JOB DETAILS:

Hope Health Action (HHA) is hiring a Head of Finance(HoF) for HHA East Africa (HHA EA) to provide strong leadership and take ownership of all financial matters for both Uganda and South Sudan, reporting locally to our Head of Programmes EA (HoP) and regularly on key matters to the East Africa Director (EAD) and HHA UK Finance Director (UK FD).

The success of this role will be demonstrated by a proven level of trust and respect from colleagues within the local senior management team, and the UK leadership team. Accurate financial information will be produced timely with minimal queries and updates required. The HoF will need to be proactive in identifying financial control and reporting challenges and areas for improvement, whilst demonstrating initiative in providing effective solutions.

Duty Station: Bidibidi Réhabilitation Centre, Yumbe District, Uganda

Scope of Work East Africa:   HHA is therefore looking for a competent, dedicated, and experienced Head of Finance (HoF) to lead and oversee its Finance operations in East Africa (Uganda and South Sudan)

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• • Accounting systems: Working with the HoP, EAD and UK FD, set-up key accounting transactions on QuickBooks (or equivalent) for both Uganda and South Sudan operations; develop a suite of internal and external reports to aid the monitoring and control of expenditure by project.
  • Audits: Take ownership of the annual audits; engage with auditors (recommending appointments/ reappointments as appropriate); agree fees with HoP and auditors; prepare draft financial statements and supporting documentation; liaise with the external auditors as required.
  • Support to Board: Provide regular summary financial statements to HHA(EA), HHA(SSD) and HHA(UK) Board Meetings, as directed by the HoP and EAD.
  • Support to Donors: Provide summary data and detailed records / reports of expenditure to support Donor reporting requirements, as directed by the HoP and EAD.
  • Financial management: (1) Oversee preparation of monthly Transfer Requests for UGA and SSD and ensure they accurately reflect agreed and planned expenditure; (2) Ensure monthly Accountabilities for UGA and SSD are prepared in accordance with the agreed timetable. Proactively review data throughout the month; and (3) Ensure staff advances are monitored and controlled effectively.

Financial Stewardship

• • Control environment: Review existing financial and operating controls and related documentation; implement changes as necessary to improve procedures and minimise risk for Ugandan operations; develop controls and processes to support expanding South Sudan operations and ensure control environment complies with best practice and is consistent with amended Ugandan operations.
  • Compliance: Oversee monthly NSSF/URA payments, and other annual taxes and Government charges. Support wider taxation and governance issues, including but not limited to Withholding Tax (WHT) (for both routine operations and import/export activities) and NGO Registration. Liaise with local auditors/advisers as necessary to ensure all tax returns for Uganda and South Sudan are prepared and filed on time.
  • Procurement: Act as financial lead on the Procurement Committee; ensure appropriate due diligence exhibited and procedures are followed in accordance with the Finance Manual.
  • Value-add: Review on-going project plans; be proactive to identify and implement efficiency improvements and provide costings to support the HoP and EAD in their Cost Benefit Analysis.
  • Cash management: (1) Review monthly cash, bank and fuel reconciliations;
  • (2) Ensure cash flow is closely monitored and managed cash flow and UK is advised in good time of potential cash flow problems; (3) Ensure staff salaries are approved and paid on time.

Financial Planning

• Budgets: Manage the wider Department budget and planning process; with your colleagues, create reliable costing for all HHA(EA) projects and other activities, including administrative and overhead costs. Work closely with the HoP and collectively create and draft budgets for new activities in support of Concept Notes. Provide support and guidance to Departments in the Cost Benefit Analysis process.
• Monitoring: Support local team and project managers to build programme budgets for international grant applications and institutional funder proposals. Ensure a robust process to monitor actual performance against budget, enabling project status reports to be prepared accurately and quickly.
• Communications: Develop local team in their understanding of the purpose of our budgets and the importance of the monitoring and evaluating progress; with our HoP, develop communication strategies to set a culture of accepting financial restrictions imposed by the budget and an awareness of constraints imposed on HHA as a small charity.

Leadership

• Management: Build, lead, motivate, develop and manage other members of the finance team, instilling a high level of professionalism and accuracy. Take ownership of all financial matters, but seek opportunities to delegate, monitor and supervise finance colleagues to broaden their skills, increase efficiency and output.
• Role model: Identify areas for self-development and demonstrate to colleagues a willingness and capacity to learn from mistakes and learn new skills; effectively communicate, take responsibility and hold oneself accountable.
• Culture: Working with our HoP and as part of the senior leadership team, help create a culture of respect, hard work and fun. Perform all duties in a timely manner, with discretion and attention to detail. Set similar expectation levels of colleagues.
• Spiritual leadership: Help the team to find purpose in Christ through their roles/work. Influence the team to be sensitive on the Values, Mission, and Vision of HHA.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
  • A master’s or professional qualification (e.g. ACCA, CPA, CFA) is strongly preferred.
  • At least 5 years of progressive experience in financial management or accounting, preferably in the NGO sector.
  • Experience in managing multi-donor budgets and financial reporting.
  • Proficiency in accounting software e.g. QuickBooks and analysis tools. Excellent MS Excel skills required.
  • Strong organizational, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
  • High integrity, professionalism, accountability excellent communication skills.
  • Leadership, team management skills, and strategic financial planning.
  • Experience in forecasts and budget development, monitoring and reporting, and ability to flex budgets once new funding sources become available.
  • Knowledge and awareness of Ugandan and/or South Sudanese financial regulations, tax laws and compliance frameworks desirable, but not essential.
  • Ethical judgement and transparency.
  • Confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is an added advantage.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: bachelor degree

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