Urgent Action Fund-Africa provides rapid response grants and technical support to women’s rights organisations, women's human rights defenders and activists who identify strategic and time-sensitive opportunities to advance women's rights in Africa. The Finance & Operations Director is responsible for providing strategic leadership in financial stewardship and operational excellence. This role involves overseeing the financial and operations management and ensuring that financial information for the Fund is complete, accurate, in compliance with global best practices, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), applicable tax regulatory requirements, and other laws, and the Fund’s policies and procedures. The primary objectives are to manage and secure the financial resources of the Fund, focusing on the planning, organising, and controlling of financial activities like procurement and utilisation of funds, and to assess the systems to ensure effective and efficient utilisation of organisational resources.
Key Responsibilities
- Resource Mobilisation & Investment: Support resource mobilisation through compiling and approving proposal budgets, financial reports, and independent project audits. Grow and invest the reserve funds while assessing investment risks and opportunities across the portfolio.
- Grant Proposal Development: Lead and support development by providing clear financial projections and budget justifications, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and UAF-Africa’s policies.
- Risk Management & Controls: Assess and mitigate financial and operational risks through strong internal controls. Develop and implement procedures to strengthen the Fund’s processes, including finance, procurement, and ICT policies.
- Compliance: Ensure compliance with donor requirements through timely, accurate financial reporting and the management of donor-specific audits. Oversee compliance with statutory obligations (Public Benefits Organisations Authority, KRA, SHA, NSSF, HELB, etc.).
- Budgeting & Cashflow: Manage and monitor organisational and donor budgets, including the development of institutional budgets for Board approval. Monitor cashflow, bank balances, cost allocations, and foreign exchange exposure.
- Governance & Leadership: Provide governance support through Board reporting and strategic engagement with auditors. Serve on the Senior Management Team, shaping the Fund’s strategic direction and promoting a culture of integrity. Lead and mentor the Finance, Operations, and ICT teams.
- Operational Excellence: Streamline financial operations, including reconciliations and approvals, while leading the implementation of integrated ERP systems.
Requirements
- Education: Master’s degree in finance management or a related field.
- Professional Qualification: Professional certification (ACCA/CPA/CFA) with active membership in relevant professional bodies.
- Experience: Minimum of 15 years’ relevant work experience, with at least 6-8 years in a managerial capacity working in or with organisations in Africa (preferably women’s rights, development, or social justice-oriented NGOs).
- Policy Development: Proven track record of developing and implementing organisational policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Technical Skills: Experience in budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting in a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) context. Proficiency in various accounting software.
Skills & Competencies
- Excellent written and verbal communication in English.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to perform detailed work of a confidential nature and handle high volumes systematically.
- Passionate about UAF-Africa’s mission and committed to trust-based transformative grantmaking and grassroots movement building.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should visit the Urgent Action Fund-Africa application portal at uafahrrec.peopleshr.com to submit their application.
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