Finance Officer

Overview

Start Date: As soon as possible

Duration of Contract: Fixed-term contract until 30 September 2027

Probation Period: Six months

Salary: USD 17,000 gross per annum

Location: FFI Office in Nairobi, Kenya

Benefits: 25 working days’ annual leave entitlement plus national public holidays observed in Kenya

Hours of Work: This is a full-time position, working 40 hours Monday to Friday inclusive. These hours may vary depending on the requirements of the job

On the ground implementation of the BlueAction project in Tanzania will be partner-led. This role will support facilitating financial processes, and supporting timely and accurate financial reporting for the project. This will involve working closely with key project partners to support compliance with FFI and donor financial guidelines and FFI policies and procedures, within the terms of the BlueAction Grant Agreement. The role will also support strengthening of internal systems and procedures for the lead project partner to maintain an effective implementation team that delivers impactful conservation action, on time and budget.

Responsibilities

Specific Duties

Under the line-management of the Grant Manager, BlueAction Project, Kenya and working under the supervision of the Finance and Administration Manager, Kenya, the Finance Officer will have the following responsibilities:

Financial Management

• Assist in financial reporting and fund audits as required for the BAF (Blue Action Fund) project.
• Checking all expenses are scanned, correct and compliant, with a particular focus on staff time and procurement as the highest risk areas.
• Support the maintenance of existing financial systems including but not limited to general expenses processing, travel expense claims processing and income & expenditure records.
• Ensure all financial processes for FFI and partners are in line with BAF donor requirements and FFI policy and procedures.
• As delegated, support financial management in month-end procedures and help ensure a strong internal control environment.
• Assist in maintenance and update of the fixed assets register for the project within the FFI Kenya office
• Support financial processes on FFI internal systems such as raising Purchase Orders, uploading fund budgets and transfers.
• Produce monthly fund financial reports for the BAF project funds and flag any discrepancies to the fund manager.
• Keep a track of FFI timesheet charges on all BAF project funds and ensure that staff time is fully charged in time for donor financial reporting, liaising with Programme Manager (Operations and Compliance), Africa to ensure all timesheet trackers for BAF funds are up to date and being followed.
• Oversee the maintenance of an accurate and updated cash flow report for the BAF project and provide monthly updates on this to the Finance and Administration Manager, Kenya.
• Support cash flow management and banking by carrying out bank errands including withdrawals, deposits and bank instructions.
• Support the procurement and purchasing of office supplies and equipment and materials needed for BAF project activities.
• Review fund records retention system and develop a financial database for the project.
• Maintain an organised, well-documented and sequential filing system for invoices, payments and all other relevant financial documents for the project.
• Facilitate travel for staff visiting the project or undertaking fieldwork or meetings, in terms of cashflow availability and supplier payments.
• Assist in FFI Kenya institutional budget development.

Partner support

• Support partner capacity assessment and capacity building with regard to financial management, systems and donor guidelines by supporting the developing standard financial tools, templates, checklists and guidance for BAF partners.
• Support fund audits as required by ensuring partner supporting documents are in alignment with the partner financial reports.
• Support BAF partners to maintain an appropriate fixed asset register for the project.

Other

Undertake international travel to project sites, Tanga region and/or Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba), if required.

Undertake any other duties commensurate with skills and experience as requested by the Grant Manager, BlueAction Project

Additional education

• Undergraduate degree in a finance-related discipline
• CPA professional qualification

Experience

Additional experience

• Minimum three years’ experience supporting grant management, compliance and the responsible management of donor funds
• Proven experience providing support in financial management of high-value grants (budgets totaling in excess of 500,000 €/USD pa)
• Experience of working with statutory funding
• Experience working with government agencies, communities and community-based organisations, partner NGOs and for-profit entities
• Experience working within a geographically dispersed team
• Experience working in the environment/conservation or development field

Additional skills

• Excellent financial management and numeracy skills, including budgeting, re-forecasting and financial reporting
• Strong organisational skills, with structured and methodical approach to work
• Excellent interpersonal skills, specifically ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with partner organisations
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Outlook and Excel
• Fluency in English and Swahili (spoken and written)
• Excellent team player
• Self-motivated and output driven, committed to producing the highest quality of work
• Flexible and adaptable in uncertain and changeable work situations
• Rigorous and diligent approach to work
• Commitment to FFI’s Values

Terms and conditions

• Entitlement to live and work in Kenya (without employee sponsorship)

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications, consisting of a covering letter explaining why you feel you should be considered for this post, a full CV (tailored to the role as advertised, highlighting relevant experience and achievements) and contact details for two referees (who will not be contacted without your permission) should be sent to africajobs@fauna-flora.org

Please mark your application Finance Officer, BlueAction Project

The closing date for applications is 25 May 2023. Interviews are likely to be held from week commencing 08 June 2023. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted by email or telephone – please specify your preferred method of contact in your covering letter and indicate where you saw the position advertised.

Regrettably, due to limited resources and the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion