Head of Finance

The Head of Finance is a senior management role responsible for finance administration, fiscal management, and financial reporting in both emergency and development programming contexts. The role includes leadership within the Country Office Senior Management Team, ensuring compliance with financial standards, managing budgets, and overseeing finance staff development.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Country Leadership of SCI Burkina Faso Country Office as a member of the Senior Management Team
• Support the development of an organisational culture reflecting Save the Children values and promote accountability and high performance
• Help design and implement a coherent organizational structure consistent with Save the Children practices
• Ensure compliance with Save the Children Quality Standards and Standard Operating Procedures
• Work closely with Risk and compliance lead to flag key global financial risks
• Provide financial oversight using tools such as Master Budgets and forecast projections
• Assist the Country Director in managing Country Office resources and sub-offices
• Develop plans to meet funding and programming needs including diversification of funding resources
• Identify and manage key financial risks and develop mitigation plans
• Ensure correct budget authority levels and support budget holders
• Manage financial systems and provide monthly budget variance analysis
• Ensure control of assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities
• Submit timely financial reports to centre, Regional Office and donors
• Ensure effective financial management and control systems are in place and regularly reviewed
• Coordinate internal and external audits
• Ensure monthly financial reviews are prepared and submitted on time
• Monitor quality financial reports for grants/contracts and ensure proper accounting and closing of books
• Coordinate donor fund summaries and ensure compliance with donor requirements
• Manage treasury operations and develop sub-grantees/partners through training
• Manage finance team including recruitment, training, performance management and development
• Promote safeguarding, anti-fraud, and ethical conduct policies and procedures
• Identify and mitigate safeguarding and fraud risks
• Report concerns or incidents related to data protection, fraud, corruption, or misconduct within 24 hours
• Complete mandatory training on safeguarding, fraud prevention, and ethical conduct
• Promote safe, inclusive, and context-appropriate complaint and feedback mechanisms

Requirements

• CPA or equivalent degree (CA, ACMA, ACCA) strongly recommended
• Recommended a minimum of 8 years management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, of which three at a management level within the finance department of a national or international organization
• Experience with recent experience working in an emergency context
• Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling
• Excellent analytical skills – the ability to analyse complex financial data and design and produce effective management information
• Excellent experience of budgeting and budget management
• Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures
• Strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to strategic decisions
• Excellent experience of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Experience of general administration work
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines
• Ability to build a small, proactive team, motivating staff and working collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary
• Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
• A full appreciation of the value of co-operation, both internationally and within a team environment
• Understanding of Save the Children’s vision and mission and a commitment to its objectives and values
• Written and verbal fluency in English and in French

Skills

• CPA Certification
• Finance Management
• Budget Management
• Financial Planning
• Strategic Modelling
• Financial Analysis
• Management Information Systems
• Financial Systems Procedures
• Business Acumen
• Computerized Accounts Packages
• Excel
• Power Point
• Word
• General Administration
• Team Leadership
• Emergency Finance Management
• Staff Development
• Financial Reporting

Languages

English, French