Details
Deadline:
Dec 5, 2020
Location:
Burkina Faso
Organisation:
The Palladium Group (HQ)
Sectors:
Administration, Programme & Resource Management, Finance & Accounting
Job type:
Contract, 12 months +
Languages:
English, French

Description
Company Overview:
Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.
For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved - and is committed to continuing to improve - economies, societies and most importantly, people's lives.
Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status.
Project Overview and Role:
CATALYZE is a $250 million five to eight-year program, designed to catalyze $2 billion in private capital, especially to underfinanced social sectors (such as education) and higher risk markets around the globe, complemented by a cross-cutting inclusion of gender-lens investing.?CATALYZE will provide services to many missions and bureaus that “buy in” to tap the CATALYZE investment and pay-for-results project management expertise.?Our aim is for investors to explore and identify commercially viable opportunities and approaches to creating jobs, developing sustainable social services, tightening, and rationalizing supply chains, and advancing inclusive growth.
Through the Sahel Platform buy-in activity (“the Platform”), the CATALYZE Project has been mobilized to improve the flow and reach of financing to smallholder farmers in several key value chains in Burkina Faso and Niger. By focusing on priority geographies but enabling linkages and support to stakeholders across these countries, the project will support improved products and services offered by financial institutions, prepare smallholder producers and other stakeholders to better receive and manage financing, and work across the value chain to identify and mobilize new sources of financing for farmers. Across all initiatives, there will be a cross-cutting focus on women and youth, as well as a focus on ensuring that disparate ethnic groups and regions equitably benefit from the interventions.?
The Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) will provide overall management of project finances, operations, administration, logistics, procurement, and budgeting, with the goal of ensuring that the program is implemented in accordance with USAID and Palladium rules, regulations and procedures. Supervision will range in scope from daily oversight of various aspects of project operations, including procurements and budgeting to working with senior technical leadership to ensure that the project has effective systems in place to facilitate timely and responsive management of multiple concurrent activities across multiple countries.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

General Duties
- Manage all administrative and financial programmatic functions in line with the Sahel Platform activity’s Scope of Work and approved annual work plans
- Assist and support the Team Leader and Palladium Sahel Activity Management Unit (AMU) in all reporting and communications related to the finance, operations, administration, and compliance functions of the Activity
- Oversee grants and subcontracts procurement, execution, and compliance practices by supervising two country-specific Grants and Procurement Managers and coordinating with Palladium Sahel AMU
- Ensure continual review of internal and strategic controls, risk assessments and maintenance of the project’s records in compliance with client and company policies, and local law
- Monitor country office compliance with Palladium’s internal policies and procedures for hiring and compensating consultants and oversee procurement of goods and services

Financial Management
- Oversee implementation and ongoing adherence to Palladium’s finance and accounting procedures
- Develop templates, tools, and processes to support budget tracking and preparation of financial and other cost accounting reports for Palladium Home Office and USAID, including tracking for subcontracts and grants
- Support development, management, and realignment of budgets aligned to annual work plans for both Burkina Faso and Niger activities, tracking expenditures for both buy-ins
- Monitor vendor invoices and disburse payments upon Team Leader approval
- Oversee and quality control the registry of expenditures and financial reports, including reconciliation of all balance sheet accounts and asses the administration in all matters of financial risk
- Review monthly country office expense reports and corresponding receipt packages, ensuring that reporting methods are closely followed and supported documentation is provided
- Produce monthly revenue forecasts with input from the CATALYZE Director of Finance and Compliance
- Oversee management of the project’s country bank accounts according to company policies and procedures and act as the Sahel - Platform point of contact with local bank in coordination with Palladium HP+ team
- Review subcontractor invoices for accuracy and compliance with USAID cost principles and allowability guidelines and substantiate all costs included on the invoice.
- Conduct spot checks, coordinate internal project audits, and support external project audits as required
- Provide timely and accurate financial reports to clients and home office
- Other duties as required to support the efficient, effective, and compliant management of the project and its personnel

Personnel Management
- Lead human resources processes and management, including recruiting, onboarding, and orientating new staff
- Manage the project’s performance appraisals systems and ensure adherence with local compensations plans
- Assist in identification of local consultants
- Coordinate and execute employment contracts and modifications for project staff and consultants, in coordination with Sahel AMU team
- Maintain individual records with contracts, detailed scopes of work, deliverables, salary histories, etc. for all consultants

Relationships
- The role reports to the Project Manager, Sahel Platform
- The role will be required to liaise closely with the Palladium Activity Management Unit (Activity Leader, Project Manager, Senior Associate), Team Leader, and CATALYZE Director of Finance and Compliance

Required Qualifications:

- Master's Degree in a relevant subject (MBA, MA in Business, Finance, International Development, etc.) or a BA and 10+ years of relevant experience.
- Eight years of senior management experience, including managing large budgets and teams of professionals and oversight of financial management and procurement functions
- Proven experience managing procurements, compliance systems, and regular financial reporting under USAID contracts
- Knowledge of and compliance to Federal Acquisition Regulations, USAID Acquisition Regulations, 22 CFR 22, and various types of Grants (ADS 303).
- Knowledge and understanding of local labor and tax laws in Burkina Faso and Niger desired
- Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to motivate subordinates as well as manage budgets and client expectations
- Demonstrated effectiveness in communicating with clients and activity stakeholders
- Excellent English language communication skills; fluency in French
- Familiarity with the inclusive finance, blended finance, and impact investing fields a plus
- Please note that shortlisted candidates will be required to complete and pass an accounting exam.