Cooperation. The NBI convenes the Nile Council of Ministers and provides a platform upon which the member countries can negotiate issues of water management and development. Water Resource Management. The NBI provides member countries with analytic tools and a shared information system that will enable monitoring and the sustainable management of the basin.  Water Resource Development. The NBI assists member countries to identify development opportunities and prepare projects and seek investments. Development programs are focused on power trade and generation, agriculture and watershed management. NBI Secretariat The Nile-SEC, headed by an Executive Director is responsible for the overall corporate direction of the NBI as defined by the Nile Council of Ministers. Its operations are divided into two main programs: (1) the Basin Cooperation Program and (2) the Water Resources Management Program. The Nile-SEC is located in Entebbe and has a staff complement of approximately 30 persons. The Nile-SEC now wishes to recruit a suitable candidate for the position of Head Finance and Administration. 2.     Principal Function Provide leadership and a strategic forward-looking approach to the establishment, strengthening and management of harmonised corporate services across NBI so as to achieve aggregated budgeting, financial and performance reporting supported by a suite of harmonised NBI corporate services policies. The Head of Finance will provide sound management and constructive leadership to the delivery of full range of high-quality, responsive corporate services for Nile-SEC including financial management, human resource management, procurement services, office administration, outsourced corporate legal services, obtaining appropriate financing and developing the business plan. 3.    Key Responsibilities 3.1   Planning and Budgeting i.    Provide leadership to the finance and administration team of the NBI secretariat for the achievement of first class Financial Management Services, Fiduciary controls, Human resources services, procurement services and Office Administration; ii.    Participate in and contribute to the senior management team and take a proactive role in, promoting organisational effectiveness within NBI through sound project planning, budgeting, program management and team building; iii.    Take the lead role in preparing annual budgets linked to overall NBI planning and budgeting, together with preparation and regular review of the NBI business plan and ensure that these are appropriately approved; iv.    Develop and implement continuous improvement projects in the already established areas of financial management,  and office administration; and participate in developing and maintaining an approved delegation system for NBI operations; v.    Provide leadership, motivation and high level guidance to the institutional strengthening with regards to  harmonising and strengthening all corporate services in ways that properly link to NBI systems and meet NBI requirements. vi.    Initiate planning and budgeting through communication. Participate in and contribute to the senior management team and take a proactive role in promoting organisational effectiveness within Nile-SEC through sound project planning, budgeting, program; vii.    Take leadership in the development of an NBI strategy for achieving self-sufficiency in relation to core costs within an acceptable timeframe; viii.    Mobilise and provide outsourced corporate legal services to provide high-quality, timely advice on among other things, personnel management (in-house and consultants) and legal aspects of all NBI institutional arrangements. ix.    Ensure that staff development programs tailored to corporate needs are in place for all financial and administrative staff. x.    Coordinate ensure cross centre coordination with the finance and procurement thematic team 3.2   Payments i.    Take a lead role in development of the NBI financial management roadmap and lead its implementation in both short and longer term aspects ii.    Provide leadership in adoption and use of a financial management framework that will guide all aspects of financial management practices in NBI; iii.    Lead a small team of financial management services staff providing first class financial management, fund management, accounting and financial reporting services to NBI in an accurate, timely and customer -focused manner; iv.    Take primary responsibility for ensuring that NBI observes the highest standards of fiduciary control and transparency through actively meeting all applicable external audit requirements. This includes taking responsibility for instituting a system of internal controls for the management  and accounting of all funds of NBI that are appropriate to the needs of all stakeholders; v.    Provide proactive leadership to the strengthening, operations and maintenance of the NBI financial management system and associated modules, including costing, to enable NBI and the strategic action program to properly manage sources of funds, and disbursements and to meet the requirements of donors member states, and internal stakeholders including provision of financial analysis and high quality, timely aggregated NBI reporting that is responsive to the needs of all parties ; vi.    Contribute to the development of resource mobilisation strategies associated with the development investment. Liaise with ministries of finance and other relevant bodies as required. 3.3 Human Resources Management i.    Using expert advice as appropriate, implement approved human resources policies, strategies and procedures for the whole of NBI that guide all Nile centres in developing and applying their localised procedures, resulting in the provision of quality staffing across NBI in a fair and open manner whilst remaining efficient and effective; ii.    Provide sensitive leadership to the delivery of regular, high quality personnel services for NBI including payroll, appointments and terminations, leave administration, advisory and associated services. Competencies required i.    Demonstrated track record of professionalism in financial management and accounting with wide knowledge and experience in contemporary computer based financial management systems. ii.    Demonstrated writing, presentation and reporting skills with good command of  English language. iii.    Integrity and judgment in all professional matters iv.    A team player with proven ability to manage and motivate staff to build effective teams and to work efficiently and diplomatically in a multi- cultural environment. v.    Knowledge of procedures of international financing agencies including the World Bank financial management procedures is advantageous vi.    Demonstrated capacity  to manage  multiple sources of funds and meet varying requirements of funding  bodies  is an added advantage vii.    Result orientation and ability to work tight timelines without supervision. viii.    Experience in  project  contract management ix.    Working knowledge of capital projects financing and investment including exposure to resource mobilisation. x.    Experience in World Bank funded projects .
Qualifications	i.Honours degree in Commerce, Finance, Accounting or any other relevant degree from a recognised university with a post graduate degree in Business management. ii.10 years managerial level experience in finance and administration, of which at least 6 years with a senior level experience in delivery of corporate services focused on effective and efficient financial management or regional or international organisations or complex multi-donor programs and projects. iii.Professional accountant in good standing with any of the internationally recognized accountancy and finance bodies (e.g. CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIFPA); iv.A good knowledge and understanding of IFRS, IPSAS and donor funded reporting requirements. v.Computer literacy, in all MS Office packages . vi.Experience in donor funded programs vii.Experience of working in any of the Nile Basin Countries is an added advantage. viii.Proven integrity based on reference from previous employers.
How to Apply	Candidates should submit their applications electronically to the Executive Director at:recruitment@nilebasin.org. Application/cover letters clearly indicating the position and accompanied by detailed curriculum vitae should reach the Executive Director not later than 26th April 2013