Job Title: Head of Finance
Cluster: Finance
Salary: USD 87,845.85 Per Annum, (Excluding Benefits)
Contract Type: Permanent, subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability
Location: Remote (the successful candidate must have the right to work in the location where they are based)
Reports to: Chief Operations Officer
Direct Reports: Finance Manager (7 Indirect Finance Staff)
Role Overview:
The Head of Finance provides strategic and operational leadership for CIVICUS’ financial management. The role combines strategic thinking and hands on delivery and requires a leader who can thrive in a dynamic mission driven and solutions focussed environment with high levels of accountability and transparency. Focussed environment with high levels of accountability and transparency.
The Head of Finance is responsible for managing CIVICUS’s finance team, organisational financial strategy, budgeting and planning, financial reporting, audit management, risk oversight and compliance with funder, statutory, and regulatory requirements. The role encompasses mentoring and supervising finance staff, ensuring robust financial systems and controls are in place, and providing high-quality financial insights to support effective programme delivery and organisational decision making.
Working closely the Chief Operations Officer (COO) the Head of Finance is responsible for embedding sound financial management across the organisation, ensuring stewardship, accountability, transparency and long-term financial sustainability.
Areas of Responsibilities
Financial Management and Reporting
Lead the preparation of accurate and timely financial reports, for budget holder, management, board, donors and other stakeholders.
Oversee organisational budgeting, forecasting and financial performance monitoring.
Ensure the timely preparation of annual financial statements and compliance with IFRS, US GAAP and other applicable standards.
Oversee month-end and year-end processes, including the review of balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls.
Lead and coordinate statutory, organisational, donor and project audits, ensuring compliance with regulatory and donor requirements.
Review and approve donor financial reports ensuring accuracy and compliance with the accounting system and funding agreements.
Oversee financial systems and reporting tools ensuring they effectively support financial management, reporting, compliance and decision making.
Drive continuous improvement in financial processes, controls and systems to enhance efficiency, accountability and data integrity.
Ensure compliance with tax, statutory and regulatory requirements across relevant jurisdictions.
Accounting, Control systems and procedures
Lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of financial policies, procedures, controls and systems to ensure effective financial governance and accountability.
Maintain and periodically review the finance manual and related policies to ensure they remain fit for purpose and aligned with organisational needs, regulatory and donor requirements and best practice.
Ensure integrity, reliability and effectiveness of financial systems.
Drive innovation and digital transformation within the finance function by identifying and implementing system enhancements, automation opportunities, and best practice solutions that improve efficiency, data quality, and decision making.
Provide financial analysis, insights and recommendations to support decision making by Budget holders, management, and the board.
Monitor compliance with approved financial policies, procedures and internal controls across the organization and address areas of non-compliance.
Budgeting & Budgetary Control
Lead the development and consolidation of organisational budgets and forecast ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and available resources.
Oversee budget performance through regular monitoring and expenditure analysis against approved budget and recommending corrective actions.
Coordinate the preparation and review of proposal budgets ensuring cost recovery, compliance with donor requirements and alignment with organisational priorities.
Strengthen budgeting and financial management capacity across the organisation providing guidance, training and support to budget holders in the management of restricted and unrestricted funds.
Support budget holders to make informed financial decisions through the provision of budget analysis, forecasting and financial planning insights.
People Management
Supervise and mentor a high performing finance function, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement and a high standard of service.
Build team capacity through effective coaching, professional development and knowledge sharing.
Set clear objectives and conduct probation, performance and development reviews ensuring team performance aligns with organisation goals.
Support and empower team members to maximise their effectiveness, delivering high quality responsive and value-added service across the organisation.
Others
