Vacancy: Regional Finance Manager

Company Profile

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.

Job Description

• Reports to: Project Director


• Contract term: Full-time, 1 year renewable​


• Languages: Fluency in both English and French necessary​

The overall focus of the Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in the Guinean Forests of West Africa (NBS West Africa) project will be on engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to develop local and regional capacity to use evidence and engage with women and marginalized groups to prioritize locally relevant NBS to climate change adaptation. It will take a systems approach to supporting climate adaptation through interventions that plan for, pilot and scale nature based-solutions (NBS) to climate adaptation that contribute to enhanced biodiversity and gender equality. An overall assumption is that restoration and reforestation of degraded forests, both on and off farm, will be critical to supporting women and their communities to adapt to climate change challenges and will be central to protecting and restoring biodiversity in this critical global hotspot.

The project will work in close collaboration with consortium member CECI, and with the IUCN, CIFOR-ICRAF and the University of Guelph. Key local stakeholders include local and national government bodies, regional institutions, private sector, women’s groups, and environmental organizations.

This initiative builds on WUSC’s and CECI’s decades of experience supporting vulnerable populations and leverages the experience of a variety of local and international partners who bring a strong climate NbS lens, are fully immersed in their respective ecosystems and whose work can be accelerated by this project. This project is a timely intervention to ensure Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinée continue to effectively address climate adaptation while incorporating Nature based Solutions and strong gender lenses.

NATURE AND SCOPE

Based in a regional project office, the Regional Finance Manager oversees the financial and administrative procedures of the NBS West Africa Project in all three countries of intervention. The Regional Finance Manager will oversee project accountants based in Accra, Abidjan and Conakry in order to ensure sound financial management and compliance with donor requirements and will report to the Project Director. The Finance Manager is responsible for the following:

Accounting & Finance

• Ensure that accurate and timely financial records and audit trails are established and maintained for project operations, including for any satellite offices;


• In coordination with the Finance Analyst in Canada, ensure compliance with the overarching regulatory and contractual obligations (e.g. financial, human resources and legal) of WUSC regional operations;


• Prepare financial reports for the Project Steering Committee;


• Support the Project Director and support staff in the preparation and monitoring of the Project Implementation Plan and Annual Work Plan budget for the lifetime of the project, as well as disbursement updates and forecasts as required for the donor;


• Ensure timely and complete budgeting processes are implemented, including variance analysis and guidance on managing the expenditures and managing the project cash flow;


• Oversee the reconciliation of bank accounts and the monthly closure of financial records are approved by the Country Directors and sent to WUSC Ottawa;


• Allocate salaries and benefits expenses to appropriate funding codes;


• Review, develop and implement necessary improvements to financial controls, systems and policies of WUSC in financial management with the approval of WUSC headquarters;


• Ensure that country offices’ financial tools are in line with national laws, donor regulations, WUSC policies, and WUSC institutional policies and manuals;


• Provide overall financial analysis, management advice and technical assistance to the project team and partner organizations, as required;


• Participate in financial monitoring of partner organizations; and


• Oversee foreign exchange transactions and accounting;


• Coordinate, facilitate and support internal and external audits.


• Oversee monthly reconciliation and analysis of the Balance Sheet Accounts;


• Obtain vendors’ statements of account, and reconcile and analyze transactions to ensure there are no overdue, missing, or duplicate invoices;


• Ensure that all monthly staff income tax and social security payments are done in a timely manner, and coordinate all matters with the identified CPA and Legal Advisor.

Project Planning and Management

• In close collaboration with the financial analysts at WUSC headquarters in Ottawa and project accountants, provide the necessary support for the financial management of WUSC agreements with donors;


• Ensure that the Budget Variance Analysis (BVA) and forecast processes are well in place for each country and implemented on a timely, quality and collaborative manner by Finance and Program Departments;


• On a monthly basis, compile the BVA and engage with Project Director and other relevant team members, in analyzing the situation and propose corrective/reallocation measures if needed, in coordination with HQ Finance Analyst and Project Accountants;


• Lead the yearly budget planning process and provide advice to the Country Director, Project Accountants and the program implementation team on defining the best allocation of the resources according to the developed work plan, through exhaustive and detailed budget and financial risks analysis and benefits;


• Take the lead in the design of new projects and proposals from a budget point of view in coordination with the Country Director and the finance department in HQ; and


• Ensure head office and donor deadlines for financial reports are met.

Capacity Building

• Ensure a good level of support for the development of a capacity building plan for WUSC and implementing partners’ team according to their needs;


• Prepare and conduct financial training/coaching for non-finance staff on costing, budgeting, BVA analysis, and donor and government compliance, according to the training needs identified;


• Strengthen the capacity of finance staff through coaching and on the job guidance and training;


• Share feedback to the implementing partners reading areas of improvement and progress status.

Required Skills or Experience

• A Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, MBA or a Professional Financial/Accounting qualification (ACCA, CA or equivalent); Bachelor degree with extensive relevant experience accepted;


• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience post qualification in accounting, management and monitoring, preferably with large international development organization;


• Substantial experience (2 years or more) as supervisor of finance/administration staff highly desirable; and experience building capacity of staff in finance and accounting


• Experience with international donor grants, contracts accounting, financial and administrative procedures, and compliance regulations; experience with Canadian Government development funding is an asset


• Proficient in Google suite, Microsoft Office, computerized accounting systems and other relevant software


• Good knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, control standards and the reporting requirements of major international donors;


• Ability to manage a financial/administration team across several sites and demonstrate leadership, versatility, and integrity;


• Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills;


• Strong organizational, analytical and problem solving skills;


• Able to manage, guide and lead employees to ensure appropriate financial processes are being used;


• Strong understanding of financial statistics and accounting principles;


• Availability to travel locally, regionally and internationally;


• Demonstrate commitment to gender equality and youth empowerment; and


• Complete fluency in English and French is required.