Finance Director

John Snow, Inc.

Supporting an AIDS-Free Era

Background

John Snow, Inc. (JSI) seeks highly qualified and accomplished public health leaders and providers for the recently awarded United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/PEPFAR-funded Supporting an AIDS-Free Era (SAFE) Project in Zambia. The five-year project which will be led by JSI in partnership with Abt Associates, mothers2mothers, and the Catholic Medical Mission Board, will work to reduce HIV mortality, morbidity and transmission, while improving nutrition outcomes and family planning integration in three provinces: Central, Copperbelt, and North-Western. USAID/PEPFAR SAFE will work with the GRZ, private sector and civil society institutions at the national, provincial, and district level to increase access to ART for HIV positive adults and children, reduce the incidence of new infections, improve Nutritional Assessment, Counselling and Services (NACS) and family planning services, and increase the capacity of local health institutions to better serve affected populations.

Position: Finance Director

Position Type: Full Time

Location: Lusaka

Reports to: Deputy Director of Finance and Operations

The Finance Director oversees all financial functions and reporting of USAID SAFE financial activities in Zambia, working closely with the Deputy Director of Finance and Operations, The Director of Finance and Operations, project teams and the JSI/Home Office teams.  S/he will provide oversight for financial management and reporting, budget tracking and compliance at country and Provincial offices. S/he will ensure that the financial systems, policies and procedures and internal controls are in place and comply with donor rules and regulations, laws of Zambia and JSI policy and procedures.

Main Responsibilities:

• Assist the Director of Finance and Operations to provide overall supervision and reporting on all financial affairs of the project for the Central and Provincial offices, in line with project objectives.
• Working closely with the Deputy Director of Finance and Operations to Implement and monitor effective financial management systems and rigorous internal controls to ensure that all financial reporting is accurate, cost efficient and transparent, ensuring compliance with USG rules and regulations, JSI policy and local laws at all times.
• Assist the Finance and Operations Director to monitor and track project income and expenditure against budget and regular updating of projections.
• Work closely with the Technical Directors to ensure all monthly stipends to MOH Staff and Volunteers are paid on time
• Work closely with the Procurement Director, HR Director and the Operations Director to ensure all payments for vendors, rent, staff salaries and other payments, are made in a timely manner in line with the provision of the JSI Operations Manual
• Play a key role in the preparation of the annual PEPFAR ER report and ensure that expenditure is tracked accordingly.
• Monitor cash flow, accounts, and other financial transactions
• Provides financial advice and support to help senior management make key decisions.
• Responsible for tracking program budget according to the work plan costed budget
• Directly supervise the Senior Financial Specialist and the Senior Field Finance Specialist and indirectly supervise the Provincial Finance Managers and all project finance staff to ensure efficient and timely processing of all payments, quality and timely reporting and adherence to deadlines.
• Understand the technical components of the program in order to appropriately guide staff with budgeting and approvals for technical activities.
• Participate actively in ensuring that appropriate design, implementation, and management of financial systems is in place,
• Interpret complex financial information and provide updates and information as needed to the DDFO and DFO
• Review monthly projections, cash flow and wire requests to home office in coordination with The Lusaka and Provincial finance offices to ensure availability of funds for program activities at all times.
• Liaise with other key technical personnel and local staff to ensure smooth financial processes are upheld
• Supervise and review all program financial transactions, purchase orders, contracts, and petty cash for the central and Provincial offices;
• Ensure that the monthly close-out of field accounts is completed correctly and on schedule by all finance staff;
• Ensure that all comments on Fieldlink system are cleared on time.
• Ensure compliance with ZRA, NAPSA and other statutory returns at all times.
• Travel regularly to Provincial offices to ensure that finances are managed according to the USAID regulation and JSI policy
• Work closely with Compliance Specialist teams to ensure that all their comments/findings are addressed.
• Maintain the finance manual for all project offices and ensure it is up to date on all time
• Establish and implement a training program for new finance employees.
• Assist the DDFO and the DFO with daily program management, contributing to program decision-making by providing input on financial status of the Project.
• Any other duties as assigned by the DDFO and the DFO.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree/Bachelor of Arts in Accounting/ Finance, or equivalent
• Masters’ Degree in Finance/ Business Administration, or a relevant post graduate Master’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent is required
• ACCA/CIMA or equivalent will be an added advantage
• Demonstrated experience in managing, supervising a team and leadership skills
• Superior attention to detail; organisational skills; planning skills; problem-solving skills; analytical skills and critical thinking skills
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and eager to work in a fast-paced multicultural organization
• A minimum fifteen (15) years’ experience including a minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in financial management of U.S. assistance programs of similar size, complexity and setting
• Demonstrated experience supporting and working with program technical staff to ensure resources are used efficiently and to accurately account for expenditures
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Exceptional computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel, and substantial experience using commercially available accounting software programs
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably.

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