Head of Finance 30 views

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) is a world-class research centre with a mission to alleviate poverty by ensuring food security, improving health, protecting the environment and building the capacity of researchers and communities across the developing world through the application of insect sciences.

Employing close to 500 national and international staff, icipe is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya with outposts in Ethiopia and on the shores of Lake Victoria in western Kenya. icipe has a proud reputation and history of delivering world-quality science that has made crucial contributions to African food and health policy, delivered

development outcomes to rural communities and has been at the forefront of building Africa’s biological research capacity. The Centre’s research activities span the African continent with partnerships linking research organisations, not only across Africa, but also the globe. In addition, close to 100–150 graduate students and a

number of postdoctoral fellows contribute to icipe’s research portfolio annually. For more information visit: www. icipe.org

Please also download icipe’s Vision and Strategy 2013–2020

http://www.icipe.org/images/stories/pdf/about_us/icipe_Vision_and_Strategy_2013 2020.pdf

icipe is seeking to appoint an outstanding, dynamic and self-motivated individual of impeccable integrity to lead the Finance Unit. The selected candidate will be based at icipe’s Nairobi campus. The position will be offered for an initial contract of 3 years, which may be renewable subject to continued project needs, funding for the

position, and performance of the staff member. A competitive and generous compensation package, including children’s education allowance up to university first degree, health and life insurance, generous pension, housing  and transport allowances, duty-free privileges, home leave and relocation allowances, and much more, will be offered to the right candidate. Only shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged.

Job Description

• The Head of Finance (HoF) will provide financial leadership to a strong team of finance professionals and have primary strategic day-to-day responsibility at the Centre to ensure the existence and adherence to fundamental principles of financial management—financial accountability, internal controls, recordkeeping, compliances,
• financial integrity, planning, budgeting, cash-flow management and financial reporting. The HoF will support planning, monitoring and decision-making processes to achieve best value in utilising resources, and providing quality information, financial analysis, training and professional advice.

Primary Responsibilities

• First, provide overall supervision of the processes of recording, classifying and summarising financial transactions and interpreting the results, ensuring that all transactions of the Centre are recorded, and that supporting original documentation for all transactions is easily accessible. Second, provide necessary approvals for transactions and processes within set policies. Third, provide custodianship to all financial policies and procedures.
• Ensure continuous development and improvement of all supporting financial and management information systems for the Centre, ERP systems, project costing, and mapping of accounts and analysis codes.
• Ensure that effective internal controls are in place to safeguard financial assets of the Centre, and that records systems are maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable financial regulatory laws and rules for financial reporting in all jurisdictions where the Centre operates.
• Oversee the coordination and activities of independent external auditors for the Centre and project audits, ensuring that all compliance issues are met and that the preparation of annual financial statements is in accordance with both the Centre’s standards and international standards.
• Oversee the preparation of periodic financial statements, financial management reports, cash flows, special analyses, and information reports for use by the Budget holders, Centre’s Senior Management Committee (SMC) and Governing Council Members. Equally important, ensure that the finance unit meets all its financial reporting requirements—statutory, management and contractual—on a timely basis.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with programme/project managers, identify their needs, and deliver enhanced business solutions. Provide support to other business support units in financial related matters. Additionally, provide recommendations to strategically enhance financial performance and opportunities. Analyse costs and expenses and guide programme/project managers, as well as analyse financial statements to pinpoint trends and potential problem areas.
• Analyse cash flows, monitor banking activities, oversee the management investments in line with set policies, to ensure adequate cash flow to meet the Centre’s needs and optimisation of investments held.

Additional Responsibilities

• Represent the Centre externally to various stakeholders, e.g. governments and funding agencies.
• Serve on tender, planning and policy-making committees.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate Finance Unit staff.
• Play a key role in the development of the Centre’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

Reporting

• This position reports to the Director of Finance & Administration (DFA).

Job Requirements

Requirements/Qualifications

• A master’s degree in finance or accounting.
• Ten (10) years of experience in a senior-level finance and accounting position.
• Professional accounting qualification – CPA, ACCA, CA, or similar accreditation.

Core Competencies

• Experience crafting financial strategies and managing diverse accounting
• Knowledge of contracting, negotiating, and change management.
• Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, and cost control principles,
• including international standards.
• Solid project cost accounting and project management skills.
• Ability to analyse financial data and prepare financial reports, statements, and

Other desirable attributes

• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and manage at all levels of
• the Centre, particularly with staff at all locations.
• Strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to provide sound advice based
• on accurate and timely analyses.
• A high level of and a strong sense of timeliness and results orientation.
• A high level of skills in written and verbal communication.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted up to 24th August 2019. Shortlisting is ongoing. Interested applicants should submit: (a) a confidential cover letter; (b) detailed CV with names and addresses of 3 referees (including e-mail addresses, fax numbers); and (c) a statement illustrating suitability against the listed qualifications/competencies/

abilities and skills.

Candidates are required to apply online through:  http://recruit.icipe.org or by Email: [email protected]

icipe is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender

equity, teamwork, and respect