Program Finance Lead 18 views

1. About the Program

The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Hybrid Designs and its consortium partners- Icog any one can code, R& D Group and Qua Qua Capitals as well as D & T Ethiopia Management Consulting PLC are launching a five- year program entitled ‘Entrepreneurship in the Digital and Gig Economy (EDGE)’ with the aim of unlocking over 300,000 dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged young people across Ethiopia through an innovative digitally enabled and mediated domestic outsourcing market and enabling a thriving offshore outsourcing ecosystem. This program will be scaling five outsourcing platform (digital) enabled products for both the offshore and onshore market that will empower young women and vulnerable groups. The program will also support 1,041 MSEs across Ethiopia to streamline their internal processes and organizational excellence to expand and grow their business, which will contribute to the development of a pipeline of competitive outsourcing enterprises that will serve and take advantage of the outsourcing market, both locally and globally. Through the ecosystem level collaboration with key strategic partners such as the IT park and the Ethiopian Outsourcing Association, the program anticipates contributing to the development of a strong outsourcing ecosystem, which will enable system level changes and position Ethiopia as an attractive outsourcing destination. The program will work to transform the outsourcing ecosystem to better serve the needs of financially disadvantaged young women and men. The program anticipates achieving its goals through its three interconnected program components which include i) Enhancing youth awareness in outsourcing and skill development; ii) Enterprise development and iii) Improving enabling environment through ecosystem Support. Through these interventions, the program will contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, Ethiopia’s country roadmap and country success story by the end of the program period and beyond.

1. Job Profile

Job Title: Program Finance Lead

Duty station: Addis Ababa with travel to the regions from time to time

Type of employment: Program (2025 – 2029)

Duration: One Year with possible extension up to five years

Reports to: Program Director

Required Number: One

Application Deadline: 30-01-2025

1. Short Description of the Position

The Program Finance Lead is responsible for financial oversight, compliance and grant management of the program. The lead will manage the program fund and ensure funding is spent according to Mastercard Foundation’s regulations and the organization’s policies and rules. She/he will be responsible to lead the development of financial reports and support annual audits. She/he will also work closely with the program team and the program Fund Manager to ensure the effective use of resources to achieve the program objectives in compliance with Mastercard Foundation’s requirements and regulations.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in the development of program strategy, Program financial plan and annual work plan of the organization and its consortium partners in achieving the objectives of the EDGE Program.
• Monitor the implementation of approved budget of the EDGE program.
• Prepare annual implementing budget for the program in line with the annual workplans of the organization and its sub-implementing organizations.
• Prepare monthly variance analysis of the program expenditure against budget and report/advise on any deviations for corrective action.
• Participate in the implementation and maintenance of internal financial controls of the organization in relation to the EDGE program.
• Monitor cash resources of the program to ensure adequate and timely release of funds to program team and consortium partners. This involves timely submission of funds request to the Foundation and following up on funds disbursements.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliation statements and reconciliation of program accounts with implementing partners and initiate corrective actions where necessary.
• Maintain professional relationships with Mastercard Foundation and all Implementing Partners, the program Fund Manager, External Auditors, Regulatory Agencies, Financial Institutions and other program stakeholders.
• Assist in audit by providing information and explanation to auditors commissioned by Mastercard Foundation, Hybrid Design’s external auditors, and any investigative team.
• Maintain and update records (financial and non-financial data) on the program for preparation of reports for stakeholders and to support management decision making.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial and narrative reports as may be required from time to time and in line with program requirements.
• Work with fund manager/Deloitte on tax matters and to implement a sound financial control for the program.

Additional responsibilities

1. Competencies

Required Academic Qualifications and Experience

• MA in Accounting, Finance Management.
• Minimum of 10 years with relevant experience of 8 years and out of these 2 years in managerial positions.
• Experience in managing large multi-year programme budget.
• Experience in risk management, control design and implementation.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in the International and local donor funding environment, including financial reporting, trends and procedures (knowledge and experience of Mastercard Foundation reporting requirement is an added advantage).
• Regular reporting and presentation of complex budget analysis to both financial and non-financial staffs.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Ability to exercise sound and timely judgement and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Excellent Skills in application of accounting software
• Proficient skill in excel and other MS computer applications
• Critical thinker with strong problem-solving skill, disaggregating larger/ complex problems to identify underlying drivers and critical issues.
• Ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks.
• High degree of professionalism
• Strong interpersonal (verbal and written) communication skills, including professional fluency in English.