Head of Accounting & Reporting Division ( AfCDC)

Organization Information

Reports to : Director, Finance   
Directorate/Department/ Organ: Finance Directorate, Africa CDC
Division: Accounting and Reporting 
Number of Direct Reports:        
Number of Indirect Reports:        
Job Grade: P5 
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Regular 
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Purpose of Job

The Head of Accounting and Reporting Division shall direct and manage the accounting and financial reporting functions of Africa CDC, provides strategic advice, financial interpretations and corrective actions to Management on the area of expertise.
 

Main Functions

• Supervises and manages the work of the Division to ensure their effectiveness.
• Designs strategies and policies to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area.
• Contributes to the development of the business continuity plan and ensures its implementation at division level.
• Ensures risk management and mitigation.
• Oversees the expansion and development of new and existing activities of the Division.
• Addresses challenges relating to current practices in related field or relevant area.
• Engages stakeholders within Members States and RECs in designing and implementing strategies.
• Represents the organization and explains its position at conferences, in respective area of work. 
• Mobilises funds from donors and allocates them towards the implementation of strategies and activities of the Division, as appropriate.
• Prepares periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitors budget execution at Division level.
• Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent. 
• Develop and maintain operating rules and procedures. 
• Develops and implements the Office’s medium and long-term goals and objectives. 
• Design and develop business continuity plan to address unforeseen circumstances. 
• Develop and oversee policy development and guidelines according to the organizations legal framework. 
• Design policies consistent with the AU’s goal in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area. 
• Promote awareness and training of best practices in area of expertise. 
• Manages and supervises employees within the division, ensures the timely delivery of the Division’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation.
• Assist the Director of Finance in supervising various teams within the Directorate as may be assigned from time to time.  
   

Specific Responsibilities

• Overseeing and coordination, as well as directly dealing with adjustments and corrections, all accounting and bookkeeping operations to ensure accounting policies implemented in consistent manner.
• Coordinates reporting activities and acting as focal point for all reviews/audits exercise. 
• Supervises and manages the general accounting activities, establishment of effective internal controls while ensuring statutory compliance in all accounting initiatives.
• Leads end-of-period accounting closure activities and supports the analysis of the periodical business performance, budgets, and forecasts.
• Plays a leading role in creating and enhancing financial policies and procedures across the accounting department as well as the wider Finance directorate.

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• Ensures that there is consistency in procedures and policies across the accounting division and that these policies are appropriately set for the achievement of the business’s overall goals and objectives.
• Manages compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) of the complete financial reporting function of the Organization which includes a number of different and diverse operations and interrelated accounts of the financial system.
• Monitors changes in regulatory framework of Accounting and initiate relevant updates to the IPSAS Policy Framework, AU Financial Rules and Regulations, Administrative Instructions, Circulars and to the Accounting Manual
• Provides authoritative advice, financial interpretations, and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to IPSAS.
• Monitors changes in regulatory framework of Accounting and initiate relevant updates to the IPSAS Policy Framework, AU Financial Rules and Regulations, Administrative Instructions, Circulars and to the Accounting Manual
• Supervises end-of-period processes and supports the analysis of the periodical business performance, budgets, and forecasts.
• Prepares annual financial report/statements of African Union Commission and African Union
• Produces monthly management report and any ad-hoc report as requested
• Ensures timely reconciliation of bank accounts, payables and receivables & settlement of Travel and Imprest Accounts
• Coordinates internal and external auditors for audit of the AU Financial Reports and records and ensures implementation of audit recommendations.
• Provides advice, financial interpretations, and corrective actions in response to audits and other queries to ensure adherence to AU Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR) and IPSAS.,
• Custodian of documentation of all financial books and records
• Prepares monthly cash forecasts and other relevant financial reports for management use; 
• Calls for Investment meetings each quarter to guide the committee to place surplus cash into worthwhile investments.
   

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• Prepares monthly investment report and submit to management.
• Prepares the Division annual budget and submit for consideration and corresponding approval.
• Reviews the system effectiveness and recommend improvements to mitigate identified risks.
• Reviews and monitors payments systems to ensure payables including payroll and disbursements are processed timely and all exceptions are dealt with promptly and timely.
• Manages the customer relationship with all finance institutions and banks to ensure integrated payments/disbursement (including bank online platforms) systems are operating smoothly:
• Authorizes all payments as a key primary signatory in Category AU of the FRR
• Ensures compliance with FRR of the AU and financial policies.
• Manages a multi-functional team of finance professionals.
• Maintain and continually improving systems, processes, and procedures of financial management, internal controls and administrative services of Africa CDC.
• Properly reporting and safeguarding Africa CDC’s financial resources and ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in all financial matters.
• Authorizes all Payments of Africa CDC and ensures timely processing of payroll; 
• Administers Systems of all Online Banking of Africa CDC
• Ensures the preparation and timely submission of financial reports and other interim reports on the financial situation of the Africa CDC 
• Ensures timely preparation of statement of Bank reconciliation and addressing all reconciling items on time.
• Reviews and authorizing all bank transfers (International and Local) and ensuring sufficient cover of foreign exchange is always in place.
• Prepares cash flow projections on a regular basis and handles auditors both Internal and External
• Investigates significant variation between actual and projected cash positions and any errors with the bank accounts or cash book ledgers.
• Prepares, uploads, and communicates monthly SAP exchange rate report.
• Serves as signatory of all Global banks of and Bank Relationship manager for Africa CDC 
• Provides strategic advice and guidance on issues of financial management.
• Manages cash and other current assets- forecasting the cash inflows and outflows to ensure that there is neither shortage nor surplus of cash with the organization;
• Ensures that there are adequate financial controls over cash resources by applying control over finances through ratio analysis, financial forecasting, expenditure and surplus control.
• Supports mobilization of financial resources from partners to ensure both programme and operational needs are adequately funded.
• Supervises the process of payments(payables) and disbursements and ensure all payments and expenditures.
• Reviews applicable policies, systems and controls for adequacy, being up to date and operational effectiveness.
• Supervises and Manage a multi-functional team of finance professionals
   

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Management/Administration (Finance or Accounting Major) or related field with twelve (12) years of relevant work experience out of which seven (7) and five (5) years should have been served at managerial and supervisory levels; 
• Experience of working in an International or intergovernmental organization is required. 
• Membership of an internationally recognized professional accounting body such. as CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA is mandatory.
• Experience in using SAP and knowledge of other ERP is a plus 
   

Required Skills

• Managerial skills, political tactfulness, and supervisory skills to achieve documented objectives.
• Ability to initiate and promote collaborative approaches between geographically and culturally disparate partners.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations both internally and externally.
• Ability to identify key strategic opportunities and risks.
• Ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff.
• Strong working knowledge of information technology and its implications for business commerce and managing and controlling business operations. 
• Depth knowledge in generally accepted finance and accounting policies, principles and controls 
• Depth knowledge of accounting theory, auditing standards, investigation guidelines, procedures and related techniques. 
• Knowledge of auditing & investigation information systems and systems designs. 
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese and Spanish); fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.
   

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

Functional Competencies