Financial Controller - Zimbabwe

Financial Controller - Zimbabwe 

About Us

GOAL’s mission is to work with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and recover from humanitarian crises, and to assist them to build transcendent solutions to mitigate poverty and vulnerability. GOAL is a non-for profit organization that has been working in Zimbabwe since 2002, towards ensuring the poorest and most vulnerable in our world and those affected by humanitarian crises have access to the fundamental rights of life, including but not limited to adequate shelter, food and livelihoods, water and sanitation, nutrition, healthcare and education. 

We envision a world where poverty no longer exist, where vulnerable communities are resilient, where barriers to wellbeing are eliminated and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities. GOAL Zimbabwe’s main donors are Irish Aid, USAID/BHA, ECHO, UNICEF, WFP and other private donors.

Job Purpose

The Financial Controller, as a key member of GOAL Zimbabwe’s senior management team, will contribute to the overall development and running of the country programme. They will be responsible for maintaining and improving financial management and internal control systems, managing and building the capacity of all finance staff.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The Financial Controller will be expected to work in close collaboration with programme and support staff both in the field and at head office. They will have a functional supporting and supervisory role to field office finance teams.

• Ensure timely and accurate submission of monthly reports to GOAL Dublin consisting of the management accounts, Donor Status Report and other reports as required in line with the deadlines set out in GOAL’s finance manual.
• Ensure timely submission of donor reports, government reports and other reports to GOAL Dublin or the relevant authorities.
• Ad hoc preparation of budgets for proposals to be sent to donors, in accordance with donor guidelines and deadlines, Ensure that all such budgets are submitted to GOAL Dublin’s Project Accountant for review five working days before the budget is due for submission to the donor. 
• Preparation and finalisation of annual and quarterly rolling budgets for submission to GOAL Dublin.
• Monitor and control current expenditure, liaising with programme staff when necessary, to ensure that expenditure stays within available funding and agreed budgets using budget-monitoring tools and highlight, as appropriate, under/over spends and agree actions required with respective senior management.
• For proper budget monitoring ensure that actual expenditure against budgets are allocated in a fair and allocable manner across all grants for both head office and field costs with separate identifiable coding.
• Oversee support costs and ensure they stay within acceptable limits. All allocation of support costs should be reasonable and implemented consistently
• Overall responsibility for management of cash flow and submission of monthly funds requests to GOAL HQ in Dublin.
• Prepare year-end financial statements, arrange and ensure timely completion of year-end audit. Liaise with auditors with respect to donor and GOAL Dublin audit requirements and facilitate audit work.
• Maintain and improve appropriate systems of internal control, particularly with respect to field office sites, and make use of IT where possible to improve financial systems. Ensure that GOAL Dublin’s and GOAL Zimbabwe’s financial procedures and policies are adhered to at all times. Ensure donor guidelines are followed at all times.
•  Ensure that the audit control file is updated monthly with monthly allocation figures and any other information necessary on a monthly basis.
•  In coordination with the Logistics department ensure that there are regular reviews of procurement paperwork and stock controls and ensure that they are in accordance with GOAL’s Logistics and finance manuals. Monitor physical control of assets. Liaise with the Logistics Coordinator to ensure relevant financial information is maintained in the fixed asset register.
•  Oversee monthly payroll and ensure correct allocation to donor budgets and that all necessary taxes are paid to authorities in a timely manner.
•  Ensure that all payments of VAT are correctly made and paid to the relevant authorities. Also, ensure that all other taxes, custom duties etc. are correctly calculated and paid to the relevant authorities.
•  Produce relevant, useful and timely information to management with respect to the current financial position and financial consequences of any proposed decisions or activities.
•  Ensure confidentiality of all GOAL Zimbabwe financial data at all times, ensuring that no information is reported externally without sign off by the Country Director
•  Assist the Country Director and Assistant Country Directors wherever possible with donor liaison. 
• Ensure that all staff both at head office and in the field, (local and expatriate) including programme managers are trained in financial reporting and financial procedures for all operations.
• To work at all times in a manner that promotes teamwork within GOAL and assist in the achievement of GOAL’s programme aims.
• Produce and maintain a set of metrics to monitor the achievement of targets and resolution of issues. Present this to the Country Director on a regular basis as determined by the CD and present major points to the weekly SMT meeting.
• Plan the work of the finance department and produce an annual work plan for the following calendar year in the preceding calendar year at a time agreed with the Country Director and monthly plans as directed by the CD. Hold regular finance meetings at which plans are agreed and communicated and progress to date monitored as appropriate. Circulate minutes to all finance staff and management showing agreed action points and deadlines. Attend the weekly senior management team meeting [usually held each Monday] and present current issues within the finance department and plans to address those issues.
• Plan future financial staffing needs based on changes in the overall level of GOAL Zimbabwe’s planned activities in consultation with GOAL Zimbabwe’s Country Director. 
• Work to build the capacity of GOAL’s national finance staff.
• Other tasks and responsibilities as directed by the immediate supervisor, GOAL Zimbabwe’s senior management and as required by GOAL Dublin senior staff from time to time.

