Senior Finance and Compliance Manager at DAI Global LLC

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.

Project Background:

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Program is a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia. The National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) implements SUN as part of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program.  SUN 2.0, the second phase of the program, has three major components: (1) Pooled Multi-Donor SUN Fund, (2) SUN Technical Assistance (SUN TA), and (3) SUN Learning and Evaluation. Working in parallel with the SUN Fund, the USAID/Zambia SUN TA program will provide support and direct technical assistance to sub-national local government officials in target districts to plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities to significantly reduce the rate of stunting among Zambian children under two.

USAID has identified two main objectives that address stunting, including (1) Adequate Quantity and Quality of Dietary Intake among Target Groups; and (2) Adequate Health Conditions for Biological Utilization of Nutrients. SUN TA interventions will increase access and availability of safe, diverse, nutritious food; adoption of better child feeding habits and household hygiene practices; and access to improved health, water, and sanitation services. The project will prioritize sustainability by improving intra-household joint decision making and building capacity of local government and their stakeholders to ensure coordination, accountability, and learning, following the Scaling Up Nutrition model.

Objective:

Under the supervision of the Director of Finance and Administration (DFA), the Senior Finance and Compliance Manager is responsible for daily financial oversight to ensure compliance in accordance with USAID and DAI financial management, accounting principles & procedures. S/he will ensure transparent, audit-ready finance operations. In addition, s/he will provide close oversight of the procurement and subcontracts efforts of the project to ensure these activities are carried out according to USAID regulations and DAI policies and procedures. The Senior Finance and Compliance Manager is also responsible for day-to-day cash flow analyses and assisting the Director of Finance and Administration with the overall financial well-being of the project. The Senior Finance and Compliance Manager will supervise a team of two project accountant based in the Lusaka office and will liaise with 2 Financial/Compliance officers based in the regional offices.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Oversee financial and accounting systems controls and standards, ensuring that financial internal controls are sufficient and “best practice” such that cash management processes are secure, all the data is valid, and that financial reporting is reliable, timely and accurate;
• Conduct review on all transactions entered into field accounting system (FAS) by the Senior Accountant for proper allocation of billable expenses, proper booking of labor to the relevant labor categories, the inclusion of PINs where required;
• Conduct regular internal audit of financial transactions, make recommendations and implements follow-up actions;
• Provide overall leadership and compliance oversight of procurement and subcontracts management;
• Establish and maintain personnel policies to ensure compliance with local labor law, tax law, and USAID regulations;
• Collaborate with the field-based Financial/Compliance Officers on implementing and strengthening internal control systems and continuous process performance improvement
• Escalate any delays or vendor/other issues to the DFA immediately;
• In collaboration with field-based Financial/Compliance Officers, plan and perform field audits, control reviews and compliance assessments. Analyze results and provide recommendations to the district-based teams as well as the Lusaka-based teamServe as liaison and support external audits.
• Coordinate action plans to close out audit findings
• Manage relationship with the bank and verify all payment transactions done through online banking system and obtain authorization from DFA and/or COP;
• Ensure the project is in compliance with all tax liabilities as well as tax and duty exemptions the project may be eligible for as a USAID implementing partner;
• Submit monthly financial reports to DAI Global LLC home office in Bethesda;
• Maintain, regularly update, and analyze the SUN TA project budget, including regular and accurate reporting to USAID and DAI;
• Prepare monthly and quarterly project financial pipelines;
• Work closely with project technical team to plan, forecast and cost out annual and quarterly work plan activities;
• Work closely with the Grants team to ensure compliance by providing trainings and regular technical assistances as needed for the Grants Under Contract (GUCs) and assist with budgetary and finance needs;
• Monitor and, when necessary, mentor subcontractors in the requirements of proper project management in order to adhere to U.S. Government statutes and SUN TA programmatic goals and objectives;
• Provide monitoring and oversight function on subcontracts compliance to ensure that the overall project implementation complies with USAID and DAI regulations and policies;
• Performs other duties assigned by his/her supervisor or designee.

Qualifications:

• Certified Public Accountant or relevant advance degree in finance or business;
• At least 15 years of experience in overall financial and administrative management and contract management, of which at least 7 years should be specifically supporting international donor funded projects(DFID, USAID, etc.);
• Extensive experience in developing and managing a donor funded grants program;
• Demonstrated understanding of applicable finance-related USG contracting regulations;
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and/or experiences in accounting, audit, finance, financial planning and management, and grants management;
• Demonstrated experience implementing activities of similar scope and complexity in Zambia or a similar context;
• Coaching and training abilities
• Demonstrated management and supervisory experience of a relevant scope and scale with preference given to experience managing multiple field based teams;
• Strong communication abilities; Excellent English writing, speaking, and reading skills;
• Proficiency with MS Office software, IBM Notes, and Dynacom Accounting Software

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