Deputy Director, Finance & Operations,

Duties and Responsibilities:

Finance:

• Oversee and lead the annual budgeting process in conjunction with the Country Director; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes; and keep the senior leadership team abreast of the organization’s financial status;
• Oversee the general accounting function, which includes inter-company accounting, cash management/reconciliation, financial reporting, and balance sheet management;
• Supervise the completion of all tax reporting requirements (including income, property, sales and use, payroll, and other local taxes), insurance reports, and other reports required by government regulation;
• Ensure adequate use and reporting of donor funds, as well as optimal use of core funds by ensuring it is used as per approved annual plans;
• Ensure strong internal controls are in place for procurement and contracting; review procurements, contracts, and agreements with external parties, identify areas of non-compliance;
• Play an important role in the financial oversight of proposal development and fund-raising efforts;
• Analyze and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly and annual financial statements; collate financial reporting materials for all donor segments, and oversee all financial, project/program, and grants accounting. Process fund requests from grants managers/programs to headquarters. Manage grants and office accounting, including overseeing the local accounting/payroll firm;
• Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, and liaise with external auditors;
• Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting. Track financial performance: analyze, review, and accurately report financial results to ensure the integrity of financial statements and communicate financial results in a manner to be understood and acted on by management;
• Manage Vital’s financial management/reporting system; ensure that the contract billing and collection schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements;
• Set in place a cycle of review to continually improve the finance department’s accounting practices and related policy and procedure manual;
• Work closely with the local Operations team to update, implement, and provide guidance on finance-related matters;
• Communicate and present critical matters to the Country Director; Deputy Director, International Finance; and the ImpactHDSS Ethiopia Project Director, as appropriate;
• Any other task assigned by the Country Director or Deputy Director, International Finance.

Supervision of the Finance & Operations Manager

Risk & Compliance:

• Oversee compliance with both local regulations and Vital Strategies operational and HR policies;
• Coordinate with the Finance and Operations manager the assessment of operational risks and raise issues with the Country Director and appropriate New York staff;
• Support the Country Director and legal team on sensitive issues, and liaise with local attorneys as needed on legal matters.

Human Resources:

• Ensure compliance with Ethiopian employment law including residency and tax requirements.
• HR Administration: Oversee payroll management, benefits renewals, administration, government reporting, employee agreements, and documentation;

Operations, Safety & Security:

• Oversee the implementation and monitoring of internal controls in areas such as procurement, contracts, and agreements;
• Serves as a focal point for safety and security for Vital Strategies' work in the country including (a) monitoring for threats and risks (b) implementation of the security and crisis management plan (c) Leading the incident management team when it is convened;

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Qualifications:

Education and Degree –

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Finance, business administration, accounting, etc.)

Skills and Abilities –

• Ability to translate financial concepts and processes effectively;
• Advanced MS Office skills with emphasis on Excel, Word, and PowerPoint;
• Experience using financial software (Exact Globe, Net Suite, etc.);
• Minimum intermediary level of English required. Advanced level of English preferred;
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to details;
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills;
• Strong customer service and negotiation skills;
• Desire to work in a global organization requiring flexible work hours to accommodate time zone differences;
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of Vital Strategies;
• Requires exceptional time management and good organizational skills. Accuracy with numbers is essential;
• Exceptional analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines and competing priorities;
• Strong financial modeling and budgeting skills utilizing advanced Excel techniques;
• Exceptional collaboration skills to work with cross-institutional teams.

Experience:

Required -

• Minimum ten years experience in finance and general administration and minimum two (2) years of experience with a not-for-profit organization in a finance and accounting role;
• Experience in budgeting;
• Strong Accounting and Finance background;
• Experience in office operational management;
• Experience working in global organizations, and multiple programs, with diverse funding streams;
• Experience in analyzing and summarizing financial reports and ensuring accuracy and compliance with procedures, rules, and regulations;
• Experience using accounting and financial software applications, databases, and expertise in Excel;
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff.

Preferred -

• PowerBI experience a plus;
• Experience in managing and supporting Human Resources functions is a plus.