Regional Finance Director, Africa 3, VisionFund International.
VisionFund’s work seeks to end intergenerational poverty through financial products and services. We’re about the long-term change that ensures children can break free of the poverty cycle, for good.
By supporting people and communities living in poverty to develop and grow their livelihoods, VisionFund is catalysing sustainable economic growth to break the cycle of poverty, so that children can reach their potential as communities thrive.

Learn more about us: visionfund.org
VisionFund is World Vision’s microfinance provider serving vulnerable clients through loans, savings, and insurance. We enable families to grow their livelihoods in hard to reach, rural locations in 25 countries so that caregivers can create secure futures for their children. We believe in brighter futures for children; empowering families to create incomes and jobs; unlocking economic potential for communities to thrive.
VisionFund is committed to forging a new path that will help us achieve our goal of positively impacting the lives of 30 million children through our strategy, Our Livelihood Promise. Based on the results trend so far, we have realized we are not going to be able to achieve that goal with our current structure and operating model. This will requires us to reposition the Global Centre.
In light of the above, VisionFund International’s Network of Microfinance Institutions is being grouped into regions of 3-5 MFIs usually within the same geographic region. The Regional Finance Director) will report to the Network Finance Director in the Global Centre (GC) Finance Department of VFI. The RFD will also have a matrix reporting relationship to the (Senior) Operations Director for the region.
The Regional Finance Director, Africa3 will be a Board Member of each region MFI and will be a matrix manager of the MFI CFOs alongside their line manager, the MFI CEO. The RFD is responsible for ensuring:

• Robust oversight of the financial performance, liquidity and funding requirements of the region MFIs
• Effective communication of monthly financial performance and risks arising in region MFIs to VFI GC staff
• Effective internal controls, policies, procedures, systems, reporting standards and best practices are implemented in region MFI finance departments
• MFI CFOs and finance teams have the capabilities and competencies required
• Strategic reviews are undertaken when MFI circumstances change and support is provided for the execution of any resulting transactions
• Effective management of crisis events occurs so as to minimise losses.


Key Responsibilities
Financial oversight of MFIs
• Serve as MFI Board member and attend (as Committee or Board member) the Board Audit and Risk Committee.
• Encourage MFI integration with WV and MFI CFO and WV NO FD engagement.
• Monitor MFI financial performance monthly through review and sign-off of MED reports and discussion of results with MFI CFOs and (Senior) Operations Director and provide narrative comments and rolling forecast for VFI reporting.
Internal controls, checks and reviews
• Ensure that a robust internal control framework is established and effective in each MFI.
• Ensure finance systems implementation and upgrade projects are prioritised and kept on schedule.
• During in person visits to MFIs complete the review checklist which includes activities such as ensuring general ledger TB agrees to MED report, core banking system agrees to financial records and reviewing a selection of bank and other account reconciliations.


Funding of MFIs
• Oversee the liquidity and funding needs of MFIs and ensure timely communications with funding providers (VFI and third parties).
• Ensure the Global Lender Covenant Tracker is kept updated.
• Assist MFI CFOs with the preparation of business cases to request debt or equity from VFI.
• Capacity building, performance management and training
• Model Christian leadership and VFI Core Values in all interactions.
• Inspire and nurture the spiritual and professional development of MFI CFOs and MFI finance team members.
• Participate with MFI CEO in setting annual MFI CFO performance plan and reviewing performance through the year.
• Manage the performance of MFI CFOs jointly with MFI CEOs.
• Strategic reviews, crisis response and ad hoc projects
• Perform financial and strategic reviews of region MFIs including building financial models as required.
• Provide financial analysis and/or data to (Senior) Operations Director and VFI GC Finance and other VFI GC departments as required.


Knowledge, skills and experience
Preferred
• MBA or CPA or equivalent accounting qualification preferred.
• Audit or consulting experience is desirable.
• People management experience in a global, matrix-managed organisation (including mentoring, coaching, directing and building capacity).
• Effective trainer in financial policies, procedures and processes.
• Previous experience (at least two years) as CFO in a microfinance, banking and/or financial institution.
• Previous experience (at least 1 year) participating as a Board member or an active member of an Board Audit and Risk committees


Required
• Degree in finance or accounting or equivalent level of knowledge demonstrated through relevant experience.
• Deep accounting, financial reporting, financial forecasting and financial performance and analysis knowledge and skills developed over a minimum 7 years.
• Thorough knowledge and extensive experience (minimum 7 years) in the microfinance and/or banking sectors.
• Understanding of balance sheet risk management including interest rate risk, liquidity risk and foreign exchange risk as well as bank funding processes and contracting.
• Ability to analyse problems or options and recommend solutions.
• Cross cultural sensitivity to engage with MFI staff and stakeholders across VFI global departments.
• Flexibility with working hours to contact people within wide time zones.
• Able to balance Christian values with commercial practices.
• Good project management and organisation skills.
• Able to simultaneously manage multiple priorities, projects and stakeholders
• Strong communication and influencing skills in written and oral forms.
• Able to manage staff virtually.
• Good Command of French language is essential


Languages and Travel
• For non-English speaking countries: English fluency is required
• Travel up to 25% of the time