Finance Lead - Inclusive Quality Education Project

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Malawi commenced its work in 1994 and currently supports programmes in 13/28 districts. Plan International Malawi currently has a new country strategy (2022-27) Core sectors of programming include Sexual reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Inclusive Quality Education, and Skills and Opportunities for Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (SOYEE)

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

ROLE PURPOSE

Plan International is looking for a Finance Lead to oversee the financial operations for a 5-year project titled “Design, Implementation and Management of International Development Inclusive Education Programme”, to ensure effective use of its financial resources. The programme will manage the distribution of scholarships for women and girls for completing secondary school/transitioning to tertiary education and/or TVET in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia, aiming to remove barriers to access and increase girls and women’s participation in TVET and STEM subjects.

DIMENSION OF THE ROLE

The Finance Lead will be responsible for coordinating the pre-award planning, organisation, preparation, and the post-award administration of various scholarships to multiple recipients. The post-holder will provide regional oversight and support across Rwanda and Zambia, whilst also delivering Finance requirements for the programme within Malawi. The post-holder will be based in the Country Office yet may travel to the project locations for some of their time.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITES

Scholarship Planning and Delivery: Responsible for coordinating and overseeing all aspects of scholarship disbursement and management.

Expected Outcomes:

• Ensure scholarship budgets and forecast are developed, implemented and monitored.
• Carry out the compliance reviews and project audits processes to ensure donor compliance and grants are well positioned for audits.
• Ensure expenditure is monitored monthly to ensure spending is on track and forecasts are duly updated based on project needs and in compliance with donor regulations.
• Ensure quality programmatic and financial reports are prepared on time and in line with Plan International and donor standards.

FINANCIAL AND RISK MANAGEMENT: ensure all financial transactions of the programme are well captured in the system; all tax-related commitments are settled and ready for future reference, manage all financial transactions, and monitor financial risks.

Expected Outcomes:

• Support management and analysis of budgets against actual expenditure
• Prepare payment voucher, cash receipt, withholding tax voucher for suppliers, purchase order, journal vouchers, and submit copy to be reviewed & approved.
• Prepare monthly budget versus expenditure reports per source and update project manager for timely utilisation.
• Monitor and identify financial risk factors for fund recipients to ensure they remain compliant.
• Review the fiscal year approved budget spending and advise relevant staff and the association on spending status and ask for feedback on all over or under spending.
• Lead in the preparation of all financial reports and verification for accuracy of documentations.
• Support the team in preparation of annual and project budgets while also providing sound financial management guidance.

Leadership and oversight: Work closely with Programme Director to lead high quality, feminist and results-oriented programme in compliance with donor and government agreements. Provide oversight and support to the Finance team’s in Rwanda and Zambia, ensuring coordination, and consistency across the three countries.

Expected Outcomes:

• Role models Plan International’s values and behaviours for staff and partner(s).
• Provides leadership and support to create a motivated, engaged and high performing Finance team across Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.
• Ensures that all Finance team members are aware of the project objectives and their role in achieving them.
• Plans and coordinated tasks among the team, guiding their understanding of the issues linked to the project through touch points and feedback, to ensure the achievement of expected goals.
• Liaises with Finance team to ensure they receives the required support in a timely manner.

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI):

• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme team;
• Ensures that Plan Malawi contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours

Knowledge and skills:

• Academic qualification BA/MA in accounting, finance/economics, business, or other relevant fields.
• 10 years or more of experience in handling finances, scholarship management and compliance with institutional donors.
• Proven experience in developing financial and program management tools and processes, including financial reporting budget guidance, work plans and monitoring templates.
• Proven experience in leading a team ensuring high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity and teamwork.
• Understanding of feminist principles, inclusive quality education and youth empowerment.
• Aptitude for cultivating strong relationships with stakeholders including women’s and girl’s, partners, government and donors.
• Ability to establish priorities in a time-sensitive environment, track project performance, meet deadlines, and ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, oral) in English (verbal and written) and Amharic. All donor reports, deliverables and communication will be in English.
• Proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, internet).
• Familiarity with Scottish Government guidelines and requirements is an advantage.

Behaviours

• Passion for feminist principles, mission driven work and personal values aligned with Plan International.
• Commitment to working transparently and with integrity.
• Inclusive and empowering approach to leadership and project management.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, natural ability to manage diverse opinions and agendas, finding win-win solutions in a respectful manner.
• Demonstrated creativity and willingness to innovate.
• Flexible and adaptable work style to respond to an evolving context.
• Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate teams.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines.

Level of Contact with Children

Some direct contact with children, young people or programme participants.

• Act as a role model representing Plan International’s commitment to non-discrimination and safeguarding.
• Report safeguarding concerns in a timely manner and co-operate in investigations as appropriate.
• Understand the relevance of safeguarding to their role and make sure they mainstream safeguarding in their work in order to fulfil Plan’s duty of care.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

Location: Lilongwe

Type of Role: Fixed Term

Reports to: Country Director

Grade: Level 17

Closing Date: 16 April 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.