Job Description:

The Finance Manager will be located in the Mott MacDonald project office in Kigali. Roles and responsibilities:

Client and Programme Accounting

• Operate a sound financial management, accounting and administrative using Mott Macdonald systems, that are consistent throughout the programme and is based on principles of accuracy, timeliness and transparency.

• Work closely with technical teams to ensure that programme performance monitoring mechanisms provide timely and accurate data.

• Produce monthly expenditure reconciliations of programme spend and, in collaboration with the project manager, produce and submit monthly client invoices, as well as maintaining up to date billing control sheets.

• Produce monthly cashflow rolling forecast for Group Treasury

• Control and review cashflow and ensure timely completion and submission of funds transfers to ensure sufficient funding to cover programme operations

• Prepare inter-entity invoices. Oversee timely preparation, checks and approvals to ensure the journals are posted for month end deadlines

• Monitor programme expenditure and communicate to the senior management any potential issues with regards to invoicing, forecasting, disbursement, or accounting any other financial concerns.

• Ensure good quality donor financial reports that adequately meet their reporting requirements.

• Monitor budgets in line with the client contract: ensure orders and invoices are within budget before processing payments.

• Working closely with the procurement team, following procedures to ensure financial probity and value for money in the procurement, use and maintenance of physical assets and the purchase and use of services.

• Staff Management – manage and oversee all accounting and finance staff ensuring staff are competent to carry out their duties through supervision and training. Carry out appraisals for direct reports in line with Mott MacDonald HR policies and assist the senior management in the recruitment of Programme finance officers.

• Lead, mentor, and develop finance team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvements.

• Oversight the implementation of the project finance manual and support the project manager when updates are required

Financial Accounting & Statutory Accounts

Manage the company's financial accounting, monitoring and reporting systems, developing financial management mechanisms that minimise financial risks to the programme and the company, including:

• Ensure all project staff adhere to internal financial controls, ensure the “Do-Check-Approve” process is applied in all financial transactions, that conflicts of interests and authority levels are respected.

• Preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations as per agreed timetable.

• Compliance with local legislation, internal financial controls and International Financial Reporting Standards.

• Ensure information is processed timeously and accurately to produce financial accounts on a quarterly and annual basis.

• Compute taxes due and prepare tax returns, ensuring compliance with payments, reporting and other tax requirements to external statutory entities such as Rwanda Revenue Services and pension funds.

• Liaise with external stakeholders e.g. MML’s Auditors, tax consultants etc. to ensure all statutory reports are file on time.

• Ensure the entity complies with Group financial policies, principles and controls for financial reporting and financial management.

• Oversee accounting functions, including accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and general ledger maintenance.

• Coordinate company secretarial services of the entity for AGMs, statutory filings, Board resolutions etc.

Audits

• Coordinate all internal and external audits

• Prepare scope of works and arrange letters of engagement for external audits

• Create and implement action plans to remediate audit findings

Ethics

• Operate in line with Our Code of Ethics at all times.

• Promote integrity and honesty in all financial reporting and business practices, maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, and commit to the confidentiality of sensitive financial information.

• Identify and report unethical behaviour, ensuring adherence internal financial controls and compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. Proactively in recognising potential ethical issues and take appropriate action to address and report them through the proper channels.

• Implement and maintain data protection policies with regards to sensitive financial information, proactively identify and address data protection risks

Bank and cash management

• Each month prepare rolling quarterly expenditure forecast and request funds from treasury (MML) in a timely manner and according to finance policies to ensure sufficient cash sums are available for activities.

• Ensure prompt and accurate updates of bankbook and cashbooks.

• Review weekly/monthly bank reconciliation statements.

• Lead in weekly cash counts of petty cash in the safe.

• Monitor disbursement processes and recommend innovative ways to minimize cash risks.

• Ensure prompt liquidations of advances to staff for workshops and Programme activities.

• Establish procedures to ensure the safety and security of team members handling cash on behalf of the Programme.

Transactional accounting

• Supervise the transactional processing (accounts payable, cash payments and payroll (where applicable) and ensure there is well defined segregation of duties and appropriate financial controls in place.

• Approve (or assist in the approval of) all programme financial transactions, ensuring each transaction is adequately supported and executed in compliance with donor requirements and is appropriately and securely filed.

• Ensure that transactional payments to grantees follow all processes and procedures in order to adequately manage fiduciary risks.

Note: This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder and line manager.

Candidate Specification:

Essential competencies/skills

• Good working knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards and local statutory legislation

• Solid understanding of data protection laws and regulations, such as GDPR;

• Excellent financial management and accountancy skills

• Experience in managing the finances of complex programmes

• Experience in developing and implementing finance processes, policies and templates

• Adept in handling relations with relevant finance authorities, providers and banks

• Understanding of the concepts of due diligence, value for money and ethics and transparency.

• Excellent written and spoken English.

• A good communicator with strong relationship building skills.

• Reliable and a team player.

• Demonstrable ability to deliver to deadlines.

• Pro-active to raise issues with management and resolve identified problems

• A good communicator with strong relationship building skills, reliable and a team player

• Attention to detail and accuracy

• Demonstrable ability to deliver to deadlines

• Advance Excel skills including pivot tables and look up functions

• Pro-active and takes initiative to raise issues with management and to resolve identified problems

• Pro-active response to support colleagues when the need requires.

Required academic/professional qualifications, training and experience

• Educated to a Degree standard or technical equivalent

• Relevant professional qualification (i.e. ACCA, ICA, CIMA, ICAEW, ICAS etc.)

• Member of a professional accounting body with chartered status and a track record of continuous professional development

• Previous experience in managing donor funded projects/programmes would be advantageous

• Experience of Quickbooks and exposure to an ERP system (SAP, Oracle, Lawson, Deltek) would be advantageous.

Background:

Cambridge Education has been awarded the FCDO funded Girls in Rwanda Learn (GIRL) programme, a 6-year programme (Nov 2024 - Jun 2030). GIRL is the FCDO’s new bilateral education programme in Rwanda, building on components of the previous Learning for All (LFA) programme (2015-2023). The LFA programme worked to improve learning outcomes in English and Mathematics in all government and government-aided schools in Rwanda, with a special focus on girls and including children with special educational needs. GIRL has been designed to build upon this work by continuing to focus on foundational learning outcomes in English and Mathematics, with an even stronger focus on girls’ education and inclusive education. It will work to reduce school drop-out and improve transition to lower secondary or other learning pathways, particularly for girls and children with disabilities. The programme is made up of 3 main components:

• Component 1 will focus on improving learning outcomes in English and Math and providing technical assistance to the Government of Rwanda to strengthen capacity and the policy environment for improved foundational learning.

• Component 3 will focus on managing an innovation fund for out-of-school girls using a test-learn-adapt approach.

• Component 5 will focus on technical assistance and advocacy to the government around foundational learning and out-of-school girls, to ensure approaches are scaled and evidence from the programme feeds into policy and programming in the sector.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We put equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team and personal commitments. We embrace agility, flexibility and trust.