Finance Officer, South Africa at International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

JOB DESCRIPTION
SEPCIFIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Reporting and Compliance;

• Ensure integration of cross-cutting priorities, including gender equality, youth engagement, social inclusion, and climate resilience.
• Ensure the technical quality and relevance of project interventions to national and regional priorities.
• Ensure all financial operations comply with GEF, IUCN, and national regulations.
• Prepare, monitor, and analyze project budgets, forecasts, and expenditures.
• Support development of project budgets and proposals, ensuring donor compliance.

Financial Transactions and controls;

• Oversee day-to-day financial transactions, including payments, reimbursements, and vendor invoices.
• Maintain proper documentation to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Implement and monitor internal financial controls to minimize risk

Financial Reporting;

• Prepare and submit timely and accurate financial reports (quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc) to the Project Coordinator, Executing Agency, Implementing Agency, and donors.
• Manage project expenditure in financial systems, ensuring proper coding and alignment with budgets.
• Provide monthly analyzed budget information to Project Managers and update staff time allocations in TMS.

Cash Flow and Fund Management;

• Monitor project cash flow to ensure sufficient funds for ongoing activities.
• Support preparation of fund requests and timely disbursements to implementing partners.
• Manage cash flow and ensure timely fund disbursements to partners.

Capacity Building and Collaboration;

• Provide financial guidance and support to project staff, partners, and sub-grantees.
• Assist in organizing financial training sessions or workshops.
• Build capacity of sub-grantees/partners in GEF financial compliance and fiduciary standards.
• Provide financial guidance to project teams and support other GEF-funded projects.

Audit and Oversight;

• Facilitate internal and external audits, provide supporting documentation, implement recommendations, and maintain financial controls.
• Implement audit recommendations promptly.
• Establish and maintain financial risk management controls.

Grants Management;

• Participate in due diligence for partner selection.
• Conduct periodic financial reviews and reconciliation with sub-grantees.
• Support sub-grantees in maintaining proper books and ensure compliance with donor requirements.
• Oversee sub-grantee financial compliance, reconciliations, and provide guidance.

Budget and Proposal Development;

• Act as focal point for budget development for GEF/GCF projects in Southern Africa
• Support proposal development processes by preparing budgets in line with donor regulations and IUCN guidelines.
• Facilitate capacity building in budget formulation and management for staff and partners.

Other Duties;

• Perform other finance-related tasks as assigned to support project goals.
• Provide financial management support to other GEF-funded projects in the portfolio.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

• Accurate and timely preparation of financial reports, expenditure statements, and financial workplans.
• Effective budget management and monitoring of expenditures with appropriate approvals.
• Compliance with GEF financial guidelines, national regulations, and IUCN policies.
• Close collaboration with project management, partners, and auditors to facilitate project delivery.

REQUIREMENTS
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education;

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• Professional certification (ACCA, CPA, or equivalent) preferred.

Work Experience;

• At least 5 years relevant experience in financial management, preferably in donor-funded or international development projects.
• Experience with project financial systems and compliance with donor guidelines, ideally GEF, UN agencies, or similar.
• Experience in budget preparation, financial reporting, audits, and reconciliations.
• Knowledge of national financial regulations and accounting standards.
• Proficiency in financial management software and MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to work under pressure.

Language Proficiency;

• Excellent command of English (including good writing and communication skills)

Core Competencies;

• Transparency: Able to build trust and contribute to informed and responsible decision making by carrying out the work of IUCN in a transparent manner; provides clear guidance to ensure that objectives and desired measurable results are understood by members of the team.
• Inclusiveness: Understands and accepts cultural diversity, and provides a tolerant, positive and supportive working environment that fosters respect for diversity, demonstrates ability to work in a multicultural, multiethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.
• Professionalism: Promote the organization’s interests, objectives and values in a diligent and professional manner.
• Accountability: Takes responsibility of individual and collective actions, promotes the IUCN One Programme approach.

Functional competencies;

• Project Management and Coordination: Plans, implements, and monitors multi-country projects using results-based management principles.
• Technical Expertise: Provides technical leadership in e.g. SLM, wetlands, water resources, climate adaptation, and Nature-based Solutions.
• Partnership Development: Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with governments, regional bodies, and stakeholders.
• Financial and Administrative Management: Ensures sound budgeting, expenditure control, and compliance with donor procedures.
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Knowledge Management: Leads performance tracking, learning, and knowledge sharing across the region.
• Leadership and Team Management: Guides and motivating project teams to deliver high-quality results efficiently.
• Communication and Representation: Communicates effectively, ensuring project visibility and engagement with partners.