Head of Finance and Operations – Job at CARE International

Overview

Job Title: Head of Finance and Operations

CARE International, Tanzania

 

BACKGROUND:

CARE is a well-known humanitarian organization that fights social injustice and poverty with a focus on women and girls, empowering them to lead their communities out of poverty and preserving their dignity. In response to the Rwandan crisis and the ensuing wave of refugees into Tanzania’s Kagera Region in the northwest, CARE started operating in Tanzania in April 1994. In the years that followed, CARE Tanzania created cutting-edge programs in the areas of education, health, microfinance, and the environment in the majority of the nation. In Tanzania, CARE collaborates with the government of Tanzania, the government of Zanzibar, and other relevant parties to bring about community transformation, guaranteeing financial inclusion and autonomy, nutrition and health, and resilient development that is climate-smart, particularly for women and girls.

For the role of Head of Finance and Operations, CARE Tanzania is looking to hire a self-motivated, results-driven, energetic, adequately qualified, competent, and committed Tanzanian.

Reporting line: Country Director

SUMMARY OF JOB:

In accordance with the company’s strategy and vision, CARE Tanzania’s finance and operations departments are led and directed by the Head of Finance and Operations, who is located in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The Head of Finance and Operations oversees the day-to-day operations of CARE Tanzania, ensuring that Finance, Administration and Logistics, ICT, and Procurement run smoothly. The Head of Finance and Operations collaborates closely with the Country Director to build an effective, efficient, and results-driven Finance and Operations team. Additionally, he or she will oversee technical aspects of field and sub-office operations.

He or she will oversee the development of Operations’ functions and provide strategic oversight in accordance with the shifting objectives and demands of the Country Office. The Head of Finance and Operations is required to engage closely with the program team and create positive collaboration in order to deepen the integration of all operations with the program, as CARE Tanzania considers operations as a fundamental component of its programming. This will be accomplished by methodically and systematically increasing the operational staff’s capacity to handle problems with operations, utilizing resources already in place and adjusting for staffing requirements.

In order to provide effective internal controls and careful management of organizational resources, the head of finance and operations will promote a values-based corporate culture. In order to ensure that performance management systems are established, operational, and efficient, s/he will support a culture that is performance-based. Advanced knowledge of finance and business management, strong team-building and people-coaching abilities, a wealth of experience, and a thorough grasp of finance administrative support procedures and compliance standards are all necessary for this role. To ensure efficient administrative support, the chosen candidate must also show that they comprehend the programmatic needs and concerns of CARE. In order to meet CO’s operational support needs at a certain time, a crucial component of the position will be to continuously assess the roles and organization of the finance and operations teams.

Along with being the line manager for the Award and Sub Award Manager, Accounts Coordinator, Procurement Coordinator, Admin and Logistics Coordinator, and IT and Digital Solutions Coordinator, he or she works closely with the ACD-Program.

As a member of the CO Senior Management Team, he or she takes part in the formulation of policies and decisions about a range of strategic matters, such as the organization’s financial stability and sustainability, program development, quality, and human resource management, among other organizational priorities. The head of operations and finance needs to be a proactive change agent who can make both reductions and additions. He or she works in close coordination with the ACD – Programs.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES & TASKS:

