Head of Finance at BBC Media Action

Reports To: Country Director
Duration: 1 year (renewable)

Job Purpose

• Reporting to the Country Director- Nigeria, with a dotted-line management reporting into the Head of Project Finance based in London, and working with the Project Accountant based in London, the Head of Finance will be the focal point for accounting processes, financial controls, donor compliance for restricted funding, and legal and statutory compliance for BBC Media Action’s work.
• S/he will lead the Finance Department and a team of 4 to 6 staff, and will also be required to develop and deliver training to other staff on financial management elements.
• The Head of Finance will ensure that all BBC Media Action financial transactions are compliant with the principle of value for money.
• S/he will act as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and ensuring close coordination between the Finance Department and other SMT members and their teams.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
Financial Management of BBC MediaAction office in Nigeria:

• To oversee the management of all BBC Media Action bank & cash accounts ensuring that reconciliations are carried out monthly and that all necessary financial controls are in place;
• To ensure that there is consistency in the use of Organisational account codes and integrity of financial information in Dimensions accounting software;
• To ensure that the office submits its monthly cash-flow request to HQ on time;
• To ensure the office submits its monthly financial returns in country and to HQ on time and with all necessary supporting documentation;
• To contribute to the quarterly reforecasting process with the programme teams;
• To ensure that a record is kept of all legal contracts, MoUs and agreements in the office and that these are kept up to date and complied with;

Financial Management of Projects (restricted funds):

• To participate in the preparation & review of budgets for new restricted fund projects;

Financial Management of Projects (restricted funds):

• To participate in the preparation & review of budgets for new restricted fund projects;
• To ensure that financial reports on all projects are prepared & submitted in a timely manner;
• To ensure that project audits on all projects are arranged in line with the donor contract;
• To ensure that all projects are correctly closed down including disposal of assets, closure of bank accounts and finalisation of reports;

Financial Risk Assessment:

• To maintain financial risk assessments of all projects in Nigeria, ensuring that key risks are identified & clear recommendations are presented to the Country Director and SMT;
• To support any internal and or external audit as required by corporate processes;

Other Tasks:

• To develop and deliver relevant financial training to BBC MediaAction staff as required:
• To act as a member of the SMT supporting the strategic direction and management ofthe organisation;
• To undertake any other task assigned in line with the position, by the Country Director.

Essential skills and experience

• Qualified accountant and/or MBA/MA Degree holder preferably an Accounting major with minimum of 8 years experience in the finance sector with 4 at management level.
• Experience of working with audit firm and international donors and a working knowledge of donor compliance for major donors (eg. DFID, EU, USAID, UN).
• Proven experience in managing all aspects of finance in a development context.
• Excellent computer skills with experience of operating computer-based financial management systems. Competent to advanced level in Microsoft Excel,
• An excellent knowledge of the English language, written and spoken and the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently.
• Experience in and proven track record of developing and managing budgets.
• High attention to detail and the ability to raise issues and solve problems
• Ability to guide BBC Media Action team to achieve highest standard of financial integrity and accountability.

Competencies
The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job:

• Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.
• Analytical Thinking: Able to simplify complex problems, process projects into component parts, explore and evaluate them systematically.
• Strategic Thinking: Can identify a vision along with the plans that need to be implemented to meet the end goal.
• Decision Making: Is ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made.
• Influencing and Persuading: Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others.
• Planning and Organising: Is able to think ahead in order to establish an effective and appropriate course of action for self and others.
• Managing Relationships: Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people. Team working.
• Communication: The ability to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.
• Problem Solving: Able to simplify complex problems, processes or projects into component parts, explore and evaluate them systematically. Flexibility: Adapts and works effectively with a variety of situations, individuals or groups.
• Resilience: Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, set backs or when dealing with provocative situations.
• Leadership - Ability to create a vision and inspire others to realise it.