THE ORGANIZATION:

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters, and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels using our reach, experience, and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Purpose Of The Position: 

The primary responsibility of the Area Finance Coordinator (AFC) s/he is responsible for oversee White Nile Area Office finances and operations in accordance with relevant donor’s rules and regulations and in line with Plan’s financial and administrative management policy provisions, also s/he  will supervise the management and financial reporting on grants performance and will ensure best use of resources by managing the preparation of sound budgets, monitoring project expenses, ensure compliance with grant terms and obligations, fulfillment of anticipated grants-supported activities, and submission of timely financial reports, raise capacity for Non finance Staff, LNGOs and CBOs in financial management, reporting and follow up internal and external audit actions.

Dimensions of Role

This role is line managed by the Program Area Manager (PAM) dotted line with CFM and supervises all staff designated with finance and accounting responsibilities, some of whom are stationed in sub offices . leads the financial services which have an average annual budget of approximately 4 Million USD).and is a member of the Area Management Team (AMT).

accountabilities:

The Area Finance Coordinator is accountable for fulfilling his/ her roles and responsibilities in line with the Plan International code of conduct, Child Protection Policy, Anti-fraud and Corruption Policy and Plan International values and principles.

Business planning processes:

• Provide oversight of financial and operational management of the grant and sponsorship projects and ensure project accountability requirements. 
• Ensure all grants, contracts, procurement and commodity management in compliance with donor rules and regulations.
• Support White Nile Programme strategic planning, work planning, and budgeting processes under the supervision of Area Program Manager and Country Finance Manager.
• Work closely with Project Managers and country finance team and fiscal agents on internal and external financial reviews and audits; 
• Leads and facilitates the proposal budgeting in White Nile Program Area.
• Work with the Programme Area Manager to develop a methodology for cost recovery allocation, and ensure that cost recovery procedures are observed on a monthly basis.
• Review budget entries and disbursements in the grants Fund tracking sheets before approval of payment requests.
• Communicates instructions and milestones within the Programme Area for business planning, including long-term planning, budgeting, monthly forecasting and cash flow forecasting in accordance with the donors requirements and Plan International procedures.
• Monitors monthly cash forecast and cash flow for approved grants
• Conduct monthly meetings with project managers and accountants for financial performance reviews and audit action follow-ups.
• Reviews of final grants budget proposal before submission to Country Office and Donor.
• Ensure financial due diligence of partners is completed as part of partner assessment processes.
• Participate in grants start-up workshop in financial function.

Facilitates the capacity building of community-based organizations (CBOs) and Sudanese civil society organizations (CSOs).

• Coordinates the design and regular updating of strategy for the capacity building of CBOs, local NGOs, and other collaborators on financial planning and financial management, processes including internal controls in collaboration with the people and Admin and HR, Program, Business development and risk advisor. 
• Facilities and supports the implementation of the capacity-building strategy.

Accounting and treasury: 

• Monitor actual grant/Sponsorship expenditures against approved donors/SPAD budget line items and obligated amount, and develop budget modifications as needed.
• Oversee all aspects of the documentation of project expenses, including financial reports from project partners.
• Ensure accurate recording and timely reporting of Indirect Cost Recovery and Matching Fund. 
• Conduct quarterly field visit for review of partners’ financial reports, provide feedback on financial reports to partners and verify that project partners have appropriate internal controls in place.
• Monitors and reviews monthly bank reconciliation, community advances, and outstanding commitments

Financial reporting and analysis: 

• Reviews Program Update and Disbursement Request (PUDR) and ensures accuracy of figures and compliance to Plan and donors’ policies and Plan International procedures. 
• Review periodic financial reports for the grants/Sponsorship projects, including year-end reporting
• Review and finalize the grants financial reports and submit to donors in timely

Internal financial controls: 

• Maintain strong internal policies, processes, and control systems in order to provide timely, consistent and accurate financial and budget management.
• Develop internal controls review work plan and checklist customize to the needs of donors and White Nile Program Area Management Team.
• Coordinate regular review of internal controls for grants/Sponsorship project. Ensure appropriate financial controls processes, procedures and systems are in place. 
• Oversee follow up finance-related audit actions for the grants projects.
• Identify areas of internal control weakness and report s to White Nile Program Area Manager and Appropriate managers

People management:   

• Develop training plan for all direct report.
• Develop, coach and motivate a high performing Finance team in the White Nile Program Area. 
• Ensure staff has their Individual Accountability Plan (IAP) 
• Conduct interim and final evaluation of direct report staff based on PMS guidelines.
• Conduct regular meeting with the finance staff

Safeguarding, Gender Equality, and Inclusion

• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to:
• ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work
• concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures

key relationships

Internal

• Country Finance Managers/Accountants
• Business development and support service departments.
• Project Managers/Coordinators 
• Area Management Team members

External

• CSOs, CBOs and NGOs
• Donors and external auditors 
• Banks and Financial institutions

Expertise

• Five (5) years deep experience in a similar job/ position such as humanitarian aid/ NGO Financial Management and Accounting.
•  Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Financial Management, or professional qualification in accountancy international
• Experience managing donor finances for DFID, EC, ECHO, UNDP, UNICEF, WPF, SIDA or US Aid-funded projects
• In-depth knowledge of SHF, BMZ and GFFO financial management rules and regulations and/or other comparable major bilateral aid grant management.
• Experience managing grant programmes or sub-granting mechanisms involving local NGOs and CBOs.

Knowledge

• A clear understanding of Financial management in the humanitarian sector
• Understanding of and commitment to the purpose and values of Plan International
• In-depth knowledge of financial risk management. 
• Knowledge of the INGO sector and humanitarian codes of conduct e.g. Sphere, HAP and UN Sec General statement on Sexual Exploitation

Skills:

• Teamwork and strong influencing, negotiation, and representation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate clearly and sensitively at all levels
• Self-motivated and able to work autonomously in a highly stressful and challenging environment, balancing between multiple competing priorities
• Strong analytical skills in the area of finance and accounting 
• Proven skills to use technology and strong IT literacy
• Fluent in English (written and spoken) and Arabic