• Provides strategic leadership, counsel, and supervision to the Operations and Finance team in order to set direction and assume responsibility for the supply of overall strategy management across all Operations activities (Finance, Procurement and Logistics, Administration, IT, Field/Sub Office Operations).
• Create and coordinate the Finance and Operations divisions’ efforts to support CO initiatives in a timely and efficient manner, ensuring that goals are reached.
• Creates connections between Finance, Operations, and Programs to guarantee smooth coordination and assistance with program management.
• Work with the senior management team to make sure CARE has the right staffing arrangements, management systems, and support systems in place to carry out high-quality emergency response and longer-term programming. Ensure that the operations and finance plans are incorporated into the overall CO strategy.
• Oversee business process enhancements for the CO operations to increase the CO’s efficacy and cost-efficiency.
• In charge of managing employee performance, developing and managing talent, and enhancing the Operations team’s and the CO’s capabilities.
• Impacts the Operations and Finance Team’s methods of operation in order to improve the effectiveness of the various units and offer value to the CO.
• Make sure that the necessary material and human resources are acquired and made available in an effective and efficient manner to support the CO program and its operations.
• To guarantee the program’s financial sustainability, crucial financial analysis, and decision-making for the CO mission, collaborate closely with CD and SMT.
• Verify that CO complies with donor guidelines, generally accepted accounting principles, and CARE’s accounting policy and procedures (GAAP)
• Ensure efficient partnership management, including capacity building, implementation of preventive/corrective actions, and due diligence assessment, in coordination with the program team.
• Review and negotiate donor contracts to make sure you fully comprehend the terms of the agreement and any potential ramifications for the CO.
• Create new rules, systems, and procedures for operations and update current ones to comply with Tanzanian legal requirements and donor specifications.
• Actively assist the SA RO Team in preparing and carrying out audit recommendations, as well as supporting the CO’s response to audit results. Assist with the readiness for audits (FS, UG, and CARE USA Internal Audit).
• Create and execute reliable internal control systems, then monitor their effectiveness to guarantee policy and procedure adherence and reduce asset loss.
• In order to guarantee that the CO fully complies with the laws and regulations of the host country, coordinate legal and regulatory matters with the management of the CO.
• Collaborate with CARE USA legal, the in-country legal counsel, the AMS, and the RO.
• During the emergency scale-up, offer operational support to make sure field offices are set up quickly and effectively and that mobile teams are responding as planned.
• Assist in making sure that operations policies, processes, and procedures facilitate collaborating with local partners by collaborating with the country director and the partnerships adviser.
• Ensure complete cost recovery of SPC and funding gaps from possible contributors by providing supervision support for the annual budgeting process and proposal budgeting. Utilize the Master Budget tool to help the CO make decisions.
• Oversee the monthly comparison of the budgeted expenses and the actual spending, and make sure that the necessary corrections and actions are completed on time.
• At all relevant program support levels, make sure that PeopleSoft (CAREs finance software) is implemented effectively and efficiently.
• Make sure that there are efficient internal control measures in place and that resources, assets, and CARE are all properly protected.
• Collaborate with program teams to guarantee complete donor compliance for all projects and initiatives funded by both new and current donors, including audits, evaluations, and financial and narrative reports.
• Provide the Country Director with feedback on the efficacy of the CO reporting and planning systems, along with recommendations and an operational risk analysis.
• Coordinate the updating of the CO risk register and follow up with risk owners regarding the implementation of mitigation measures to ensure country risk mitigation and response.
• Lead the formation and operation of a solid, productive, and well-coordinated team in Finance and Operations. Provide appropriate supervision and management for all direct subordinates.
• Make sure that CARE’s performance management processes, which include job descriptions, frequent feedback, midterm reviews, and yearly performance appraisals, are implemented correctly and on schedule for direct reports.
• Take proactive measures to resolve performance concerns by providing regular, constructive coaching and feedback.
• Determine the requirements for staff development and career development plans for direct reports.
• Make sure that the functional units under Operations are set up as efficiently as feasible; that is, that the structure is the most suitable one, fitting the unit’s objectives and the circumstances.
• Make sure the staff’s duties and responsibilities are well-defined, that KPIs are created, and that staff performance is regularly evaluated.
• Make sure the staff is motivated and well-trained.
• Effective and efficient services are provided to assist with the execution of programs.
• Assist these units in accomplishing their own goals by giving direction and impetus to the planning process, keeping a regular eye on advancement, verifying that the goals are still pertinent, and refocusing efforts as necessary.
• Assure CARE Tanzania has a solid, efficient, and morally-driven relationship with national and operational government ministries and agencies.
• In order to make sure that CARE Tanzania’s interests are always met, oversee CARE Tanzania’s relationships with various departments, local authorities, and line ministries.
• You should also advise the Senior Management Team on how to improve these relationships.
• Make ensuring that structures and support mechanisms are in place to satisfy program needs and that they comply with pertinent internal and external policies and procedures by working closely with field office coordinators.
• Assist the field offices strategically and operationally, and make sure they are properly positioned, backed up, and held responsible for providing operational assistance to the initiatives within their purview.
• Make sure that the operations support offered by the field offices is consistent.
• Carry out additional responsibilities as delegated by their manager.

Qualifications for Education:

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration or finance from an accredited university.
• A completely certified professional accounting qualification with a solid track record, such as an ACCA, CPA, or CA.
• Having a master’s degree in business administration is beneficial.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 12 years of expertise in operations and finance from a major, worldwide NGO, with at least 5 of those years spent in a senior leadership role.
• Strong familiarity with and background in establishing accountability and compliance processes and procedures.
• Solid understanding of the practical requirements for both internal and external audits.
• Expertise overseeing intricate budgeting, donor compliance, and reporting.
• Proficiency and drive in addressing gender and cultural sensitivity, appreciating diversity, supporting staff and organizational diversity, and maintaining the organization’s basic ideals.
• Outstanding familiarity with the host government’s regulations regarding non-governmental organizations.
• Strong analytical abilities, capable of deciphering complex data and producing insightful reports for upper management.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills; capacity to listen, garner staff support from many teams and stakeholders, and develop others’ abilities.
• Outstanding proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office 365, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• To guarantee successful meetings, trainings, and consultations with project teams, partners, and other stakeholders, possess strong facilitation and presentation abilities.

COMPETENCIES FOR TECHNICAL:

• Ability to establish rapport with a variety of stakeholders, both technical and non-technical.
• Both analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Innovative and creative.
• Possess the flexibility to learn and acquire new skills.
• Outstanding oral and written communication abilities, a fluid writing style, solid command of the English language, and effective usage of Kiswahili.

APPLICATION MODE:

By CoB, May 9, 2024, at 1700hrs, only an updated resume and letter of application, along with the names of three respectable referees from prior employment (ideally line managers) with trustworthy contacts, should be emailed to the Human Resources Department at TZAHumanResourcesDepartment@care.org. In the email subject line, candidates should explicitly mention the job title they are applying for. Only those who have been shortlisted will be contacted.

Gender equality, diversity, and equity are all promoted by CARE, an equal opportunity employer. Candidates who identify as female or who have a disability are highly encouraged to apply. Our dedication to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse is reflected in our selection procedure.