Finance Officer

The Finance Officer provides technical support for effective and transparent expenditure of the African Union and ensures compliance with sound financial management principles. The role involves managing treasury functions, preparing budgets, financial reporting, and supervising staff within the Finance Management Division.

Responsibilities

• Provides support in the preparation and implementation of the programmes developed out of the Division’s strategic plan.
• Ensures effective coordination and implementation at various levels.
• Liaises with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and other stakeholders including on relevant matters.
• Prepares and develops reports, budget and work programmes related to the functioning of the Division.
• Provides support to the development of resource mobilization strategy with stakeholder’s coordination.
• Manages and supervises employees under his/her supervision with regard to organization and performance evaluation.
• Conducts complex analysis and generates accurate reports in a timely manner for the Division and AU’s internal use.
• Liaises with the various Departments/Units of the Commission for coordination and alignment purposes.
• Prepares budgets for the Division in accordance with relevant frameworks.
• Provides support for the promotion of the activities of the Division including preparing leaflets, guidelines and fact sheets as may be required.
• Contributes to the development of strategies, policies, programmes and plans.
• Maintains the register of all assets and ensures routine cash counts are undertaken monthly and quarterly.
• Submits at the beginning of each month, a cash-forecast/projection for management use.
• Submits daily cash balance reports for effective cash monitoring to ensure there are no overdrafts.
• Monitors investment portfolios daily including Working capital, High-Yield, Escrow, and other portfolios to ensure timely actions are taken as the market swings.
• Ensures an up-to-date treasury policy that is constantly reviewed and updated annually taking into account market info and other regulatory changes including setting up definition of the risk tolerance.
• Reviews controls around treasury systems and ensures they are adequate and are operating all the time and should there be gaps, that compensatory controls are introduced and further system enhancement is recommended.
• Manages relationships with financial service providers ensuring that their service charges and other aspects are within terms of agreement.
• Ensures payments transfers are executed timely and transfers are made to the bank within two days of file completion and delays are monitored and logged.
• Ensures payment platforms are in good working order with all control protocols updated and being reviewed periodically.
• Ensures the liquidity (day to day management of cash) needs of each of the entities in the organization are met in compliance with the Treasury Policy.
• Prepares and submits AU’s cash flow forecasts and undertakes financial modelling to determine periods of surpluses and deficits.
• Schedules and keeps track of records of quarterly investment meetings and ensures all matters of investments requiring decisions and prior period updates are presented before the committee a few days before the meeting.
• Ensures long and short term strategies, policies, systems and other applicable regulatory frameworks are up to date and that requisite information including the risk tracker is maintained in the Cash and liquidity modules of AUC SAP ERP.
• Prepares and submits monthly investment and other asset reports accompanied by market/Trend information.
• Supervises staff and monitors all payments online and otherwise while ensuring there are no transfer/payment delays and that associated risks are timely identified, mapped, classified and timely mitigated.
• Undertakes overall Treasury system continuous improvement in light of environmental changes and other recommendations.
• Ensures vibrant client relationship with all financial institutions (including Banks) AU has dealings with.
• Forecasts daily cash requirements and executes daily financing decisions.
• Determines the organization’s tax position and the applicability of taxable/non-taxable instruments.
• Reviews and recommends changes to the investment policies based on the market conditions.
• Prepares AU’s cash flow forecasts and performs financial modelling.
• Evaluates, develops and implements cash management systems to optimize efficiencies.
• Understands and manages appropriate accounting procedures and processes to meet the organization’s needs.
• Determines procurement of funds and monitors investments and collections.
• Conducts benchmark studies of banks and their services to evaluate whether it fits AU requirements.
• Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets.

Requirements

• A Master’s Degree in Finance/Accounting or related field with seven (7) years of relevant work experience out of which 3 years should have been served at supervisory level.
• Or a Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting or related field with ten (10) years of relevant work experience out of which 3 years should have been served at supervisory level.
• Financial Management and Analytical skills.
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Presentation, report writing and communication skills.
• Computer skills with practical knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Planning and organizing skills.
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff.
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Skills

• Finance Management
• Financial Reporting
• Budget Preparation
• Treasury Management
• Analytical Skills
• Supervisory Abilities
• Technical Mentoring
• Staff Evaluation
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Report Writing
• Presentation Skills
• Negotiation Skills
• Planning and Organization

Languages

English