• Organization Amazi Water
• Position Title Finance Manager
• Reporting To Director of Finance
• Duty Station Bujumbura
• Starting Date ASAP

About us:

As a Christ-centered organization, AMAZI WATER is the primary implementer of Burundian water projects, working to provide sustainable access to clean water in every community by 2028.

About the role:

The Finance Manager, reporting to the Finance Director in the US, plays a pivotal role in steering the finance direction within the country. As a member of the country’s management team, they must collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and all managers to ensure financial goals align with organizational objectives. The Finance Manager is also responsible for the overall management of the country’s Finance Department, ensuring the implementation of robust financial management systems and processes.

The Finance Manager provides supervision across all aspects of financial management, including financial reporting, projects management and compliance, effective communication, and capacity building for finance, compliance, and staff.

The Finance Manager serves as a catalyst for change, advocating, supporting, and supervising the implementation of new financial strategies, processes, tools, policies, and procedures. They reinforce an organizational culture of high performance and accountability, collaborating with the SLT to ensure that Amazi Water maintains a high level of resource stewardship and strict financial accountability.

Core Responsibilities:

A. Financial Management and Analysis:

• Ensure compliance with Amazi Waters’ policies, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donor rules, and country-specific legal requirements.
• Ensure the overall accuracy of financial information recorded in the Country Program’s general ledger and reflected on the country’s trial balance and other financial reports submitted to donors and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of robust local financial systems and processes (e.g. cash management, electronic payments), as appropriate.
• Ensure that all assets including cash, inventories, accounts receivable, and fixed assets are accurately reflected on the trial balance.
• Oversee the execution and timely posting of all financial transactions.
• Proactively develop financial forecast analysis to assist in areas such as management of currency risk and cost allocation rates.
• Oversee monthly analysis of the country’s trial balance and other financial reports, such reports include but are not limited to budget comparison reports, aging reports, grant liability reports, efficiency reports, and currency exposure reports.
• Lead the process of analysis and interpretation of financial reports to ensure that accurate financial data is provided to budget managers to inform decision-making.
• Oversee the reconciliation of fixed assets’ physical counts.
• Ensure financial records and transactions are adequately supported as per AW’s policies with due consideration of local laws and donors’ documentation requirements.
• Enhance collaboration between Finance, Operations, Operations Support, and Management departments to deliver excellence.
• Champion the implementation of new financial strategies, processes, and policies to reinforce a culture of high performance and accountability.

B. Planning & Budget Administration:

• Lead the preparation and submission of the annual budgets and plans and quarterly forecast updates in close collaboration with the SLT and managers.
• Ensure accurate recording of board-approved budgets and amendments into financial systems.
• Support all Managers in budget development, new projects, and revisions of existing projects, and ensure that reasonable estimates of direct cost and shared direct cost are used in budgets, based on historical data and current market conditions ensuring compliance with policies and guidelines.
• Provide the SLT and Managers with regular and timely budget comparison reports and analysis and action plans that address significant variances between approved budgets and actual expenses.

C. Treasury:

• Ensure availability of sufficient cash in the country’s operating account, by establishing cash balance monitoring systems to trigger timely accounts’ replenishments.
  
• Ensure bank accounts are managed in accordance with finance and treasury policies.
• Coordinate the opening and closure of bank accounts and maintain an accurate list of bank signatories and keep the Finance Director informed of changes in bank signatories.
• Ensure that monthly bank reconciliations are performed in accordance with the Bank reconciliation procedure for all bank accounts and approved bank reconciliation forms are submitted to Finance on a timely basis.
• Monitor currency exchange rates and alert management when/if unusual or unexpected changes occur.
• Promote efficient and innovative solutions to cash management based on current trends e.g. electronic banking/mobile banking, when feasible and appropriate.
• Design and implement internal controls adapted to such innovative solutions.

D. Financial Management, Reporting & Capacity Building:

• Build and strengthen the financial management capacity of managers and organize regular trainings and other capacity-building initiatives.
• Assist the Finance Director with the preparation and submission of financial reports to the board, donors and local government entities based on AW’ policies, local laws, and donors’ requirements.
• Assist with timely and accurate financial year-end closure and submission of year-end reports.
• Work with the Finance Director to ensure donor financial requirements are met and maintain good working relationships.

E. Grant and Contract Management:

• Monitor grant agreements and contracts to ensure spending is within budget.
• Help coordinate the submission of financial reports to donors and ensure compliance.
• Lead the financial management of grants and related cost-shares.

F. Risk Management and Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to financial policies, internal controls, and legal requirements.
• Conduct internal control assessments and develop action plans to address weaknesses.
• Engage with audit teams to ensure timely closure of audit findings.

G. Finance Personnel Management and Overall Capacity Strengthening:

• Support the Finance Director to recruit, train, and develop a competent pool of finance staff.
• Supervise, mentor, and coach finance staff, ensuring effective delegation and capacity building.
• Represent AW in senior management meetings and maintain relationships with financial institutions.
• Act as primary liaison with all financial institutions and in close collaboration with the Country Director.

Qualifications for this position:

• University Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA certification preferred.
  
• Minimum 8 years of professional experience in financial management in International Organisations or similar organisations, including 5 years in a management position.
• Budgeting and budget management experience required.
• Proven ability to analyze reports or issues and to provide appropriate recommendations required.
• A sound knowledge of local law in the areas of taxation and local regulatory reporting obligations is required.
• Knowledge of Sage Intacct or similar financial reporting software is an advantage.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and adapt to change effectively.

ALL EMPLOYEES AT AMAZI WATER MUST DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES:

• A love for Burundi
  
• A love for Jesus Christ
• Professional fluency in French, English, and Kirundi
• Proficiency with email, Excel & Word
• Ability with community development and social work
• Ability with communicating with government offices and partners.
• Understanding of the need and benefit of clean water.

Submission of Application

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the hiring manager.

Eligible candidates are kindly requested to submit a completed AMAZI WATER application by May 9th, 2024. 

This position is open for EXTERNAL and INTERNAL candidates. Only candidates who meet the above criteria will be contacted.