Head of Finance, East Africa

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
Strategic Financial Leadership

• Provide strategic financial advice and support to the Cluster Director and Country Managers.
• Act as the cluster focal point for financial quality assurance, consistency of practice and continuous improvement.
• Support financial sustainability and long-term planning across the cluster.
• Contribute to organisational planning, decision-making and business continuity processes.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate actions.

Financial Planning and Business Development

• Lead the financial development of new business proposals across the cluster, working closely with Country Managers and country finance staff.
• Oversee the preparation and review of proposal budgets, donor financial templates and budget tests, ensuring consistency, quality and compliance across all submissions.
• Review donor contracts and advise on financial implications, risks and compliance requirements.
• Ensure appropriate budgeting of shared costs, cluster costs, management fees and indirect cost recovery.
• Support donor budget negotiations and advise on payment schedules, reporting requirements and financial risk

Budgeting, Forecasting and Financial Monitoring

• Lead quarterly forecasting and reforecasting activities across the cluster.
• Review and challenge financial forecasts prepared by Country Finance Leads and ensure consistency and accuracy across the cluster.
• Monitor project performance, expenditure trends and budget utilisation.
• Provide regular analysis and recommendations to the Cluster Director and Country Managers regarding financial performance.
• Support country planning processes and identify future funding and operational risks.

Financial Reporting

• Provide quality assurance and oversight of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting across cluster countries.
• Review Project Finance Reports and management accounts prepared by Country Finance Leads before submission.
• Review country month-end and year-end financial close processes and ensure consistency of approach.
• Analyse financial results and investigate significant variances.
• Ensure accurate reporting to UK Finance and senior management.

Donor Compliance and Grant Management

• Ensure donor financial reporting complies with contractual requirements.
• Review donor financial reports before submission.
• Monitor project expenditure and donor budget compliance across the cluster.
• Support donor financial reviews and audits.

Financial Controls, Audit and Risk Management

• Maintain effective financial controls and compliance systems across cluster countries.
• Oversee implementation of BBC Media Action financial policies and procedures.
• Support development and monitoring of country risk registers.
• Ensure appropriate controls relating to cash management, segregation of duties, procurement and asset management.
• Lead financial responses to internal and external audit recommendations.
• Promote best practice in fraud prevention, financial governance and accountability.

Statutory and Regulatory Compliance

• Provide oversight and quality assurance of statutory and regulatory compliance arrangements across cluster countries.
• Support Country Finance Leads in managing local tax compliance, registrations and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Review and monitor local audit activity and ensure issues are appropriately managed and escalated.
• Liaise with external advisers where required.

Cashflow and Treasury Management

• Review and approve country cash forecasts and funding requests.
• Monitor liquidity requirements across the cluster.
• Support effective treasury management and cash control processes.
• Ensure funds are available to support programme delivery.

Team Leadership and Capacity Building

• Provide line management and technical leadership to Country Finance Leads and Senior Finance Officers.
• Build financial capability across the cluster through coaching, mentoring and training.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across country finance teams.
• Support recruitment, performance management and development of finance staff.
• Promote consistent financial standards and ways of working across the cluster.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement in financial systems, reporting tools and procedures.
• Support effective use of Access Dimensions, Power BI and other BBC Media Action financial systems.
• Promote standardisation and consistency across cluster countries.
• Support implementation of new financial processes and organisational initiatives.

Safeguarding

• Ensure that staff and freelancers are recruited according to relevant safeguarding standards.
• Oversee and evidence induction for staff/freelancers which includes training in safeguarding and the staff code of conduct.
• Report any Safeguarding concerns immediately, either to the Cluster Director, or using the Whistleblowing Policy.

Knowledge, skills, training and experience
Essential

• Professional accounting qualification (ACCA, CPA or equivalent).
• Significant experience in a senior finance management role within an NGO, INGO or donor-funded environment.
• Experience managing multi-country finances and complex donor-funded programmes.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, management reporting and project finance.
• Experience leading audits, compliance processes and financial controls.
• Strong knowledge of donor regulations, grant management and donor financial reporting requirements.
• Experience reviewing and challenging financial performance, forecasts and budgets prepared by others.
• Experience leading and developing finance teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with financial management systems.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Experience working across multiple countries in Africa, particularly East Africa.
• Knowledge of NGO and donor-funded financial management requirements.
• Experience supporting geographically dispersed teams and matrix management structures.

Job impact:
Decision Making

• Provides strategic financial advice and recommendations to the Cluster Director, Country Managers and senior leadership.
• Makes decisions on financial management, forecasting, compliance and control matters within delegated authority.
• Influences resource allocation, funding priorities, business development opportunities and financial sustainability across the cluster.
• Identifies and manages financial risks, ensuring appropriate controls and mitigation actions are implemented.
• Provides guidance on donor compliance, grant management and financial implications of operational and strategic decisions.

Scope

• Supports multiple offices across the East Africa Cluster.
• Leads financial management activities across Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia.
• Responsible for cluster-wide financial planning, forecasting, financial reporting, donor compliance, financial controls and financial risk management.
• Provides line management, technical leadership and quality assurance to Country Finance Leads and Senior Finance Officers, building financial capability and promoting consistent financial practices across the cluster.
• Oversees financial management of donor-funded programmes, ensuring resources are effectively managed to support programme delivery and organisational objectives.
• Budget accountability will be role specific.