Finance Specialist (Nutrition Activity - World Bank) - DRC

The Organization:

Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) World Health, a member of Corus International, has been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2000. Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include IMA World Health and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, Lutheran World Relief, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, Farmers Market Brands, and Cadasta. In Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Corus operates under IMA World Health. Our more than 400 employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world's most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives.

At Corus we believe that good only grows stronger and we reflect that belief in our workplace culture. We value every employee's specialized area of expertise and nurture professional growth. We promote an engaging and supportive work environment, where employees feel enabled and driven to innovate, learn and collaborate. And because our subsidiaries often function as partners, our employees have the opportunity to work across our enterprise family.

Job Brief:

Position Summary: This position will be an employee of IMA World Health DRC. Actual hiring is contingent upon signed award and donor's approval. Congolese nationals are highly encouraged to apply.

The Finance Specialist is responsible for the financial performance for a large-scale nutrition project designed to reduce chronic malnutrition among children under two and improve nutrition outcomes for pregnant and lactating women. Working through the existing health system, the project will strengthen household practices during the first 1,000 days, community-based nutrition and referral mechanisms, the management and quality of services in health zones and provincial structures, and national nutrition strategies and health-system initiatives. The 2-year project will focus on:

• improving access, utilization, and quality of community essential nutrition practices and health services;
• integrating nutrition into Maternal Neonatal and Child Health services; and
• empowering households by reinforcing community structures and implementing income-generating activities.

S/he accurately use agency systems, implement internal financial controls, monitor and mitigate financial risk, implement financial compliance measures, support business development and grants management, and produce accurate financial budgets and reports - all in alignment with standard accounting practices, internal policies and procedures, local regulations, and donor rules and regulations.

S/he will use IMA's systems, enforce internal controls, monitor and mitigate financial risks, support co-applicants' management, and ensure all financial activities follow accounting standards, internal policies, local regulations, and donor rules. S/he will provide the Project Manager with financial information for decision-making, maintain strong internal controls, and oversee budget and financial project operations.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Manages Project Budget

• Develops project annual budget and any revisions requested by the donor.
• Prepares accurate and timely monthly budget monitoring reports, including budget-to-actual analyses, and address variances.
• Ensures project expenses are reasonable, cost-effective, and comply with donor award and IMA rules and regulations.
• Ensures that award deliverables are achieved within budget while effectively managing fiduciary risk within the project as well as downstream among suppliers; promptly advise the Project Manager of all potential fiduciary risks; develop monitoring and troubleshooting strategies to address risks and financial management.
• Validates and approve all financial transactions.
• Oversees the maintenance of financial records and ensure there is appropriate supporting documentation.

Manages Finance and Accounting

• Oversees the preparation and correction of accounting system reports, ensuring their accuracy.
• Oversees the protection of project assets, including cash and fixed assets, by implementing internal control policies.
• Reviews and approves project liquidations and ensure that errors are corrected in a timely manner.
• Maintains alignment of all project policies and procedures with IMA World Health guidelines and donor requirements.
• Maintains contact with banks and review bank reconciliations.
• Analyzes transactions in accordance with financial policy.
• Manages, in collaboration with the Country Finance Director based in IMA World Health's national office in Kinshasa, the opening and closing of project bank accounts.
• Oversees cash management and security, delegating responsibilities as necessary.
• Ensures sufficient funds for project activities in the Kinshasa office and provincial offices.
• Reviews wire transfer requests based on fully approved documents before they are submitted for approval.
• Identifies and manage fiduciary risks of the project and develop contingency strategies.
• Ensures that accounting entries and adjustments are made on time.
• Ensures that monthly reconciliations of office balance sheets are completed in a timely manner.
• Leads the year-end closing process in the office and relevant provincial offices.
• Reviews monthly bank reconciliations and ensures that there are no outstanding transactions before submitting them for final approval.
• Ensures that transactions are coded correctly based on the IMA World Health's coding document.

Internal controls and audit facilitation

• Leads the preparation of internal and external audits for the assigned project.
• Ensures compliance with internal control policies, including conducting and supervising internal control visits to provincial offices, identifying weaknesses, and taking corrective action.
• Manages organizational risks at the provincial level and with downstream suppliers; promptly escalate fiduciary risks to the project manager and develop mitigation strategies.

Manages Financial Reporting

• Prepares financial reports and maintain accurate documentation to meet donor and organizational requirements.
• Prepares periodic financial reports to IMA World Health Headquarter International Finance department and ensures timely submission of reports to the donor per award requirements.
• Reviews the trial balance, accounts receivable, and accounts payable for the project.
• Prepares cash flow forecasts and funding requests to headquarters.
• Ensures the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of data in various financial reports.
• Shares monthly reports on employee advances with headquarters.

Supervisory:

• Supervises assigned accountant.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in finance, accounting, auditing, business administration or the equivalent. Post-graduate course work and an accounting certification are highly desirable.
• A minimum of five (5) years demonstrated experience in financial management, accounting, auditing, and office administration.
• Experience in the financial management of projects funded by international donors, particularly the World Bank.
• Includes financial and accounting systems development, financial monitoring, budget development and analysis, procurement, operations and logistics.
• Knowledge of international donors (g. World Bank, U.S. Department of State, FCDO) funding rules and regulations, and contracts.
• Experience providing capacity building, conducting financial reviews/monitoring of partner organizations (NGOs, CBOs), and overseeing corrective action plans.
• Be proficient in budget planning, cost accounting, cash management, internal control, and expense reporting.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in using Microsoft and accounting software, e.g., Sage Intacct, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, and web browser software. Experience in the effective use and management of Quick Books or MIP is a major advantage.
• Experience in the financial management of service contracts and performance-based payment mechanisms.
• Proficiency in financial management tools, and the preparation of financial reports.
• Have a good understanding of the administrative, financial, tax, and procurement procedures applicable in the DRC.
• Be proficient in monitoring budget execution by activity, service, and health zone.
• Ability to be accurate and attentive to detail in project accounting, tracking and monitoring, writing, editing, typing and filing.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritize, organize and carry out multiple tasks efficiently under pressure and with little supervision; ability to accept supervision.
• Highly developed analytical and communication skills, and ability to assimilate and process information for wide-ranging audiences.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of people in multicultural, team-oriented environment.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to communicate effectively and credibly, both verbally and in writing in French and English.
• Authorization to work legally in DRC.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Ability to and reside travel in project sites located in remote health zones (HZs) - Ilebo, Luebo, Bulape, Mweka, Ndjoko Mpunda, Mutena, and Kakenge - in DRC.
• The physical requirements that may be needed to execute responsibilities may include bending, standing, and walking, etc.
• The mental requirements that are essential to satisfactorily executing the responsibilities outlined in this job description include, but not limited to: learning new tasks, comprehending, and retaining information, completing tasks independently, effectively communicating verbally and in writing, demonstrating proficiency in using computer software to perform assigned tasks.