TITLE: Head of Finance
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Country Office Senior Management Team
LOCATION: Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
GRADE: 2
CONTRACT LENGTH: 2 years
SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: the post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Head of Finance shares in the overall responsibility for coordination of the Country Office (CO). The Head of Finance in his/her capacity is responsible for finance administration, fiscal management and financial reporting, in both emergency and development programming contexts
In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Country Representative
Matrix Report to: global finance business partner
Staff reporting to this post: 1 finance Manager and 1 Archive Officer
Role Dimensions: (e.g. complexity, relationships, communication with stakeholders)
Save the Children works in 5 regions of Burkina Faso with a portfolio of about 7M$ in 2025.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY :
As a member of the Senior Management Team:
- Contribute to the Country Leadership of SCI Burkina Faso Country Office
- Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects our full spectrum approach, promote our fundamental values, foster accountability and high performance, encourage a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, and free up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our Members and donors
- Help design and implement a coherent organizational structure that is consistent with Save the Children practices and appropriate to programme needs
- Ensure the Burkina Faso Country Office complies with Save the Children Quality Standards and Standard Operating Procedures
- Work closely with the Risk and compliance lead and flag key global financial risks.
Planning and Budgeting
- Provision of financial oversight using appropriate tools such as Master Budgets and forecast projections. Ensuring committed funds, pipeline funds and funding gap outlook is up to date.
- Assist the Country Director (CD) in the management of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices including providing analyses and recommend resolution or reallocation of resources
- Work alongside the Director of Program Operations, Head of Awards and the Director of Programme Development & Quality in developing plans to meet funding and programming needs. This includes diversification of funding resources
- Identify and effectively manage key risks, especially financial, related to delivering the Country Office program. Develop mitigation plans at proposal stage
- Ensure correct level of budget authority exists within Country Office
- Manage in collaboration with other functions financial aspects of budget development for new proposals
- Ensure budget holders understand their responsibilities (e.g., through training)
- Ensure sub-offices receive adequate support to operate efficient accounting systems, including timely receipt of monthly budget variance analysis by budget holders, timely answers to queries and scheduling tasks and deadlines
- Work with the Senior Management Team and the Director of HR to design and implement a coherent organisational structure that is consistent with agency practices and appropriate to approved budget and program needs
Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control
- Manage the Country Office financial systems and provide the Senior Management Team and all budget holders with a monthly update on the budget variance analysis
- Ensure with the Director of Program Operations and the Director of HR that systems are in place for the control of all assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities; submit timely financial reports to centre, Regional Office and donors as required
- Ensure that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control including:
- Annual accounts and tax statement preparation;
- Accounting and management information systems;
- Cash and cash flow management and control in particular gain/losses on currency exchange;
- Expenditure procedures, especially around procurement;
- Documentation of all controls and procedures;
- Finance training for staff in the field and partners as necessary;
- Availability of funds for sub-offices and the Country Office
- Monitor accurate and timely submission of financial reports and attachments to members, donors and government regulatory agencies
- Coordinate submission of control reports, respond to findings and recommend resolutions or action plans
- Lead and participate in the development of finance policies and procedures to be able to maintain a well-financially controlled environment in both development and emergency contexts
- Coordinate and assist Country Director and Risk and compliance lead during any internal or external audits
- Ensure monthly financial reviews (Monthly Financial Reviews and Financial Planning & Analysis packs) are prepared, reviewed with Senior Management Team, and submitted to Regional Office on time
Award Management
- Monitor completion of quality financial reports for grants/contracts. Ensure proper accounting and closing of books upon receipt of completed reports and documents from various sub-offices
- Coordinate the release of donor fund summaries from the members to ensure accurate and systematic accounting of grant transactions
- Provide guidance to finance and non-finance staff and coordinate efforts to ensure compliance with donor requirements
- Work with budget holders to estimate fund requests on a timely basis to ensure resources are in place for carrying project activities
- Ensure Country Office treasury operations are adequately managed
- Develop sub-grantees/partners through training and capacity building
- Ensure that donor financial reports and narrative reports align ensuring appropriate checklists are applied with quality.
Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development – Finance
- Ensure experienced, appropriate staffing within the finance team
- Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency response
- Manage finance team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
- Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff incorporates staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems/Develop to Perform into team building process.
- Ensure adequate segregation of finance duties within Country Office.
- Manage the performance of all staff in the finance work area through:
- Effective use of the Performance Management System/Develop to Perform including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
- Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
- Recognition of outstanding performance;
- Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ workplans
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
- Ambition:
- sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
- widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
- builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
- values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
- develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
Responsabilités Regarding Safeguarding and Anti-Fraude
Promote, uphold, and implement the organization’s commitments regarding safeguarding, the prevention of abuse and exploitation, the fight against fraud, corruption, and bribery, and ethical conduct in accordance with safeguarding and anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies and procedures.
1. Prevention and Organizational Culture
- Actively promote a culture of zero tolerance toward abuse, exploitation, neglect, harm, modern slavery, fraud, corruption, and bribery.
- Exemplify exemplary behavior and ethical leadership that fosters a safe, dignified, and respectful work environment for children, adults, and communities.
- Systematically integrate safeguarding and anti-fraud principles into decision-making, planning, and the implementation of activities.
2. Risk Management and Operational Integration
- Identify, analyze, and mitigate safeguarding and fraud risks within one’s area of responsibility, including during the design, implementation, and monitoring phases of projects.
- Ensure that lessons learned regarding safeguards and fraud are incorporated into processes, systems, and practices.
3. Incident Reporting and Response
- Report any concerns or incidents related to data protection, fraud, corruption, or misconduct—whether online or in person—within 24 hours, in accordance with established procedures.
- Cooperate fully with internal incident management, investigation, and follow-up mechanisms, while respecting confidentiality and the principles of personal protection and a survivor-centered approach.
4. Training and Capacity Building
- Complete and keep up to date all mandatory training and refresher sessions on safeguarding, fraud prevention, and ethical conduct.
- Contribute, as appropriate to one’s role, to building the capacity of colleagues and partners on safeguarding and anti-fraud measures.
5. Community Engagement and Accountability
- Promote the existence and accessibility of safe, inclusive, and context-appropriate complaint and feedback mechanisms.
QUALIFICATIONS
- CPA or equivalent degree (CA, ACMA, ACCA) strongly recommended
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
- Recommended a minimum of 8 years management experience in a corporate or an NGO environment, of which three at a management level within the finance department of a national or international organization
- Experience with recent experience working in an emergency context
- Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling
- Excellent analytical skills – the ability to analyse complex financial data and design and produce effective management information
- Excellent experience of budgeting and budget management
- Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures
- Strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to strategic decisions
- Excellent experience of computerised accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
- Experience of general administration work
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines
- Ability to build a small, proactive team, motivating staff and working collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary
- Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
- A full appreciation of the value of co-operation, both internationally and within a team environment
- Understanding of Save the Children’s vision and mission and a commitment to its objectives and values
- Written and verbal fluency in English and in French
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
