Country Finance Officer - Role profile

Location Harare, Zimbabwe Department International

Reports to (Job Country Manager Salary Band E Mid

Title)

Matrix manager Competency level 2

(N/A)

Role definition
Role purpose

The role will be responsible for managing the finance function in the Zimbabwe office. The role will be required to
ensure efficient and accurate cash and bank books are maintained, monthly accounts and returns are produced in
a timely manner, reports are extracted from the financial and administration systems to review the status of the
budget and the adherence to financial policies and procedures. This role will include managing the Administrator
and Finance Assistant and overall responsibility for all admin staff especially on the team’s role in supporting
partner financial capacity, the provision of Tier 1 HR, Tier 1 IT and Tier 1 Health & Safety and administrative
support. The role will be responsible for working with partner organisations to assist them in programme financial
management. To manage aspects of Christian Aid's financial reporting, budgeting, auditing and compliance that
relate to partner organisations, in line with Christian Aid’s procedures and policies. With support of the
Administrator, to support local partner organisations in financial capacity building through training and support. To
improve the capacity of Christian Aid programme staff to understand both Christian Aid's and institutional donors'
financial policies and procedures.

Key outcomes

 Cash, bank books and other financial documentation is maintained in an accurate and timely fashion.
 Monthly accounts and financial returns produced and submitted in an accurate and timely fashion.
 Local budgets, donor funded programmes and appeal funds are managed, reviewed regularly and
corrective action taken as necessary.
 Christian Aid and donor financial policies and procedures are complied with and any issues arising from
noncompliance dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
 Internal, external and donor audits are supported and any actions dealt with.
 Financial training needs of local Christian Aid staff are addressed.
 In collaboration with other colleagues, budgets are prepared and monitored for partners and relevant
institutional donor funded programmes.
 Financial capacity building delivered to partners to include procurement, reporting, compliance and how to
deliver training.
 Partners comply with Christian Aid's and institutional donors' policies and procedures.
 Partners meeting financial reporting requirements placed on them by Christian Aid.
 Partners meeting financial reporting requirements placed on them by institutional donors.
 Good relationships with partners are maintained through positive communication.

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Role agility

Expected travel per annum Up to 40 days On call/unsocial hours Yes

Surge capacity for emergency responses No

In order to respond to ever changing demands within the environment, Christian Aid operates within an agile
framework (both in workforce and operational) that requires from all employees, a high level of responsiveness and
adaptiveness to processes and structures making flexibility and a project based working approach the norm. To
sustain this system, managers may/will agree further details of specific tasks and duties as part of the performance
agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of
responsibility, and employees may be required to change the focus of their role from time to time.

Role context

The role works within the Zimbabwe team as part of the International Programmes role family. The
role holder will directly line manage and support the Administrator and Finance Assistant, while
being indirectly responsible for the entire admin function. The role works with partners on financial
management and it externally represents CA in the area of finance and grant management. In
addition the post holder will provide relevant technical guidance and support to other programme
staff and partners and especially ensure that partners capacity assessments and financial
monitoring and reporting are carried out in accordance with Christian Aid’s and donor
requirements.

Role requirements

Relationships
External The role works closely with partners for financial monitoring and financial capacity building, grant
management for large and complex partnerships and programmes with strong linkages to programme funding,
International Accountant and Internal Audit. The role will represent CA with donors for the financial and budget
aspects.
Internal The role is line managed by the Country Manager and it in turn manages the Administrator and indirectly
manages other admin staff implementing institutional donor programmes. The role also works closely with the
Senior Programme Officer (resilience and IMD), Senior Programme Officer (Gender & Inequality), the Programme
Officer Resilience and the Programme Funding Officer for budget preparation and monitoring purposes.

Decision making
Budgetary/savings responsibility Provide financial monitoring and reporting of actual spend against budget. Make
decisions on the content and accuracy of monthly financial reports. Support the maintenance of all financial records.
Providing advice on financial policies and procedures to local Christian Aid staff. Financial training needs of local
Christian Aid staff are addressed.

Budgets up to GBP 2,000,000

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Analytical skills
Ability to apply logical thinking and common sense to gathering and analysing information, designing and testing
solutions to problems, but also carrying out routine work.

Developing self and others

Continuously look for opportunities for self-development. Give and receive honest and open feedback in a timely
manner. Will advise others in some technical financial matters.
Number of Direct reports 2

Overall people management responsibility Required

The role is responsible for own work and the work of the Administrator, Finance Assistant and the entire
administration team. The role will lead the Administration team and will be responsible for the team’s
performance.

Role related checks

Child protection clearance Not required Counter terrorism screening required

Person specification
Applied skills/knowledge and expertise

Essential
 Specialised knowledge of finance. Intellect or qualifications equivalent to level of degree level.
 Knowledge of financial standards required by donors.
 Experience of writing and reviewing financial reports
 Experience of creating and monitoring budgets and working with compliance regulations.
 Verbal and written fluency in local language.
 Proven ability to deal with a wide range of financial procedures and issues.
 Considerable experience in accounting or finance-related environment.
 Exposure to computerised financial systems.
 Reconciliation of financial information, including exposure to foreign currency.
 Exposure to spreadsheet and word processing packages

Desirable
 Part-qualified IFAC accountant.
 Basic skills in English.
 Understanding of the working of NGOs.
 Advanced use of Excel.
 Experience of dealing with institutional donor fund accounting.
 Exposure to and experience of treasury management
 Experience of using computerised financial reporting tools.

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  Training skills.

Digital/IT competencies required

Word, Excel, PowerPoint Advanced Web content design & N/A

development

Internet based collaboration Intermediate Social Media Intermediate

tools and video calling

Data Visualisation Advance

DATE CREATED 03/10/19