Finance Expert (AfCDC) -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization Information

Reports to: Head of Finance
Directorate/Department/Organ: Africa CDC
Number of Direct Reports:0
Number of Indirect Reports:0
Job Grade: P3
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed term

Purpose of Job

The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. Its Headquarters is located in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia.

Officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2017 as a specialized technical institution of the African Union, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is Africa’s first continent-wide public health agency. Africa CDC envisions a safer, healthier, integrated, and stronger Africa, where the Member States can effectively respond to outbreaks of infectious diseases and other public health threats. The agency’s mission is to strengthen the capabilities of Africa’s public health institutions and systems to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks and other health burdens through an integrated network of continent-wide surveillance, laboratory, disease control and prevention, preparedness and response, and research programs. To achieve its mission, the Africa CDC works in all geographic regions of the African continent and has instituted technical divisions to focus on five priority areas, namely Surveillance and -Disease Intelligence, Laboratory Systems and Networks, Disease Control and Prevention, Preparedness and Response, and Public Health Institutes and research.

The Finance Expert will be responsible for providing financial management support to the project ensuring financial procedures are adhered to, financial data is accurately recorded, and timely financial reports are produced. S/he will support the implementation of the organization’s financial management policies and procedures and provide guidance to the project coordinator and PIU staff on financial matters. S/he will closely work with the AUC Directorate of Finance.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the finance expert will be accountable for the implementation of financial management policies and practices of the project in accordance with the AUC and the World Bank guidelines. S/he will be responsible for preparing the project financial reports, leading project audits, reconciling and analysing financial expenses and other related costs. S/he will perform analysis of operational activities including historical, current and projected costs and expenses, cash flows and variances.

Main Functions

1.    Financial Management

•    Manage the day-to-day financial activities of the project including monitoring budgets, expenditures, and cash flow.
•    Develop and maintain financial systems and controls to ensure compliance with AUC and the World Bank financial policies and procedures.
•    Conduct financial analysis to identify areas of improvement and provide recommendations for action
•    Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to management and the  AUC Directorate of Finance.

2.    Budget Management

•    Coordinate the development and implementation of annual budgets and budget revisions.
•    Work with PIU to ensure budget proposals are consistent with program objectives and are within budgetary constraints.
•    Monitor budget implementation and provide guidance to PIU staff on budgetary matters.

3.    Grant Management

•    Manage the financial aspects of the World Bank financing , including budget development, financial reporting, and compliance with  the World Bank requirements.
•    Ensure that  project expenditures are in accordance with the  financing agreement..
•    Submit Withdrawal Applications to the World bank in a timely manner for disbursements to the project designated account.

4.    Compliance

•    Ensure compliance with  the AUC financial regulations, procedures, and policies.
•    Provide guidance on compliance issues to the project coordinator and other staff.
•    Develop and implement procedures to ensure compliance with audit requirements. Ensure audit findings are rectified in a timely manner.
•    Provide training and guidance to divisions and team members implementing the project on financial management and compliance issues.

Specific Responsibilities

•    Provide any financial management related support in the preparation and implementation of the project
•    Prepare and develop reports, budget and work plan related to the project in collaboration with the PIU staff.
•    Monitor, analyze and confirm the projects financial transactions for entry into the accounting system (SAP).
•    Prepare the project’s budget execution for the project coordinator, Africa CDC management and the World Bank.
•    Review all purchase requisitions for goods and services to ensure correct objects of
expenditure have been charged, ensuring availability of funds.
•    Prepare regular management reports including monthly management accounts, the
monthly financial reports, quarterly financial reports, bi-annual as well as annual financial reports.
•    Collaborate with Senior Finance Officers on all aspects of projects’ fund management such as budget re-allocations, consumption reports, donor reports, audits and
•    Produce periodic financial statements, activity and programme management reports.
•    Contribute to the promotion of best management systems and practices, internal control, as well as transparency and the obligation to justify expenditure.
•    Ensure that payments are processed by the deadlines and that payables and
•    receivables accounts are updated.
•    Perform reconciliations of vendors accounts.
•    Review and certify commitments and propose expenditure to ensure that they conform to the relevant rules and procedures.
•    Analyzed and upload bank data onto the SAP Bank Module and carry out timely bank reconciliations of the project funds.
•    Perform any other duties as required

