Director Financial Planning and Analysis (DFP&A)

The position:

The Director Financial Planning & Analysis serves as an integral member of the Global Leadership Council and will support the CFO in all aspects of business partnering and management reporting and controls. The DFP&A leads the budgeting, forecasting, long-term planning, implementation, and business strategic analysis of the financial team. The DFP&A will ensure smooth, effective and efficient operational finance support to the countries and global operations. To work closely with all countries and departments to support the development of LG’s financial management strategy and contribute to the development of the organization’s strategic goals. In addition, the DFP&A will be charged with developing and implementing more sophisticated policies and procedures both in the finance, grant management and general operational areas to support the organizations growth.

Responsibilities:

Business Partnering:

• Driving a process of continuous improvement in business partnering which enhances the understanding of the Executive and Senior Management teams (Global and Country) of their key financial performance drivers and business performance issues.
• Oversee business analysis of strategic initiatives to determine financial and operational feasibility.
• Drive and challenge operational units on their assumptions of how they will successfully execute their plans.
• Provide strategic financial input and leadership on decision making issues affecting the organization including revenue enhancement and cost reduction initiatives.

Organizational Financial Reporting, budgeting and analysis:

• Develop reporting frameworks in collaboration with the CFO, Global Controller, Country Teams and Management to produce management, donor and key stakeholder reports.
• Manage the entire organizational financial reporting function and ensure accurate financial reports are produced.
• Provide frameworks and support to country finance teams to prepare analysis and conduct reviews, monitor and highlight variances.
• Investigate exceptions on all reports and facilitate corrective actions.
• Own the complete organizational budgeting and forecasting process.
• Ensure accuracy of budgets and rolling forecasts submitted by each country and Global department.
• Drive implementation of budget assumptions.
• Conduct cost analysis on key operations to inform cost modeling for investment and operational decisions.

Grant Financial Management:

• Manage the entire financial function related to the grant management function including assessing the cost investment viability of an opportunity, proposal budgeting, donor reporting, donor queries etc.
• Provide business partnering support to the Business development team during the proposal stage.
• Provide business partnering support to the Project managers/Grant relationship managers to ensure full financial compliance and timely reporting.

Team Management:

• Lead Direct and Matrix reports in management and oversight of all financial planning analysis and reporting functions.

Skills and Competencies:

• Experience in a complex International NGO with a budget of at least $20million annual budget.
• In-depth knowledge of nonprofit accounting (fund accounting principles), including sophisticated fund and grant accounting, compliance and reporting.
• Broad experience with multiple funding sources, including the US government, other country governments, other bi-and multilateral donors and corporates and foundations.
• Experience with the rules and regulations of multilateral donors.
• Evidence of partnering with executive staff, resulting in the development and implementation of creative financial management strategies.
• Experience streamlining, refining and automating financial processes, including the development of user-friendly tools and training programs, and deploying suitable technology.
• Track record of working with technology leadership to manage critical financial management and reporting systems.
• Mission-driven, articulate professional with substantial finance and administrative management experience.
• Keen analytical, organization and problem-solving skills which support and enable sound decision-making.
• Proven strength in building and sustaining supportive relationships and persuasively communicating institutional goals and needs.
• Experience working in or with Africa.
• Strong human resource management experience; ability to supervise, mentor and engage staff members and inspire credibility, confidence and build consensus.
• Technology savvy and specific knowledge of accounting and reporting software.
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically with expertise in complex problem solving, decision making and critical thinking skills, displays good judgment.
• Advanced Excel skills.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Finance and Accounting or related field.
• At least 10 years relevant experience. Management experience of at least 7 years gained in a complex international NGO.
• Professional certification - CPA, CA, ACCA or equivalent preferred.