Job Vacancies at Room to Read

Roles and Responsibilities

Management and Coordination

• Responsible for country-wide Literacy program quality and outcomes, utilizing research, monitoring and evaluation data to inform design. 
• Ensures strong coordination and collaboration between CO Literacy program technical staff, the Programs Operations Director and Manager, and community-based teams. 
• Provides technical expertise to assist country and community-based staff with the recruitment, training, and development of Literacy program staff, and provide regular feedback on their performance.
• Identifies Literacy program staff capacity-building and professional development needs and assist the Human Resources team with sourcing of support to address the needs; provides similar support to community-based  and partner capacity-building efforts.
• Conducts the technical evaluation of consultants and other service providers for the Literacy program, includes development of terms of reference for programme consultants.
• Serves as a member of the Country Management Team, which provides overall support and direction for the work of Room to Read in country. 
• Participates in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization. 

Program Design, Implementation, Training, and Monitoring 

• Collaborates with the Global and Africa Region Literacy program team members in developing, refining, and adapting the global Literacy program design.
• Ensures global Literacy program guidelines and modules are being implemented and adapted to the local context, as needed.
• Ensures that any new programme activities are aligned with global Literacy program guidelines AND the local context.
• Supports the design of professional development modules and learner materials that incorporate online learning and media that goes beyond print media.
• Provides technical advice and guidance in support of Literacy program implementation and research, monitoring and evaluation.
• Visits program sites to assess effectiveness of program design and implementation, training, workshops, as well as for other purposes.
• Provides support to Country Office Administrative team in purchase and procurement for Literacy programming.

Planning, Reporting and Documentation

• Provides the technical input necessary to support the Program Operations Director’s Literacy program annual, quarterly and periodic budget development, reviews and reporting processes.
• Oversees the collection, documentation and sharing of effective practices from the Literacy program with Country, Regional and Global Literacy program teams.
• In collaboration with the Regional and Global Research, Monitoring & Evaluation (“RM&E”) team, oversees the collection and usage of program metrics that can be analyzed by RM&E to enhance the effectiveness of the Literacy Program.
• Assists the Development team by giving input into fundraising strategies for the program, preparing funding proposals and reports, and meeting with donors, as required.
• Prepares proposals for custom projects.
• Supports the Literacy team in applying for SACE endorsement.

External Coordination and Networking 

• Provides the technical input necessary to prepare annual or multi-year project permission and fund release documents, as appropriate, to obtain permission from government bodies at the national, provincial and district level.
• Explores opportunities with government to obtain support (for example, financial support, public acknowledgment of Room to Read’s work, advocacy for successful Room to Read program elements) as well as integrate Room to Read’s ideas and innovations into the mainstream education system at the local, provincial, and national levels.
• Creates and responds to thought leadership opportunities in pursuit of Room to Read South Africa’s strategy, and supports team members to do the same.
• Represents Room to Read by attending and speaking at relevant forums and advocates for the importance of Literacy program work.
• Liaises with other NGOs running similar programs to identify areas of knowledge sharing and possible collaboration.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master’s degree required in a related field of study (e.g. MA, MSS, MPA, or MSc in International Education, Development Studies, Applied Linguistics, Literacy and Language, Education, or Early Childhood Development)
• If your Master’s is in International Education, Development Studies, Education or Early Childhood Development, at least a junior degree in Education, Applied Linguistics or Literacy and Language.
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience in a field focused on primary education, with a minimum of three years in a senior management capacity
• Substantial, relevant working experience in education programs
• Experience working within literacy programs
• In touch with literacy issues and trends nationally and internationally
• Demonstrated leadership in program planning and design
• Strong materials development or publishing skills
• Strong coaching, mentoring and training skills
• A proven ability to establish effective working relationships and partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including donors
• Experience working with NGOs/a good understanding of the development sector landscape
• Effective English communication skills (oral and written) and capability to relate and interact with multicultural teams and represent the organization in professional forums
• Willingness to work with strict deadlines
• Ability to travel frequently, occasionally on short notice, and, when required, for extended periods of time

Preferred:

• Knowledge/experience working with South African languages, African language education and African linguistics
• Experience working with government schools
• Experience in language education at the primary stage
• Experience working with libraries or library programs
• Experience teaching at the primary stage
• Experience working with local communities
• Experience in publishing

go to method of application »

Responsibilities:

• Lead, provide guidance and manage the Country Finance & Accounting Team.
• Ensure timely completion of all accounting & finance activities, such as regular accounting entries, closing the monthly & yearly accounts within deadline, monthly cash forecast, quarterly budget forecast, annual budgeting, etc.
• Ensure adequate internal controls are in place and organisational resources appropriately safe guarded.
• Train the team members in Accounting Concepts, Internal Controls, RTR policies, financial analysis/reporting and country’s legal requirements.
• In collaboration with the Program Operations Director, the Accounting and Finance Manager oversees the development, approval and implementation of the CO’s annual budget and quarterly forecast in collaboration with the Country Management Team at Country Office (CO); and provide monthly updates as to actual performance vs budget.
• As a member of the Country Management Team and in coordination with the Global Office counterparts, ensure all finance and accounting activities are consistent with the global strategic plan and annual budget. 
• Establish a framework for financial analysis and reporting on a regular basis that meets CO and Global Office requirements.
• Provide insightful analytics to help the Country Director and Country Management team make impactful decisions regarding program implementation opportunities.
• Establish and implement short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, policies and operating procedures for the CO.
• Collaborate with other departments, for example, for monthly cash forecast with Implementation Calendar, streamline quarterly forecasting process and involve other departments in the development of budgets.
• Develop, analyse and make recommendations relating to global and local financial policies, procedures and controls to ensure effective and efficient financial operations.
• Maintain adequate records related to bookkeeping, expenses, funds, partnership ventures, that are always accurate, substantiated, up to date, sufficiently detailed and prepared for random spot checks by internal audit functions.
• Advise the Country Director and Country Management team on all probable risk situations and implications thereof regularly.
• Ensure internal processes are adhered to before releasing of payments.
• Track and monitor program expenditures against grant funding and provide timely and accurate information to CO Programs Manager, Country Manager and GO Development Team.
• Support Peoples Operations in the areas of retirement fund, staff related insurance and other payroll related benefits.
• To review and recommend documents related to financial commitment as and when required.
• Guide the Finance and Accounting Officer to create and manage billing processes (accounts payable/receivable), make timely payment of advances and corresponding retirements.
• Process changes in Finance & Accounting Policy Manual (FAPM) every year to ensure local administrative requirements are met.
• Set up and maintain adequate in-country financial records in accordance with government regulations and or agreements, if required.
• Comply with RtR Financial and other policies and establish reliable internal control procedures.
• Issue staff and program related reimbursements in a timely manner and in accordance with applicable internal guidelines.
• Undertake field visits to validate systems and procedures followed, comment on data integrity and train partner/community on applicable accounting and reporting skills.
• Lead and/or participate in projects that have departmental, cross-departmental, regional or global impact, such as projects on Cost Analysis, etc.
• Ensure all relevant Government Acts, Rules, and Regulations like provision of taxation, Value Added Tax etc, as applicable Room to Read are followed.  Identify and monitor risks relating to legal and statutory compliances.
• As a management team member provide inputs towards strategic decision making for the CO.
• Make sure that CO agreements with the Government Authorities at various levels are complied with to the extent of financial matters.
• Prepare highlights of key business indicators for the organization’s annual report, if any.
• Implement relevant accounting standards, audit standards and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and maintain current knowledge and understanding of accounting and tax regulations, laws, industry trends, practices.
• Implement all Financial and Accounting Policy Manual (FAPM), Peoples Operations Resources and Administrative guidelines to the extent applicable.
• Make relevant reports to Government, Global Office and Country Director in timely and precise manner.
• Ensure complying with OFAC & SAM regulations as it applies to RTR.
• Represent Room to Read at relevant meetings and occasionally assist in hosting key donor visits.
• Coordinate internal audits, external/statutory audits and audits of Implementing Partners where applicable.
• Collaborate with Global Field Finance and Accounting team to identify reputable audit firm and make arrangements for CO audit, if required.
• Ensure that financial issues and gaps in systems as highlighted in the internal and external audit are addressed.
• Any other Accounting and Finance related tasks as advised by the Country Director and /or Global Office.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrable financial planning and accounting skills (a written test form part of the interview process)
• Qualified CPA, CA, CGMA. CIMA, ACCA/SAIPA/ Post Graduate degree in finance or accounting
• A minimum of seven to ten years of professional experience in the finance & accounting department, of which five years in a management position, either in a for-profit or a non-profit organisation
• Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of responsibilities in a prior financial services position
• Knowledge of financial, legal and tax regulations to complied with at South Africa, especially those pertaining to not-for-profit organizations.
• Must be able to see through all department cycle from processing a transaction to management reporting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Working knowledge of accounting and/or financial management software and MS Office applications.

Preferred:

• Experience in developing and/or implementing standard operating procedures, staff training modules, rolling out new accounting system, internal audit and grant management & reporting
• Strong commitment to team management approach, including good managerial, leadership, supervisory, interpersonal, and negotiating skills
• Proven capacity to interact and negotiate with international partners, government officials, corporate partners and grassroots partners
• Good reasoning ability and sound judgment
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic, take initiative, and require minimal direction
• Have cross-cultural management experiences