•    Service project missions as required
•    Review and improve Financial Recording and Monitoring processes to ensure efficient and effective systems;
•    Ensure proper functioning of the Africa CDC accounting system in accordance with AUC Financial Rules and Regulations;
•    Update and reconcile Africa CDC expenditure accounting on a monthly basis;
•    Maintain a financial reporting calendar and ensure timely preparation of all financial reports;
•    Provide advice and ensures compliance with Financial regulations and other determined financial policies;
•    Work with project and technical officers to ensure effective grant oversight, coordination and ensure efficiency and effectiveness of programmes funded by donors through grants;
•    Support development of technical proposals and other resource mobilization efforts by providing finding budget basis for resource requirements, ensuring compliance with donor financial reporting requirements and other related inputs.
•    Ensure implementation of activities and tasks by sub-delegates that comply with standards of internal controls, accounting systems, external audit requirements and rules and regulations of the organization;
•    Support donor pledging conferences;
•    Prepare documentation for Multi-donor funding and reporting;
•    Ensure that accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are functioning and that all relevant records are maintained accurately;
•    Promote best practices, transparency, accountability and appropriate working systems;
•    Prepare Financial Statements for consideration of the Commission, Member States and Partners as well as internal/external auditors;
•    Prepare the year – end financial statements which form part of the annual financial reports;
•    Effectively supervise junior staff as appropriate;
•    Performing any other relevant duty/responsibility assigned

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

·    Master’s Degree in Accounting, Commerce or Finance from a recognized University with at least seven (7) years of continuous experience in providing accounting, financial management and commercial financial services support for a public and/or private sector agency or programme of considerable complexity and size; three (3) years out of total work experience must have been at a supervisory level;

OR 

·    Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Commerce or Finance from a recognized University with at least ten (10) years of continuous work experience in providing accounting, financial management and commercial financial services support for a public and/or private sector agency or programme of considerable complexity and size; three (3) years out of total work experience must be at a supervisory level;
·    A professional qualification such as CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA, CIA, etc. is required
·    Demonstrable experience in financial management at agency level or of a large programme in a public health or other public sector domain is preferred.  Relevant experience in the private sector in accordance with stated qualifications is also acceptable;
·    Demonstrable experience in preparation of annual and multi-year budgets, accounts monitoring and reconciliation, financial and narrative reporting, quality assurance and monitoring and provision of other financial advisory and support services.
·    Familiarity with the financial management practices and processes typically employed by public health and other public sector programmes;
·    Experience working with AU or the World Bank will be an added advantage

Required Skills

•    Excellent financial and narrative reporting skills;
•    Excellent organizational and time-management skills
•    Resourceful and skilled at collecting, analyzing and using data to recommend, make and communicate decisions of a technical nature lay audiences;
•    Excellent interpersonal relationship practices to meet and deal with persons of diverse backgrounds.
•    Skills in translating highly technical information into presentations, briefings and report and funding proposals for lay audiences.
•    Demonstrated ability with regard to computer skills, including excellent word-processing capabilities, proficiency with e-mail and internet applications and experience in using office software applications such as MS Excel, Power Point and Word, and familiarity with electronic data processing systems and ERP such as SAP.
•    Ability to deliver under tight deadlines and works well under pressure;
•    Analytical and problem-solving abilities;
•    Ability to use clear, concise language in correspondence as well as including content fitting for the purpose and audiences when preparing written briefs and reports;
•    Able to operate in a multicultural environment;
•    High level of autonomy at work, yet with profound team-spirit;
•    Adaptive, patient, resourceful, resilient and flexible;
•    Pro-active and solutions oriented.
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills
•    Proficiency in one of the AU working languages is required (English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Portuguese or Spanish). Fluency in English and knowledge of any additional language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Insight ….
• Developing others ….
• Change Management….
• Managing Risk…

Core Competencies

• Building Relationship…
• Foster Accountability Culture….
• Learning Orientation…
• Communicating with Influence ….

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual thinking ….
• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing ….
• Drive for Result ….
• Continuous Improvement Orientation: