Financial Analyst – Southern Africa Region at The Nature Conservancy

Description
What We Can Achieve Together:

• The Financial Analyst provides highly specialized services in one or more of the following functions: proposal budget development; financial analysis and reporting; support and design field financial management processes; accounting; management controls and reporting; or similar financial activities for the Africa Region Business Unit. Exemplifies a high level of expertise in area(s) of financial reporting, proposals, budget development, advanced financial analysis, and systems innovation. Administers and maintains finance/accounting activities in accordance with TNC policies and procedures and best practices in financial/organizational management. The Financial Analyst supports all levels of personnel in their specialty area. Responds to complex operational and employee/management questions and problems based on advanced knowledge of the subject area with solutions. The Financial Analyst will report to the Regional Finance Analyst and will be based in either Zambia or South Africa country office.

We’re Looking for You:

• Prepares financial reports and analysis for Zambia and South Africa country programs that compare budgets to actual results, while recommending corrective action as appropriate.
• Supports and proactively informs the leadership team on overall performance of the program and projects revenue, expenditure, cash, and net asset position.
• Supports program managers by monitoring and reporting on the spending rates of restricted and unrestricted funding to ensure proper burn rates are sustained.
• Leads the management of private awards, ensuring compliance with donor financials and other contractual requirements, accurate and timely reporting and timely close out of awards.
• Lead the financial review of Zambia and South Africa programs during monthly and quarterly program review meetings, including quarterly budget reviews of revenues and expenditures.
• Supports the Finance Manager, Budgeting and respective Country Directors on the fiscal year budgeting process. Developing the respective program budgets that address the needs of all stakeholders (Conservation, Finance, Operations and Development).
• Ensures Indirect Cost is fully recovered from all public and private awards and transferred to relevant General & Administrative projects prior to year-end close.
• Builds capacity for the respective Country Directors and Program Managers on budgeting, financial reporting, and monitoring tools.
• Collaborate with conservation, development, and grants teams on budget development for funding proposals and fiscal program planning.
• Collaborates with country operations team members to ensure financial management processes in the field complement and support project outcomes, and where necessary, design financial management tools & processes that facilitate strong control environments.
• Serves as a resource to country staff on all financial matters, including TNC policies, procedures and guidelines and educate staff as required.
• Ensures programmatic commitments, TNC policies and procedures, financial standards and legal requirements are met and managed for compliance to the respective countries.
• Performs any other finance tasks deemed necessary for the smooth operations of the finance department.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field and 4 years' related experience or equivalent combination.
• Professional certification such as a CPA or ACCA.
• Full Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute Management Accountants (CIMA), the Zambian Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) or the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
• Experience using accounting and financial reporting systems, workday system experience will be an added advantage.
• Experience in manipulating, analyzing and interpreting data. Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel & data analytics required. Experience in using DAX, SQL, VBA, or M language is an added advantage.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills.
• Multi-lingual skills and/or multi-cultural experience appreciated.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong capacity building, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of current trends in budgeting, financial reporting, and analysis.
• Demonstrated use of modern technology in providing financial solutions.
• Demonstrated high level of integrity and trust.