Head of Finance, East Africa at BBC Media Action

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 leadin...