Cameroon: Head of Finance, Congo Basin Sub-region

Oct 3, 2021 | Worldwide Fund for Nature
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Worldwide Fund for Nature is an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, WWF is part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, they seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way people produce and consume sustainable.

  • Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Work percentage: 100%
  • Contract: Open ended

Mission of the Division:

To support the achievement of great conservation impact and strengthen the accountability of WWF International Country Offices in the Congo Basin region by ensuring sound management of financial resources in support of the strategic plans and the availability of timely, accurate and clear financial information to all stakeholders.

Major Functions:

To ensure that strong financial capacity, effective financial systems and internal controls that guarantee compliance with WWF standards, applicable legislation and donor obligations are in place in all offices in the region. To coordinate the provision of clear information on the funding needs and gaps for the key conservation priorities in the region. To ensure the submission of timely and quality financial reports to donors for the trans-boundary programmes and the completion of satisfactory project audits.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic planning and budgeting  

  • Following an integrated approach, lead the costing of the Congo basin sub-regional strategy in close collaboration with all country offices, the Landscape Leads and the Africa regional office.
  • As part of the above, coordinate with the countries the costing of the recommended structures recommended as per the sub-region and country organizational assessments.
  • Lead the establishment of financial sustainability plans including the income pipeline and highlighting critical funding gaps for each of the countries, key landscapes, sub-region conservation priorities.
  • Support the countries in costing their strategic plans and review the country's financial sustainability plans. Support the countries to develop processes for reporting against the strategic plan objectives.
  • Review country annual budgets and lead the establishment of landscape annual budgets and ensure consistency between those.
  • Monitor the budget for any trans-boundary initiative or action plan concerning the sub-region or its countries.
  • Communicate the financial plans for the sub-region to the Congo Basin management, country managements, the regional office, the Congo Basin Shareholder Group and other stakeholders.
  • Participate in the risk assessment of the sub-regional and country strategic plans and review the risk registers. Liaise with Country teams and provide support to the offices in Congo Basin to implement appropriate risk management plans on a timely basis.

Financial management and management reporting

  • Ensure the adequacy of internal and external financial reports, systems and procedures in all offices in the sub-region,
  • Ensure offices provide sound and timely financial information and review those regularly in order to monitor COs’ financial health. Provide regular updates on COs’ financial performance and risks and raises any particular issue in time,
  • Provide effective leadership to ensure strong and professional financial management in the sub-region,
  • Ensures offices have transparent and adequate cost recovery to allow financial viability. Support in negotiating with donors.

Project Finance

  • Review proposal budgets, donor contracts, project budgets for the trans-boundary programmes and for amounts over the country signatory limits and as required by the WWF Quality Assurance process.
  • Coordinate the submission of timely and quality financial reports to donors as well as audits for the trans-boundary programmes.
  • Ensure that all countries properly prepare, administer and control their donor contracts, consultancy contracts / agreements and sub-grants and monitor and fulfill their contractual obligations including reporting to donors.
  • Participate in the roll-out of the WWF Grant Management System and support offices in Congo Basin to implement the Grants management system in line with the project plan.

Capacity building for Finance and Non Finance staff

  • Determine the need for development of finance staff capacity in the Congo Basin offices and coordinate the training with the Regional Office.
  • Contribute to developing training materials, provide training for both finance and non-finance training on budgeting, forecasting, reporting, financial analysis, internal controls.
  • Share lessons and best practices between country offices and with other members of the WWF network.
  • Advise on required project finance capacity and build that capacity in all Congo Basin offices to ensure compliance with donor requirements.

Internal Control and Compliance

  • Support to ensure COs have effective internal control systems and are compliant with both WWF and donors’ policies and procedures as well as country legislation.
  • Ensure each office has an appropriate Finance structure, allowing accountability, segregation of duties and proper support to programmes.
  • Where appropriate, support the adaptation of WWF Finance & Operations policies and procedures by country offices to local context. Contribute, if needed, to the development, revision and improvement of WWF procedures.
  • Coordinate effective awareness and roll out of key WWF finance and operations policies, procedures and Network standards across the Congo Basin offices.
  • Contribute to global and regional initiatives to improve country internal controls.
  • Ensure the timely implementation of audit recommendations from external, internal and project audits.
  • Participate in compliance visits and other audits in collaboration with the WWF-I Compliance unit if needed.

Profile:

Required Qualifications:

  • A university Degree in Commerce, Business Administration or related field or professional accountancy qualifications, combined with good working knowledge of international accounting and reporting standards.
  • Possession of an MBA or equivalent post-graduate qualification and professional qualifications would be an advantage.
  • Over 10 years working experience in a senior Finance and Administration position preferably in a major international organisation/NGO.

Required Skills and Competencies:

  • Demonstrable skills in the development of finance and accounting policies, procedures and systems in the context of an international NGO.
  • Strong financial acumen and proven drive for results.
  • Excellent analytical skills.
  • Excellent advisory skills with high work standards and ability to promote team synergy in a multicultural work environment.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills (tact, diplomacy, discretion and impartiality) are essential for this position.
  • Strong team-player with ability to work in virtual teams.
  • Ability to work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of individuals within a broad range of cultural environments, especially in the African context.
  • Fluency in English and French languages.
  • Ability to train others.
  • Identifies with the values of the WWF organization, Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration.
  • Demonstrates WWF behaviors in ways of working: Strive for impact, Listen Deeply, Collaborate Openly and Innovate Fearlessly.
  • Adheres to WWF’s brand values, which are: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.

Working Relationships:

  • Internal: Interacts and works closely and on a regular basis with WWF finance staff in the Congo Basin sub-region countries, in the Africa Regional Office and in the whole Africa region, as well as with other WWF senior managers and project staff in the sub-region. Coordinates and interacts as appropriate with members of WWF International, and other WWF offices.
  • External: Interacts as required with governmental institutions, donors, partners and other stakeholders, in collaboration with the Congo Basin management team and country teams, as appropriate.

How To Apply

Please make sure to upload a single PDF document with your updated CV and Cover Letter.

Applications deadline: October 19th 2021.

Kindly note work permit restrictions may apply and that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.