IPAK Financial Manager

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IPAK Financial Manager
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a rapidly growing, global organization, and operates in almost 40 countries. We design innovative, cutting-edge approaches to solving development problems, rigorously evaluate these programs and promote the adoption of those with proven impact. This occurs both through the dissemination of results to policy makers, practitioners, and donors, as well as the actual design and implementation of new programs at a national level.
IPA-Kenya (IPAK) is IPA’s oldest country office, and the site of many of its most influential projects, including seminal studies on de-worming, clean water promotion, bed-net usage and fertilizer subsidies. IPAK is now also the site of IPA’s largest “scale-up” projects – including a national de-worming program and community-based chlorine dispensers. These are programs whose impact and cost-effectiveness have been proven by researchers and can now be implemented at scale, and millions of Kenyan children have been de-wormed, and hundreds of thousands have access to clean water as a result.

IPAK employs more than 200 contracted staff working on 18 different projects across multiple offices, and for our research projects we work closely with Principal Investigators (PIs), researchers who are affiliated with academic institutions. IPAK’s work involves high annual expenditures and requires effective systems for managing cash flow, accurately tracking expenses, and ensuring strong financial oversight. IPAK activities are continuing to grow and expand to areas outside of its traditional base in Busia. The organization currently has in place solid financial systems and a successful track record of managing donor funds, and we are looking to hire a Financial Manager to assist us in successfully transitioning to our next level of projected growth over several years.

IPAK is a fast-moving but collaborative environment, and this position will require an individual capable of working with a diverse senior management team to strategize on how to meet new financial management needs, and design and implement requisite systems. This position will start with a 2-year commitment, but is envisioned as a long-term role; it would be based in Kisumu or Nairobi, Kenya. The Financial Manager will report directly to the Country Director, and will consult closely with the senior management team both in-country and in the IPA global headquarters (New Haven).

General Outline of Responsibilities
 

Financial Planning Strategy:
• Consult closely with the Country Director regarding the financial impact of major decisions and policy creation; model future scenarios for country management spending based on grant income.
• Maintain budget projection documents and assist project managers to develop budgets in consultation with relevant senior managers.
• Participate in budget approval process and provide guidance and support to project management staff in financial planning.
• Give ongoing support and oversight to projects to ensure reasonable adherence to budgets
 

Accounting System Oversight and Development
• Identify and improve systems required to meet new grant needs, developing strategies to streamline and increase general efficiency of accounting processes.
• Refine financial management and control for IPAK’s current and future satellite offices.
• Provide general oversight to ensure compliance, transparency and accountability.
• Consider new ways that accounting data can be used strategically to improve project operations.
 

Grant Management Support
Work with the Country Director and IPA-HQ:
• To track grants, communicating to project managers regarding balances, deadlines and spending prioritization.
• To ensure that funds are administered correctly, monitoring restrictions and the meeting of deliverable commitments.
• To communicate with project managers regarding grant management.
 

Communication and Education
Help refine existing systems for communication and information sharing, and identify areas where new systems are necessary.
• Explain to projects the rationale for rules and control over financial systems.
• Help improve inter-departmental coordination within IPAK regarding tasks with financial components (eg. procurement, payroll etc.).

Required Qualifications
• Graduate degree in financial management, business administration, or related field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in financial management
• International work experience with a global organization, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working with large international donors
 

Desired Qualifications
• Experience working in Kenya
• Willingness to work in a dynamic, fast-paced organization and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, cross-cultural work culture.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks and/or SAGE
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects

How to Apply:
Send an email to jpaljobs@gmail.com and , following these instructions exactly:
• In the subject line: Put your full name, first (given) name followed by last (family) name.
• Attachments: Please attach ONLY your CV.
• In the email body: Copy exactly the following position line: IPAKenya100421 Financial Manager

Please do not include any text besides the position line(s) in the body of the e-mail. Adding extra text will interfere with the processing of your application. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by email for an interview. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Deadline to Apply: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore early application is strongly recommended.
Start Date: September/October, 2011
Location: Kisumu or Nairobi, Kenya