Business Manager at Northern Province Cooperation Marketing Union

NORTHERN PROVINCE COOPERATIVE MARKETING UNION

NPCMU is a Cooperative Union at provincial level, representing the cooperative movement in Northern Province, Zambia. Its affiliates are 8 District Cooperative Unions (DCUs), which have 2,318 Primary Cooperatives (PCs) as their membership. The total individual membership of the PCs represented is around 70,000 individual members.

NPCMU is engaged in several businesses, the main ones being a poultry stock feed plant (started operations in 2018) and a guest house. NPCMU aims to become the main poultry stock feed producer in Northern Province, mainly for its members which will provide the raw materials for and are targeted as consumers of the end product (amongst others).

In addition, with the new Cooperative Act that is expected to enforce the provision of annual audits, NPCMU is exploring the possibility to scale up its audit services to District Cooperative Unions and Primary Cooperatives.

NPCMU is recruiting a:

Business Manager

Full-time

Location: Kasama

As the Manager you will be responsible for managing and controlling the overall day to day administration, operation, coordination and control of all aspects of the cooperative union in accordance with approved strategic plan, business plans and bylaw. In order to attain objectives, financial viability and provide services to members as outlined in the bylaws and these include but not limited to, strategic planning, setting up accounting system, administrative systems for the provincial union. The business manager will be accountable to the cooperative board of directors.

Duties finance

• Control and supervise the finances of the cooperative and strive for high levels of efficiency and maintain a careful and judicious control of expenses as well as accurate record keeping.
• Must mobilize enough resources and pay staff salaries and statutory obligations in time.
• Initiate budget preparation and recommendations for consideration by the board
• Safeguard all the assets of the union
• Authorize the payment of funds from the organisation as per approved budget by the board
• Ensure that the financial statements are prepared for audit
• Prepare quarterly progress reports and submit to the board at the meetings or at such other times as required an account of all the transactions and financial position of the organisation.

Duties administration

• Guide and administer the affairs of the cooperative in keeping with sound business practices and the objectives of the union and to ensure that profitable operations and positive cash flows
• Appraise continually the operating results of the cooperative and to take prompt corrective action as required to ensure all operations are visible.
• Maintain accurate records of all the board proceedings and General meeting minutes.
• Circulate notices of meetings called and requested by an appropriate authority to members and to all other stakeholders
• Keep in safe custody, the seal of the organisation
• Perform other duties as required for the proper management of the union.

Networking Duties

• Mobilize members and maintain effective collaboration to grow membership and increase service delivery.
• Collaboration with various key stake holders and regulators to ensure compliance and improved operations.

Your profile

• Full Grade 12 certificate (Five O level including English &mathematics).
• Minimum of Diploma in Business administration or any related field
• Degree in business or development studies will be added advantage
• Age between 30 and 40 years
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in MS Office tools, mainly Microsoft word.
• Prior experience in the agricultural sector is an advantage.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, interpersonal skills, flexible, culturally sensitive.
• Willing to take up additional assignments if needed.
• Open mind with a supportive/service-oriented attitude.

What we have to offer

A position that requires you to be highly self-reliant and use your pioneering skills in order to operate in dynamic international markets and in close cooperation with the agricultural business sector. At Northern Province Cooperative union, the work environment is collegial and ambitious, and the focus is on achieving impact and running a profitable enterprise. As the Business Manager, you will be working under the direct supervision of Board of directors.

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