Mainstreaming issues (general description of the responsibility of the jobholder in terms of Gender, Child Protection, Environment and HIV/AIDS issues.)

•  Familiarize self, understand and implement, according to area of responsibility, GOAL’s policies and procedures on mainstreaming of Gender, HIV/AIDS and Child Protection.
•  Integrates diversity issues into day-to-day working practices, policies and procedures and monitors practices for any disproportionate impact.
•  Actively promote staff sensitivity and awareness to Gender, HIV/AIDS and Child Protection issues.
•  Approachable and gives positive practical support to staff who my feel vulnerable, victimized or unfairly treated.
•  Act as a role model and provide feedback to encourage others in supporting employment equity and diversity principals, and the accommodation of others differences in the workplace. Models the flexibility required for working in a diverse environment.

Compliance Issues

•  Familiarize self, understand to GOAL Donor Compliance issues, specifically to the terms and conditions of the Donor the programme is working on, and comply with it in area of responsibility.
•  While preparing and having the final donor financial budget and workings, make sure it is addressed to the Grant Unit for a central donor file. 
• Ensure the final version of the BMT is formally addressed to the Grants Unit for a central donor file preparing the BMT (budget monitoring tool) for new donors, 
• Ensure that the final donor financial report is addressed to the Grant Unit for a central donor file. 

The Person

• Qualified accountant. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or equivalent.
• At least five years’ experience, with at least one of these overseas.
• At least one year’s team management experience
• Willingness and ability to work in a pressurised environment, producing work of high quality to strict deadlines.
• Experience in dealing with institutional donors such as DFID, USAID, EC, UN, private foundations.
• Familiarity with donor rules and regulations (Particularly EU, Irish Aid, USAID).
• Flexible and reliable, with excellent interpersonal, motivational and management skills.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills (English)
• Strong IT skills and systems experience – Advanced Excel experience and SAGE experience is highly desirable.
• Strong experience liaising with governmental/local authorities and other NGO's.                                                                           
• Work experience in Zimbabwe and a valid work permit.                                                                                                                              
• You to be culturally sensitive and empathic to others, with a ‘can do’ attitude.
  
  

GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. If you would like more information or have any special requirements or needs that would support you during the recruitment process then please contact the Recruitment team recruitment.hq@goal.ie   
  

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee or volunteer; or any applicant for employment or volunteering on the basis of age, gender identity, ancestry, political opinion, civil status, medical condition, ethnic background, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.  

Accountability within GOAL 

A commitment to GOAL values and GOAL’s integrity framework is critical to working with GOAL. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability: 1) Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols; 2) Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area; 3) Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner. 

Safeguarding 

Children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with GOAL as a result of our activities must be safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates. 

General Terms and Conditions 

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document.