Recruitment: Finance Manager, Cameroon – at Lutheran World Federation

Finance Manager, Cameroon and CAR

Position type

Status: unaccompanied

Location: Kousseri, Northern Cameroon

Contract start date: as soon as possible

Contract duration: 24 months with possibility of extension

Application deadline: October 22, 2023

Lutheran World Federation (LWF), World Service Department

The World Service Department is the humanitarian and development arm of the Lutheran World Federation. We are a widely recognized international faith-based organization working in more than 25 countries around the world. We seek to bring people from all backgrounds together in the quest for justice, peace and reconciliation in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.

Commitment to human rights for every individual, regardless of their status, guides our work, actions and operations. We are particularly recognized for our timely, compassionate and professional humanitarian work and our on-the-ground presence in the most difficult to reach areas. Our work puts people at the center of all action and our approach is community-based. Above all, we work with the most vulnerable with the aim of claiming and enforcing their rights by proactively engaging with local government and community structures, trying to produce more impact with few resources in simplicity and sobriety.

Our financial partners in Cameroon are the bilateral agencies of the Lutheran World Federation, the agencies of the United Nations System, the Canadian and German governments.

The FLM has been present in Cameroon since 2014, but currently we operate in the Far North and East regions, and our presence is expanding. Operations focus on emergency assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities affected by humanitarian crises. Interventions are tailored to the organization’s strategic plan in the intervention sectors of Food Security and Livelihoods, access to quality services and Protection and Social Cohesion.

Following the strategic review carried out in September 2022, the CAR program (Bouar office) was reduced and attached to the Cameroon program, since June 2023.

For more information about the LWF’s humanitarian and development work, please visit www.lutheranworld.org/WorldService .

Purpose of the position

Even if the poseur is based in the Far North region close to the field of operations, he is part of the Country Management Committee, and the holder of the position will participate in decision-making and give advice important in relation to finances. He will assume overall responsibility for the management of all aspects of the financial and accounting activities of the LWF country program for which he is in charge. It will ensure that accounting systems are maintained to provide the information necessary for planning, monitoring and reporting of program operations, safeguarding assets/equipment, and managing legal responsibilities.

Qualifications required

Qualified professional financier, accountant.

Qualifications and experiences

Significant professional experience in financial management in humanitarian assistance and/or development programs in an international environment and preferably with faith-based or non-governmental organizations.

Knowledge of financial requirements of UN agencies, government funding and faith-based organizations.

Strong leadership, design and analysis skills, demonstrated organizational, management and supervisory skills.

Knowledge and experience of cooperation and partnership management with United Nations agencies, government agencies and international development cooperation in the field of humanitarian and/or development aid.

Excellent and flexible communication with mixed and multicultural teams and partners

Experience in remote management and delegation of responsibilities while ensuring local or remote monitoring depending on the case.

Proven computer skills including handling accounting software, mainly “SAGE”.

Good ability to live and work in an environment with limited resources and a changing security context.

Language skills

French: excellent oral and written skills

English: average technical level is required

FLM Core Behavioral Skills*

Analytical thinking: advanced level

Achieving results: advanced level

Responsibility: advanced level

Taking initiative: confirmed level

Leadership: confirmed level

Work effectively with others: high level

Technical skills required

Finance/administration: high level

Communication / networking: confirmed level

Facilitation/negotiation: high level

Resource management: confirmed level

People management: confirmed level

Capacity building/training: confirmed level

* the 3 FLM skill levels are: confirmed, advanced, high

Main tasks

Manage and directly supervise a team of 5-6 people based in the coordination office in Yaoundé and Bouar, and the field offices in Batouri, Maroua and Kousseri.

Supervise and mentor national staff in the finance department and other staff as requested by the representative ensuring that each member of the finance team has a clear job description and receives regular feedback on their performance.

Pursue an active policy of capacity building for local financial staff.

Supervise the preparation of all mandatory monthly and annual accounts, including financial and management reports as well as reports to donors according to the terms of contracts

Submit reports to the Finance Coordinator at LWF headquarters in Geneva, ensuring that accounting policies are correctly applied, consistently; and submit these accounts in accordance with the deadlines set out in the LWF Finance Manual.

Prepare country program cash flow projections in accordance with procedures, and manage these flows to ensure sufficient funds are always available. As necessary, submit fund disbursement requests to donors in a timely manner, ensuring reliable cash flow for the program.

Be responsible for overall control of expenditures against budget for all projects. The Finance Manager will provide program staff with regular and accurate financial reporting and analysis to inform project management and cost-effectiveness decision-making in a timely manner.

Assist in the preparation and verification of accuracy of budgets for all project proposals, project documents to be submitted to Geneva, funded by affiliated agencies through common funds, ACT emergency appeals, requests bilateral agreements with institutional donors and any other project.

Ensure compliance with the LWF Global Service Operations Manual, including electronic data archiving procedures, backups and security.

Ensure purchases are made in accordance with the LWF Global Service Procurement Policy, including exploring systems improvements as needed.

Liaise at the level as necessary with banks, tax authorities and other financial institutions.

Coordinate the underwriting and renewal of insurance as required by law for national personnel, vehicles, as well as civil liability, fire, etc. services. Prepare and submit to the FLM in Geneva, as appropriate, monthly reports on visitors and others to be included in group insurance policies.

Take responsibility for maintaining correct inventories of all program equipment, including the asset/real estate/fixed assets register.

Monitor the payment of salaries and allowances to local staff; ensure timely payment of taxes, insurance and benefits and ensure proper maintenance of payroll lists and slips.

Ensure that all staff settle advances and/or loans in accordance with established policies and procedures and that all accounts are settled upon separation.

Act as contact person with external auditors, project audits, and internal audits on accounting matters and, in consultation with the Program Representative, and make available to them all transactions necessary for the audit of accounts.

Ensure internal controls measures are properly in place, including regular visits to project field offices.

Work with administrative staff and representative to ensure smooth running of the office while ensuring cost reduction wherever possible.

Other tasks

As they can be assigned by the direct supervisor.

Major challenges

Ensuring and maintaining the highest standards of financial management and country program accountability in accordance with LWF World Service and donor policies and international standards, with limited material resources requires a high degree of autonomy.

Ensuring the supervision of a program with an ambition to grow, with these offices scattered over a vast area over great distances, requires virtual management capabilities of staff at a level sometimes below the standard.

Candidates are expected to share the core values ​​of the LWF.

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