Save the Children Awards & Finance Assistant

Job Description

Vacancy: Awards & Finance Assistant

Position Code: AWD/DAD/2015
 

Team / Programme: Finance

Location: Dadaab
 

Grade: 5   Contract Duration: 1 year
 

Post Type: National  (1 year contract with possibility of extension)
 

Child Safeguarding: Level 3 – the responsibilities of the post may require the post holder to have regular contact with or access to children or young people.Role Purpose: The Awards & Finance Assistant will support the Finance officer in delivering the Finance teams’ objectives in a timely and accurate manner.

He/she will, ensure that processing and reporting deadlines are fully met; financial controls and procedures are strictly adhered to by all field office staff.

Scope of Role:

Reports to: Finance Officer

Dimensions: Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s, providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners.

Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and WASH.

In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a single operation in Kenya. 

In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition programmes with our own. 

Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in many other parts of the country. We employ nearly 300 staff and will have an operating annual budget in 2015 of approximately US$20-25 million

Staff directly reporting to this post: NoneKey Areas of Accountability:

Assist the Finance Officer in the effective tracking of expenditures/ incomes and collating timely and accurate financial reporting to the donors through the Awards coordinator.

Produce monthly budget monitoring reports and overview of the status of grants highlighting issues on over/under spends.  Provide timely financial management information to grant/budget holder/project managers and make sure that they are receiving the necessary information from Agresso output regularly or as they require.

Follow up on partner reports and ensure they are reviewed and posted on a monthly basis. Process partner Funds disbursements requests.

Support the Finance Officer in reviewing phased budgets and liaise with country office finance to ensure  that budgets posting is timely.

Review GLACOS for accurate coding before posting.

Checks that reversals/recharges/recordings requested by budget holders are completed by the Finance Team immediately

Ensure that grant closure is being dealt with correctly and that no charges are made to closed grants.

Support the team with audit process – producing reports.

Support   the Finance Officer in developing and maintaining robust and  adequate financial internal control systems and  cash management in line with donor requirements, Save the children Finance manual and  good  accounting practices.

Follow up on monthly staff timesheets and reconcile staff effort reporting.

Ensure that staff salaries are posted.

Perform other finance duties as will be delegated.

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
 

Accountability:

Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values

Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same

Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others

Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters

Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength

Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

Honest, encourages openness and transparency

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor of Commerce or Business Studies degree or equivalent certification and experience.

Professional qualifications in Accounting (CPA II  section finalist)

Recommended a minimum of 3 years experience in a in budget setting and grants management in INGOs, Accounting & financial management.

Familiar with major donor reporting including EC,USAID,UNHCR,BPRM,CIDA

Strong working computer skills especially in accounting packages.

Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching

Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in an international environment with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures

Strong results orientation, with the ability to challenge existing mindsets

Experience of solving complex issues through analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in

Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner

Ability and willingness to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies

Fluency in English, both verbal and written, preferred

Commitment to Save the Children values

How to Apply

Interested candidates are required to submit a CV and mandatory Cover letter to Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org indicating the Position Code on the subject line by 17th April 2015.  

Due to the urgency of these positions, applications will be reviewed as when we receive them. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.