Strategic Finance Manager (INT10362)

for Oxfam Pilipinas

Philippine Nationals Only

 

 

 

 

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

 

 

About Oxfam Pilipinas

We seek lasting change. We at Oxfam Pilipinas dream and work for a future where Filipinos are free from poverty. For more than 30 years, serving in a country where close to 27 million now live in poverty, we have relied on the power of people to carry out programs designed to achieve our shared vision. Central to our strategy is working with partners to transform the unequal power relations, structures, norms, and values that cause poverty and inequality, including gender-based violence and injustice. 

We strive to apply a feminist lens to all our analyses and actions. We seek to save lives, provide access to services, and reduce the impact of disasters, particularly on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. We belong to the larger Oxfam family of 21 organizations networked with partners and grassroots communities in more than 90 countries. We are part of a global movement for genuine change, seeking to rid the world of the scourge of poverty, with gender justice at the core of what we do.

Job Purpose

 

This role will provide strategic  financial  leadership and will ensure efficient financial management and operations within Oxfam Pilipinas and with the organisations we are in partnership with and accountable to.  

 

Dimensions

• Influencing the financial policies & procedures, and supporting and delivering operational implementation by leading the finance team and being part of the organizational leadership.
• Providing professional advice to the Board and executive leadership on areas of strategic finance and operations
• Ensuring compliance with local laws and statutory audit and financial reporting requirements as well as Oxfam and donors’ policies and procedures
• Developing solutions to diverse and complex problems within organizational policy and Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges
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• Interpreting and applying operational and specialist information in a variety of formats from a variety of sources
• Strong people management skills within team and strong coordination with outsourced providers

 

 

 

 

What we are looking for: SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, ATTRIBUTES AND VALUES:

 

Essential

 

• Recognized professional qualification in accounting and finance, e.g. Certified Public Accountant.
• Comprehensive knowledge and a minimum of 5-7 years of proven senior management experience in financial management activities, such as: improving financial systems, risk management, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting as well as evidence of effective decision-making skills and a critical focus on the delivery of agreed results within time and budget constraints and to expected standards.
• Strong knowledge of accounting standards, GAAP, and statutory requirements.
• A strategic perspective and approach with the ability to develop long-term plans and implement them effectively. Ability to work with others to develop vision into strategy and communicate and influence this to a wider audience.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, activity planning, prioritization delivery against agreed deadlines. Ability to work in demanding situations under pressure in a team or independently with minimum supervision and deliver against team objectives.
• Experience in being part of senior leadership decision-making and relating with Boards and governance bodies.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems and suggesting improvements; able to understand complex issues and translate them into simple workable actions and plans.
• A high level of self-awareness, personal energy, stamina and flexibility. Ability to work creatively, effectively and in an innovative manner, adjusting to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through.
• Excellent leadership and people management abilities, with motivational, talent development and change management skills. Able to manage and develop other people’s performance and professional standards and potential.
• Proven experience as a team worker and demonstrably cooperative with members of other teams.
• Experience in engaging internal and external audits and reviews.
• Strong computer literacy, and proven experience of computerized accounting packages, preferably QuickBooks and the like. Strong proven experience in using Excel spreadsheets. Experience in using Internet-based programs and e-mail systems.
• Experience in engaging with multi-cultural and cross-country entities to enhance financial management and resolve issues.
• Excellent numeracy skills, attention to detail, effective communication skills, in written and verbal English
• Commitment to the aims, objectives and organizational culture of Oxfam.

 

Desirable

• Experience in working for large Non-Government Organizations and major donors.
• Sound knowledge and experience of donor-related funds management and ability to work with/manage finances of multi-donor grants.
• Experience in dealing with fraud prevention and investigations.
• Familiarity in procurement and logistics and financial aspects of Human Resource. administration of complex projects.
• Experience of working in highly complex political environments.
• Experience and capability in working with other civil society organizations (partners) and provide effective financial monitoring and capacity building of finance staff in partner organizations.

 

 

Key Attributes

• • Ability to demonstrate collective leadership, program management, sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.

  • Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming and diversity for all aspects of development work.

  • Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

 

Organizational Values:

• Equality –  We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and opportunities.
  
• Empowerment – We acknowledge and seek to expand people’s agency over their lives and the decisions that impact them.
  
• Solidarity –  We join hands, support, and collaborate in working towards a just and sustainable world.
  
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.
  
• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions
  
• Courage – We speak truth to power and act with conviction on the justice of our causes

 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

    

1. Ensures that the appropriate, effective, and efficient financial and risk management policies, systems, controls and ways of working are in place, documented, understood, complied with, and regularly reviewed and improved.

a. Proactively monitors and assesses the quality of existing financial controls and introduces new controls/measures, as appropriate, to minimize the risk of fraud, wastage, and leakage.
b. Monitors the implementation and application of the financial controls and compliance with all organizational, legal and statutory reporting requirements, identifies solutions to problems and ensures that they are implemented in a timely, effective, and efficient manner.

2. Responsible for planning, preparation, and execution of annual budgeting and financial monthly, quarterly,  and year-end processes and ensuring that submission of annual budget and year-end returns are in line with corporate and regulatory requirements and standards.

3. Manages the organization’s financial activities in line with Oxfam’s policies, donor obligations and procedures, and legal and statutory requirements.

a. Develop financial analysis tools to assist in the management and monitoring of budgets, income, and expenses.
b. Ensure proper cash flow and expenditure management and control and efficient partners grant management.
c. Ensures adherence to donor financial requirements and procedures and timely reporting. Periodically reviews actual vs budget variances, analyses trends, identifies areas of concern and risks, follows up and resolves all budget variance and financial issues with the budget holders, and provides financial management advice about resource utilization and underlying budget forecasts.
d. Reviews and verifies monthly/quarterly account returns and balance sheet reconciliations; ensures appropriate course of action is followed to address significant/extraordinary movements in asset and liability accounts and adjust any outstanding balances.
e. Promptly reviews and verifies donor financial reports ensuring that financial reports correspond to the narrative reports and reconcile with funding data.
f. Reviews and verifies reconciliation of restricted contract balances and ensures that issues arising as a result are addressed and dealt with promptly.
g. Reviews and verifies restricted income debtor balances, and works proactively to clear income debtor’s balances when due.
h. Ensures appropriate and secure record keeping for financial transactions in line with donor, Oxfam, and all statutory requirements.

4. Be actively involved in senior leadership and decision-making groups of the organization and relate with the Board of Trustees and other governance bodies as required.

5. Set up efficient ways and contribute to business development and resource mobilization.

 

6. Manages the performance of outsourced day-to-day accounting services and the annual tax return filing and other requirements as required by law.

7. Plans, prepares for, and engages statutory, external, and internal audits. Ensures that recommendations of audits, concerning the finance function, are implemented in a timely, effective, and efficient manner, and reports progress on implementation of the recommendations periodically.

8. Co-leads and is a Champion of Anti-Fraud and Corruption efforts.

9. Ensures that the Delegation of Authority, bank mandates and list of account signatories are up-to-date.

10. In relation to Partner Management, together with the program team and other colleagues and in cooperation with the finance team:

a. Ensures that the financial aspects of partnership agreements are accurate and in accordance with the implementing guidelines of donors and Oxfam.
b. Ensures provision of technical finance support/training to partner organizations in the implementation of joint projects.
c. Ensures that partner organizations are aware of and adhere to Oxfam’s accepted financial management standards and practices; ensures that donor regulations and requirements are fully understood and implemented by partner organizations.
d. Leads on the assessment of Finance function at partner organizations as part of the partner selection and due diligence process.
e. Ensures periodic partner financial monitoring visits.

 

Other

 

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles
• Contribute positively to other cross-functional teams as appointed
• As assigned, represent Oxfam externally, and positively contribute to the promotion of women and girls’ empowerment, and taking a role to contribute to knowledge sharing and program development, where possible and relevant.

 

 

Contract Length: Two-years Fixed Term 

 

 

Your commitment to Oxfam

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles

 

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.