Finance Officer Job at Kenya Red Cross Society

Reporting to: Programme Manager Programme Manager Programme Manager

Job Location: Lamu

Kenya Red Cross Society is one of the largest humanitarian organisations in Kenya. Its vision is to be the most effective, most trusted and self-sustaining humanitarian organization in Kenya, serving present and future generations.

The society is set to open a Drugs and Substance abuse Rehabilitation Centre in Hindi, Lamu County. The Centre will provide both Out-patient and In-patient services focusing on prevention, treatment and harm reduction of drugs and substance abuse. The Society is therefore searching for qualified, dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to fill the below position:

Job Summary

Responsible to the Programme Manager for effective planning and budgeting, as well as implementation and evaluation of an effective financial accountability system to ensure prudent management of the Society’s funds within the Rehabilitation Center.

Specific duties include enforcing stringent financial controls and ensuring monthly financial reports are used for better financial management.

Other duties include developing and coordinating the annual budget cycle that provides justification for financial resources needed to accomplish strategic objectives. In addition, responsible for ensuring compliance to statutory and regulatory requirements as well as advising management on measures to be taken to improve financial performance.

Finance Officer Job Responsibilities

• Leads the process of developing annual budgets for the programme
• Ensures the unit meets all its financial commitments to the donors and is the contact person for the donors in all finance related matters.
• Supports, develops and supervises the programme accounting staff to build their capacities and manage their performance.
• Regularly forecasts cash flow based on the work plans by the center, making sure that all the departments have enough funds to pay for their activities.
• Ensures that periodic financial reports are forwarded to management and donors within the stipulated deadlines.
• Meeting legal obligations (e.g. supporting the annual audit and preparing returns for donors)
• Provide technical leadership in the development, implementation and evaluation of the annual budgets and plans aimed at operationalizing the programme and projects activities
• Contribute to the review and update of accounting policies and procedures through direct analysis of new and existing financial accounting systems and procedures to increase efficiency and to ensure compliance with standard accounting principles and procedures, regulations and statutory requirements
• Compile and analyse accounting reports, records and other data to maintain expenditure controls and also determine the financial resources required to implement specific programmes
• Develop guidelines, procedures, standards and financial operating manuals for preparing integrated strategic financial management plans and budgets to be used by multidisciplinary strategic planning teams
• Coordinate and evaluate programme activities and processes in order to prioritise and recommend budget requests, emergency funds, reallocations and resource levels. In addition, consult with managers to ensure that budget adjustments are made in accordance with programme changes
• Prepare accurate forecasts for all types of income and expenditures, including new and expanded support services and programs, salary proposals, collaborative policy development agreements, capital construction, equipment needs, supplies, transport and utilities
• Review operating budgets and conduct cost-benefit analyses to evaluate operational and budget issues and trends affecting budget needs, review financial requests and explore alternative financing methods in order to prepare comprehensive long term financial plans, forecasts and budgets
• Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations and also prepare regular and special budget reports and make presentations to facilitate the interpretation of budget directives and then recommend suitable policies for implementing directives
• Deliver presentations regarding proposed budgets to the Management, Donor Agencies and Partners to clarify reports and gain support for estimated budget needs
• Participating in multidisciplinary work teams to develop, implement and evaluate strategic management plans and budgets in order to improve performance standards and organisational effectiveness
• Assemble materials for and assist public and private auditors in conducting audits; substantiate compilation and analytical review with supporting work papers for auditors
• Participating in the planning, monitoring and evaluating the performance of the finance and accounting staff against set targets and objectives.
• Assess training needs as well as developing and implementing on-the-job training programmes in budgeting aimed at equipping staff with appropriate job competencies toimprove planning and budgeting of financial resources
• Represent the Society at meetings, conferences and workshops and other forums to promote programme activities and articulate issues related to the programme
• Prepare concept papers, periodic progress reports and annual reports showing achievements of the financial planning and budgeting unit against planned targets as well as providing justification for performance variances and recommending strategies for improvement.

Qualifications for the Finance Officer Job

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and finance plus CPA (K) or equivalent qualifications
• Five (5) years experience in strategic planning and budgeting of financial resources including skills in computerized accounting systems.

Competences

• Considerable knowledge of accounting and budgeting principles and practices, strategic planning, budget administration, quantitative analysis and forecasting
• Ability to perform professional accounting work in accordance with the international “Generally Accepted
• Accounting and Auditing Principles” (GAAP), procedures, standards and controls, including financial forecasting and monitoring of budgets as well as donor accounting policies and procedures
• Demonstrated effective communication skills ability to present ideas clearly, both orally and in writing and to prepare comprehensive reports
• Effective interpersonal skills to establish cooperative working relationships in the course of performing assigned duties
• Ability to gather and analyse information, identify and resolve problems and develop alternative solutions
• Ability in financial management systems, proficiency in database systems, spreadsheet andflow chart applications as well as computerized accounting,
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, analyse financial and operational data and information, think analytically and critically
• Ability to maintains high level of confidentiality, remain open to new ideas and experiment with improved systems and proven methods
• Ability to make consultative decisions, facilitate participative decision-making process and explain reasoning for decisions
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, database, email and utilization of the internet.

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications should send their applications to the address below on or before 10th August2018.

Secretary General
Kenya Red Cross Society 
P.O. Box 40712-00100,
Nairobi

Applications should have a cover letter, curriculum vitae, copies of relevant certificates and practicing licence where applicable, names and contacts of three referees.

Job disclaimer and notification:

Kenya Red Cross Society does not charge / accept any amount or security deposit from job seekers during the selection process or while inviting candidates for an interview.