POSITION: Director of Finance and Operations
BASE OF OPERATIONS: Monrovia, Liberia
GRADE: 11
POSITION REPORTS TO: Chief of Party
This position is open to Liberian Nationals Only
The USAID Good Governance Activity (GGA) will support the Government of Liberia (GOL) in building a well-functioning governance system with effective DRM and fiscal decentralization, budget transparency, and local governance frameworks. An Integrated Governance Systems Approach will serve to facilitate synergies across the Activity’s three objectives:
- Domestic Resource Mobilization improved; the Activity will prepare the GOL to analyze potential tax policy reports, implement the transition from GST to VAT and other tax administration improvement and enable greater fiscal decentralization
- Budget Transparency Improved; the Activity will increase the GOL’s systems for budget and financial reporting and sharing to work towards greater measures for fiscal transparency
- Local Development and Service Delivery Improved; the Activity will help the GOL continue building local systems and local governments’ core competencies to improve the functionality of Country Service Centers and the counties as a whole
1. Objectives of the assignment
The Director of Finance and Operations will carry out the financial, operational, grants/contracts, and administration management of the project, ensuring strict compliance with USAID rules and regulations, Liberian law, and DAI’s policies and procedures. Will directly supervise a team of 5-8 staff in various roles such as the HR Manager, Accountant, Finance and Procurement Manager, Grants Manager, Administration and Logistics Assistant, and others as necessary.
2. Tasks & Responsibilities
In order to achieve the results identified in the SOW, the Director of Finance and Operations will supervise and lead the GGA finance team as well as the grants team and be the first line of defense in terms of all aspects of the project’s financial management and budgeting, procurement, human resources and office administration, including start-up and close-out activities:
Finance
- Analyze burn rates to identify bottlenecks and areas to improve.
- Review the bi-monthly finance reports for presentation to the COP and Home Office.
- Ensure all financial reports are submitted to DAI headquarters in accordance with the DAI monthly finance calendar.
- Ensure high level of financial and contractual compliance and integrity.
- Responsible for the reconciliation of local bank accounts as process of internal audit to the work of the financial team.
- Review findings of regular financial file, both electronic & physical, audits to ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement.
- Approve payments in accordance with the Project Schedule of Authority.
- Review and approve all financial operations with regards to reasonableness, allocability, and allowability, adhering to corporate policies, contractual terms, US Federal Acquisition Regulations, Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR) and other applicable rules and regulations.
- Advise COP and the Home Office Project Management Team on project financial matters.
- Ensure that Grant Disbursements are processed according to the Grant Agreements and in accordance with USAID regulation and DAI policy.
- Authorize all tax exoneration documents and all elements that help avoid the payment of taxes.
- Ensure that foreign taxes paid, if any, are tracked, recorded, and reported to USAID in accordance with ADS guidelines.
Human Resources and Payroll
- Advise the HR Manager on hiring requirements and process, contributing to expediting process and complying with corporate policies, contractual terms, US Federal Acquisition Regulations, Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR) and other applicable rules and regulations.
- Approve all local employee’s salary offers and supervise candidate’s verification processes.
- Ensure compliance with payroll fringe benefits.
- Contribute with the HR team in deployment of trainings that are mandatory and required by HO.
- Review the monthly payroll packet and bring to COP for signature.
- Ensure compliance with local labor law and provide guidance on all HR legal issues arising from employee management.
- Provides training and capacity building to regional offices and stakeholders on ethics and compliance, administration, and operations
- Oversee contracting and deployment of well over 60 consultants annually.
- Oversee all HR and Payroll issues.
Procurement, Grants, Operations and Logistics
- Provide support to Procurement Team members and guidance on all procurement related issues, compliance and adherence to corporate policies, contractual terms, US Federal Acquisition Regulations, Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR) and other applicable rules and regulations.
- Serve as the Finance/Procurement Manager in his/her absence.
- Provide review and approval of processes on the online TAMIS platform according to Project Schedule of Authorities.
- Oversee project procurement and ensure compliance with corporate policies, contractual terms, US Federal Acquisition Regulations, Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR) and other applicable rules and regulations.
- Advise Procurement team on any issues related to the portfolio.
- Ensure smooth operations of the office and project activities in coordination with the manager. Conduct post-activity reviews with relevant parties to ensure the highest level of operations.
- Ensure regular completion of inventory audits and review results with relevant manager. Oversee management of the project’s vehicle fleet to ensure compliance.
- Conduct regular reviews of Field Operations Manual to ensure all policies are updated accordingly.
- When applicable, assist in grant program description or concept development to meet the project’s goals and objectives, oversee the technical performance of grant award partners in close coordination with Grants, MEL, and Communications staff.
- Ensures that the Activity’s operations are compliant with Honduran law, USAID regulation, and DAI policy.
Strategic Leadership
- Provide overall administrative management of program activities and supports strategic decision-making surrounding implementation of technical activities. Work with the technical teams to identify operational efficiencies and monitor program activities budget execution. Identify implementation bottlenecks and work with COP and other project team members, as applicable, to address them.
- Ensure compliance with DAI’s Code of Ethics and all other DAI policies and procedures by preparing and providing trainings to staff and program beneficiaries as needed including new hires, interns, grantees, subcontractor staff, and more.
- Serve as a liaison with key stakeholders, informing them of DAI standards, administrative processes such as participant travel and per diem, and any other administrative questions they may have related to implementation with the Activity.
3. Qualifications
- University degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a relevant field; master’s preferred.
- Experience managing finance and administration of international donor funded programs. A minimum of 10 years of relevant technical experience is required.
- 5 years supervisory experience is required
- Possession of relevant professional certifications.
- Experience developing and/or maintain budget tracking records.
- Experience managing USAID funded development projects preferred.
- Excellent communications skills
- Ability to communicate/collaborate effectively across teams, cultures, including with team members based in other countries and time zones.
Women and persons of minority groups are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to apply via this link: https://fs23.formsite.com/OLJTgx/irjepeypu1/index