Finance Manager, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

JOB TITLE:                    Finance Manager, Tanzania

REPORTS TO:               Country Director         

LOCATION:                   Dar es Salaam,Tanzania

DURATION:                  18 months (with possible extension)              

How to apply

Candidates should send their CV and a cover letter (PDF or Microsoft Word format) which outlines their experience and suitability for the role in English by email to: recruitment@tz.bbcmediaaction.orgwith the title of the position applied for in the subject line before 5pm on Sunday 12th February 2017. Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Applicants with no separate cover letter will not be considered. These are local posts applicable to people who have the legal right to live and work in Tanzania and national terms and conditions will apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Overall Purpose of Job

Reporting to the Country Director, the Finance Manager will be the focal point for accounting processes, financial controls, and donor and tax compliance for BBC Media Action's work in Tanzania. The Finance Manager will ensure that all BBC Media Action financial transactions are compliant with the principle of value for money and will develop and deliver training to staff and partners on financial management. S/he will manage the Finance team and be a member of the Senior Management Team.

Person Specification - required knowledge, skills and experience

• Fully Qualified Accountant – ACCA, CIMA, or local qualification – with original copies of qualification documents.
• At least seven years of professional working experience of which at least three have been spent working at a senior management level within a recognised NGO or INGO.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities at the same time, including experience of managing multiple budgets at the same time.
• Experience of working with, and reporting to, international donors and a working knowledge of donor compliance rules and regulations for the major donors in Tanzania (including DFID, USAID and EU).
• Existing, or proven ability to quickly develop, strong knowledge of the BBC’s financial management guidelines and systems and proven ability to apply such guidelines consistently.
• Strong IT skills, with proven experience of the advanced operation of financial management software.  Advanced professional level in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong team player; able to
• work effectively under pressure,
• demonstrate patience to team members,
• explain financial responsibilities to finance and non-finance team members,
• train others in financial management,
• communicate effectively, and establish effective working relationships, at all levels within the organisation.
• Proven line-management skills and experience, and the ability to operate effectively on the Senior Management Team.
• Willingness and ability to take the initiative in identifying problems, suggesting solutions, and implementing agreed solutions.
• An eye for detail and a concern for accuracy, together with the ability to keep sight of the big picture.

Main Duties

Financial Control

• Maintaining the financial integrity of BBC Media Action’s operations in Tanzania, and ensuring full compliance with policies & procedures, particularly around cash, advances and banking.
• Being the primary source of expertise for BBC Media Action staff in Tanzania on financial best-practice, and control and compliance issues.
• Managing BBC Media Action’s bank accounts in Tanzania and liaising with our bankers as appropriate.
• Co-custodian with the Country Director of the safe and its contents.
• Keeping up-to-date the financial risk assessments of all projects in Tanzania, ensuring that key financial risks are identified, clear recommendations on how to deal with areas of weaknesses are discussed with the Country Director / SMT, and helping to ensure that the recommendations are implemented.
• Undertaking spot checks as appropriate, and ensuring the timely implementation of, and being the primary contact person for, external and internal audits.

Financial & Management Accounting

• Responsible for maintaining the in-country financial systems including Dimensions. Using those systems, responsible for the accurate recording of all income and expenditure and monthly reporting to London Project Accountant providing fully reconciled reports detailing income, expenditure and cash and bank reconciliations.

• Overseeing the management of all BBC Media Action cash accounts, ensuring that reconciliations are carried out month, that all necessary financial controls are in place, and that cash-flow is appropriately managed;
• Communicating the financial status of projects to relevant staff in country using financial reports and providing monthly actual-vs-budget analysis and other management information that may be required from time to time, to the Country Director.

• Budgeting of BBC Media Action’s projects in Tanzania, with such forecasting and budget revisions as required by the Country Director Tanzania, or the London finance team, or donors and potential donors.
• Working closely with budget holders, ensure that regular forecasting activities and reconciliation reviews for all project budgets are properly conducted, ensuring that forecasts and budgets are timely and accurate and as accurate as possible.

• Preparation of the finance section of the monthly Country Director’s report.

Donor Compliance

• Ensuring compliance with all financial reporting and forecasting requirements of donors and others, and ensuring the smooth flow of funds from donors.
• Being the main point of contact on financial matters with in-country donor organisations, and building good working relationships with donor finance officers.
• Ensuring that expenditure is incurred and reported in line with donor agreements.
• Providing financial guidance to senior management and all project staff.
• Ensuring all project audits occur in a timely manner, and are successfully concluded.

Management, Training & Capacity Building

• Supervising and providing line and team management for other finance staff employed by BBC Media Action in Tanzania.
• Training and developing other finance and project staff in policies, procedures and other finance issues as appropriate.

Legal and Statutory Compliance

• Ensuring full compliance with Tanzanian laws and regulations related to any element of finance such as Tanzania tax legislation and advising the Country Director and others as appropriate on financial and finance-related legislative changes that may affect BBC Media Action's operations.

• Operation of payroll for all staff in Tanzania.

Undertaking other duties that the Country Director or the London finance team might request.

Competencies

The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.

• Analytical thinking – Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts, explore and evaluate them systematically. Able to identify causal relationships, and construct frameworks, for problem-solving and/or development.
• Decision making – Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made.
• Planning and organisation – Is able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements.
• Resilience – Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, set backs or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy.
• Influencing and persuading – Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change.
• Communication – The ability to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.
• Managing relationships – Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people.
• Self-development – Is able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development.