Country Finance Manager Afghanistan

Department: Finance
Position: Country Finance Manager Contract duration: 6 months Location: Kabul, Afghanistan Starting Date March 2013

I. Background on ACTED

ACTED is an independent international, private, non-partisan and non-profit organization that operates according to principles of strict neutrality, political and religious impartiality, and non discrimination.

ACTED was created in 1993 to support populations affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. Based in Paris, France, ACTED now operates in 30 countries worldwide, with over 200 international and 4000 national staff. ACTED has a 100 million € budget for over 350 projects spanning 8 sectors of intervention; including emergency relief, food security, health promotion, economic development, education & training, microfinance, local governance & institutional support, and cultural promotion. For more information, please visit our website at www.acted.org

II. Country Profile

Projects : 16 (2011) National staff : 874 (2011) International Staff : 14 (2011) Capital Office : Kabul Total number of direct beneficiaries : 3,030,371 (2011) Budget : 14 M Euros (2011)

ACTED continues to build on 17 years of uninterrupted presence in Afghanistan, with 900 staff of whom 98 % are Afghan nationals, dedicated to the people of Afghanistan and to rebuilding their country. ACTED consolidates its work in eight of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces in the north of the country and our beneficiaries, while predominantly from rural, agricultural-based areas, typify the diversity which is Afghanistan, inclusive of different ethnic groups, languages, customs and traditions.

ACTED workes with 8% of the population, building sustainable livelihoods in a holistic way in seven northern provinces. We empower people to secure ownership of and access to resources, and income-earning activities, including building reserves and assets to offset risk, shocks and to meet contingencies and emergencies which have continued to affect the country. The conflict presents challenges, but we continue to deliver emergency and development programmes with continued support of communities and the determination of our staff.

ACTED’s programme has six objectives: human, social, natural, financial, political and physical capital development.

ACTED works in partnership with NGOs and the government to deliver key national programmes. We represent and advocates on behalf of NGOs as an elected member of the MAIL NGO Coordination Unit and the NSP Facilitating Partners Representative Group. The Afghanistan Livelihoods Network (ALN), an initiative of ACTED, fills a gap in the development sector with 90 organisations attending our best practice workshops. We participate in other humanitarian and early recovery coordination mechanisms. We continue to serve as an elected member of the governing bodies of the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief, (ACBAR, which represents 120 member NGOs) and the Human Rights Research and Advocacy Consortium. We also serve as a member of the governing bodies of local organizations.

Sustainable livelihoods security is a long term development strategy. We continue to design and deliver holistic programmes which have shown tangible results. As such, our focus is to continue providing communities with the means to identify their own priorities. Programmes remain evidence-based and relevant to needs. Inclusion of young people and women is key priorities and we will continue to respond to emergencies if they arise, while continuing to support civil society, improve coordination and increase regional dialogue with neighboring countries.

III. Position Profile

Under the authority of the Country Director and Finance Director in HQ, the Country Finance Manager (CFM) will be responsible for ACTED accounting and financial management in-country. The CFM ensures that national legislation is adhered to, and that the country specific standards are applied in ensuring efficient use of resources.

1. Accounting and Financial Management
   • Accountancy: Supervise accountancy procedures: filing of documents, allocation of expenses, vouchers registration, balance checking, etc.; Verify and compile monthly accounts from each base; Communicate accounts on a monthly basis to HQ, respecting SAGA procedures and deadlines; Manage the presentation, circulation, filing and archiving of accounting and financial documents in conformity with FLAT procedures;
   • Treasury: Open/close bank accounts on the authority of the General Delegate; Oversee the management of bank accounts: follow transfers, check balances, check authorised visas; Supervise the management of safes and cash: available amount, balance checks, security instructions; Assess monthly cash-flow needs for projects and bases and communicate cash requests to the HQ; Manage money transfers, bases cash-supply and amounts in circulation, whilst defining payment procedures (bank transfer, cheque, cash etc.);
   • Commitment of expenditure: Set up and formalise procedures for the commitment of expendiure, conform to ACTED procurement guidelines: collect visas of authorised staff members, set-up commitment ceiling in local currencies, define methods and timescales for payment according to local practices; Ensure that procedures are adhered to in terms of contracts and payments; Ensure that proofs of purchase are valid (contracts, orders, bills, invoices, delivery receipts etc);
2. Budget Management
   • Ensure budget follow-up: Develop tables necessary for financial monitoring and for budget follow up within the mission; Analyse gaps between planned budgets and actual expenses; Anticipate financial risks; Calculate and supervise the monthly cost of each vehicle (fuel consumption, repairs) in coordination with Country Logistician; Calculate monthly communication costs of each base (phone, e-mail, Internet), in coordination with Country Logistician;
   • Develop project budgets: Develop budgets for project proposals according to project needs and Donor constraints; Draft financial reports (mid-term and final) respecting contractual deadlines; Guarantee the respect of Donor procedures for each financial contract.
3. Department Follow-up
   • Team leadership: Update the organization chart and ToRs of the finance department according to the mission development; Oversee the team and undertake appraisals of directly supervised colleagues; Ensure training and capacity building for finance team members in order to increase the level of technical ability and skills within the department;
   • Internal Procedures and Information Flows; Develop relevant management procedures within the team; Improve information flows within the department and with other departments and projects

IV. Qualifications:

• Masters degree minimum in Finance or related area;
• 3+ years of solid experience in financial management and monitoring systems, preferably of large development programs, possibly complemented by academic expertise;
• Excellent financial and analytical skills;
• Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting on programme financial performance;
• Ability to manage a financial/monitoring team and demonstrate leadership;
• Ability to monitor and evaluate financial and monitoring skills of communities through capacity-building efforts;
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility;
• Familiarity with the aid system, and understanding of donor and governmental requirements;
• Prior knowledge of the region an asset;
• Fluency in English required - ability to communicate in local languages an asset;
• Ability to operate Microsoft Word, Excel and Project Management software

V. Conditions:

• Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
• Additional monthly living allowance
• Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse
• Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
• Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

How to apply:

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org Ref : CFM/AFG/RW

For more information, visit us at http://www.acted.org