SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Cowater International is preparing for an upcoming opportunity focusing on managing and overseeing delivery of the UK Sahel Flexible Fund (SFF) in Mali, East Sector (Gao Region). The programme aims to promote greater stability, reduced violence and increased human security, aligned to the aims of the UN peacekeeping mission to Mali (MINUSMA) to which the UK has deployed 300 troops, through the commissioning and managing of local stabilisation projects in Sector East (Gao region Mali). The programme will provide technical assistance to help the client to deliver an integrated approach to stabilisation.
The programme is expected to start in 2021 for a period of 30 months.
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
The Fund Manager will be a core member of the team, reporting directly to the Team Leader. They will be responsible for the oversight and management of all the grant funds, financial, accounting, budget and administrative processes for the programme.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop, implement and manage systems to ensure effective financial management within the programme, in compliance with FCDO’s and Cowater’s policies and procedures
- Ensure prompt financial, procurement and administrative support for the delivery of grants to the programme beneficiaries
- Coordinate activities with local key partner organisations and stakeholders, providing technical inputs for the development and implementation of a grants programme and ensuring the financial audit and verification of all donor funds.
- Ensure that all financial transactions are done with integrity and cost-effectiveness and are necessary for achieving the programme goals
- Develop a Procedures Manual for the SFF projects activities ensuring VfM in all delivery
- Prepare and submit all programme and grant financial statements/ reports
- Prepare financial forecast (monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts)
- Maintain an overview of programme expenditure against programme work plan and budgets, complete a variance analysis
- Coordinate internal and external programme audits
- Enforce Cowater’s compliance policies and establish the relevant financial management processes and procedures relating to those policies
- Manage project and field accounting systems and monitor internal day-to-day finance operations
- Support implementing partners to build capacity within their financial systems/processes to meet donor finance reporting requirements and for empowered financial and administrative management of projects.
- Strengthen, monitor, and test internal control procedures for making project-related payments and booking accounting transactions
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education:
- Advanced degree in economics, finance, business administration, public finance, public policy or a related field
- Professional accounting qualifications
Essential Skills:
- Professional experience implementing donor-funded activities and having responsibility for financial and operational delivery of the programme funds
- At least 10 years’ experience in international development, including relevant work in implementation of large-scale donor funded programmes including grants fund management to civil society
- Experience in undertaking detailed pre-grant financial due diligence and verification of potential grant partners
- Experience of working on FCDO funded project and FCDO practices and procedures (contractual procedures, fund management)
- Experience working with local CSOs, preferably in the Sahel
- Excellent communication skills in English and French (speaking and writing)
- Malian nationals, and individuals with experience in Mali/Sahel, highly encouraged to apply and knowledge of local languages is an asset
APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to as soon as possible on our Careers page on our website, here.
For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
ABOUT US
With more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec; London, United Kingdom; Nairobi, Kenya; and Brussels, Belgium, in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.