The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Job Description

Dimensions of Role:

• The Finance Manager will be responsible for the management of the project budget (over 5.5 million EUR), providing oversight, reporting and analysis on the financial health of the WISE project. The Finance Manager will also be responsible for ensuring compliance to donor requirements, government requirements, and Plan International Ghana financial management and compliance standards.
• The post-holder will be based in Tamale but travel to the project districts where the WISE project operates for approximately 40% of her/his time, as well as to the Plan International Ghana Country Office in Accra.

Typical Responsibilities – Key End Results of Position:

Prepares financial and other reports to present the overall financial health of the WISE project for decision making. To do this, the position holder will:

• Ensure that project transactions are reviewed and correctly entered into SAP on timely basis;
• Review project sub-ledger for all advances and prepaid expenses and sign off reports after month end closure
• Undertake checks to ensure that all transactions are accurately entered into SAP.
• Review staff advance liquidations for appropriateness and completeness
• Prepare quarterly, semi-annual, year-end and other grants financial reports and analyses as per required instructions for management decision making;
• Responsible for the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual and year-end financial schedules of the project;

Budget preparation and budgetary control support for the effective implementation of the WISE project financial plan. To do this, the position holder will:

• Lead the preparation of the Project annual budget in collaboration with the project team and implementing partners;
• Monitor project budget on a monthly basis and provide information to programs teams for modification when necessary;
• Consolidate monthly project budget and financial report;
• Respond to grants financial queries in liaison with the Head of Finance and Operations, Business Development Manager and the Project Lead;
• Train/coach partner finance staff in the delivery of job requirements to support grants compliance, budget preparation and control and financial reporting;
• Ensure reviewed partner liquidation and financial reports are validated before further funds are advanced;
• Ensure compliance with best practices and donor specific requirements by partner organisations.

Operates the Plan International Operations accounting software (SAP) to meet Plan’s and Donor spending and financial reporting requirements. To do this, the position holder will:

• Work with grants accountants to ensure that approved project budget lines and Donor account lines, together with subsequent modifications, are accurate in SAP and mapped onto correct budget lines
• Prepare quarterly donor financial report
• Undertake checks to ensure that all transactions are accurately entered into SAP.
• Analyse project balance, especially expenses account after month end closure, and effect the necessary corrections with the support of the Project Lead

Implement Internal Financial Controls and Payment Processes for the attainment of value for money at all times. To do this, the position holder will:

• Lead contact person on project audit
• Prepare project Financial audit action list after each audit and ensure its compliance
• Monitor and submit quarterly report on project financial risks
• Ensure Partner Organizations are prepared for donor financial audit.

Others

• Visit Partners Organisations and their locations at least once a quarter to provide the needed technical support to Partner Organisations finance teams
• Keep Project Lead informed of any initiative or difficulties relating to job responsibilities
• Fulfils Plan International’s Safeguarding Policy at all times to protect Children and Youth from all forms of abuse
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time to support the achievement of the WISE Project Goals

Ensure strict adherence to Plan International Ghana’s internal controls and donor

Communications and Working Relationships:

High level contact with all WISE project team (Plan International Ghana and Plan International Canada), Programme Unit Finance staff as well as Country Office Finance Staff for smooth implementation of the finance and accounting functions.

High level contact with Partner Organisations to provide financial management and compliance support to partners and ensure Plan International receives value for money and the financial requirements are adhered to

Medium level contact: Maintains low contact with other staff from the Program Unit and country offices to offer support for compliance with finance and accounting procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, Behaviours, and Experience Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Qualification and Experience

• First Degree in Accounting plus ICA Ghana part 2 or ACCA Foundation (Level 2) or its equivalent
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in a similar role with relevant professional experience in managing complex and multimillion-dollar budgets on institutional grants through donors such as Global Affairs Canada, USAID, DFID, and European Union.
• Knowledge in SAP Accounting software would be an added advantage
• Show strong understanding and knowledge of Cash Flows, Budgetary Controls and Compliance with Finance Controls.
• Proven experience in providing financial management and compliance support to partner organisations to ensure high quality delivery on project budgets and compliance requirements. Strong knowledge in Project Management.

Demonstrated behaviours needed by the postholder to successfully perform the role:

• Communicates clearly and effectively
• Ability to facilitate participative processes
• Commitment to working transparently and with accountability.
• Maintains independence, objectivity and integrity.
• Organized, Methodic and Meticulous
• Develops, motivates and coaches others.
• Promotes innovation and learning
• Gains, develops and retains credibility about his/her performance
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.

Skills Specific to the post needed to put knowledge into practice.

• Demonstrable experience in managing multimillion-dollar institutional grants through donors such as Global Affairs Canada, USAID, DFID and European Union.
• Financial Reporting Skills
• Excellent Accounting, Analytical and Judgement Skills
• Knowledge in relevant accounting software (SAP) and proficient in Microsoft applications especially Excel and Pivot tables, PowerPoint
• Good Supervisory and Coordination Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Good Team Player
• Good Negotiating, Facilitating and Influencing Skills
• Strong Communication Skills (both oral and written skills)
• Self-starter takes initiative and works with minimal direct supervision.
• Flexible, able to shift directions quickly and occasionally work long hours to meet tight reporting deadlines.

Physical Environment and Demands:

Typical office environment

Travel requirements

This post holder will be stationed in Tamale with regular travel (approximately 40% of time) to project locations where the WISE operates.

Level of Contact with Children:

Responsibilities of this job require a low level of contact with children. Plan International’s global policy on safeguarding children and young people will be adhered to at all times.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Location: Tamale

Type of Role: Finance

Reports to: Project Lead

Grade: D2

Closing Date: 4th May, 2023

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.