Kenya: Regional Business Services Manager

CLIENT PURPOSE: To work with others to overcome poverty and suffering.

TEAM PURPOSE: To ensure CLIENT in Horn, East & Central Africa has quality business support including financial management, logistics and supply, and information systems as well as managing risks across the region. Also to ensure that there is sufficient financial and logistical capacity to scale up and to respond rapidly to major humanitarian emergencies, and to ensure consistent IT and financial support in Nairobi and across the region.

JOB PURPOSE: As a senior manager of CLIENT, to contribute actively to the overall regional management aligned to corporate objectives and priorities. To be responsible for the implementation of financial strategies, policies and procedures and programme information through the provision of quality information, committed specialist teams and user friendly corporate information systems and risk management oversight. Accountability for the performance of the Finance and services division within Horn, East & Central Africa region. As a member of the Regional Management Team, actively participate in strategy development and other management activities.REPORTING LINES:

Postholder reports to:Regional Director in Horn, East & Central Africa, and has a dotted line management relationship with the International Deputy Programmes Director in the International Division in the Head Office in Oxford.

Staff reporting to this post:Regional Finance Co-ordinator, Regional C ounterfraud Advisor ; Regional Information Systems Manager, Regional Logistics Coordinator And the Shared Services Manager, BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: Responsible for the budgets for Horn, East & Central Africa (GBP60M). BACKGROUND: CLIENT is a leading charity working with others to overcome poverty and suffering. Its international programme is managed through the head office in Oxford and seven regional management centres across the world. This post requires a fully motivated and committed professional who can deliver efficient and effective service to CLIENT’s programme in the region.

In addition to technical skills, the post-holder is expected to lead others and model behaviour that reflects the culture of the organisation.

The RBSM is a member of the Regional Management Team and will contribute significantly to the development and implementation of corporate and regional strategies. DIMENSIONS:

· Responsible for a regional business support unit, shared services unit and management of those teams.

· Responsible for performance and service standards, recruitment and resourcing.

· Impact and influence is in the immediate working team in the Regional Management Centre and in the wider context, within the region in the, Logistics, financial and IS areas. In addition impact is expected in the Regional leadership Team (RLT) covering the whole of the region and in Oxford, in the Head Office.

· Responsible for implementing CMT strategies in the region and for feeding ideas into corporate strategy.

· Responsible for management of the business cycle including planning and monitoring

· Financial reporting - interpreting summary reports for Regional Director and making recommendations.

· Providing specialist advice to Regional Director, RMT and RLT on the business support areas including financial management, Loss prevention, Logistics and IS.

· Hands on problem-solving of a range of issues.

· Communicating high level financial information at senior levels.

· Responsible for procedures including ensuring they are adaptable to operating contexts

· Objectives contribute to the financial and Information System strategies from Oxford and can involve collaboration with other departments and other regions.

· The role requires the ability to analyse and communicate complex and specific regional information to the RMT, the staff in the region and also in communications with the Head office in Oxford. Role is variable with well-defined targets and/or minimum standards and is both proactive and reactive.

· In-depth knowledge of the principles underlying the key purpose and role is required in order to make decisions affecting the team and which may impact more widely in the programmes / region and Oxford.

· Some external contact/negotiation on specific topics. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Regional Management

· To be responsible for the effective performance management of all staff reporting, ensuring assessment, development and performance management against objectives and organisationally agreed competencies;

· To be responsible for the implementation of CLIENT’s relevant organisational standards and compliance with legal obligations across the Region, together with the Regional Human Resources Manager (RHRM)

· To ensure that the shared services centre runs effectively

Financial Management

· To be accountable for the implementation of the corporate and divisional Finance strategy and ensure effective contributions by regional finance team to the operations of the regional programs

· To manage the business cycle including planning reporting and year end processes

· To effectively manage and support sound financial management practices across the region

· To effectively manage/engage with risk in the region

Counter fraud

· Provide direction and oversight to the regional counter fraud function ensuring that HECA’s counter fraud work is aligned to the corporate strategy and provides proactive work on loss prevention and managing incidents to minimise loss and other risks to the organisation

Logistics

· To be accountable for the implementation of the corporate and divisional logistics strategy and ensure effective contributions by Logistics to the operations of the regional programs

· To support the development of an agreed Logistics strategy, and support the regional operations manager in its implementation

· To support operations including humanitarian scale up

Information and Communication Technology

· To be accountable for the implementation of the corporate and divisional IS strategy and ensure effective contributions by IS to the operations of the regional programs

· To support the development of an agreed IS strategy, and support the regional information systems manager in its implementation

Programme Information

· To be responsible for the delivery within the region of the organisational information systems strategy, working within corporate parameters, to facilitate communications, information flow and management information, ensuring appropriate use of information technology based systems;

· To support, advise and when delegated, or necessary, Guide the programme staff on financial issues, to maintain the link with programme work and finances.

· Support and guide the Regional Programme Management Team in financial, funding, IS and Logistics matters . SKILLS AND COMPETENCE:

Essential:

· Expertise in the application of strategic financial management and experience in maximising resource utilization;

· Professionally qualified finance manager, preferably with some experience in a large And / or complex organisation, and the ability to influence and support colleagues in appreciating the importance of financial standards, procedures and controls;

· Experience of leading the implementation of operational improvements and the persistence to achieve change in a challenging environment;

· Leadership qualities and people management expertise to provide direction and effective support to a multidisciplinary and multicultural team;

· Thorough understanding of information systems and information technology with a sound knowledge of their development and capabilities;

· Ability to gain and apply knowledge of the statutory requirements of countries in the region and of the impact of local culture and tradition.

· Effective verbal and written communication skills, including high-level interpersonal and representational capabilities; fluency in written and spoken English essential. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

· Ability to operate and think strategically, coupled with proven analytical skills and the use of these to problem solve and make firm decisions;

· A strong commitment to CLIENT’s purpose, a broad understanding of the work culture in the “development” sector and its impact on key areas of responsibility and a commitment to humanitarian principles and action;

· Ability to undertake frequent travels within and outside of the region

An understanding of gender and diversity considerations within key areas of responsibility and commitment to addressing inequalities in the workplace and the programme.

Desirable:

· Ability to speak French, Kiswahili, and/ or other languages widely spoken in the region would be desirable

About MzN Recruitment
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