MoH Malawi - Head of Finance

BackgroundThe Ministry of Health is a key partner to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI). Currently, MOH serves as a Principal Recipient of the GFATM and coordinates the Gavi grant through its Program Implementation Unit (PIU). The PIU ensures quality financial management, timely procurement of supplies and service delivery as well as efficient monitoring and evaluation of grant implementation and performance. The Unit also provides quality assurance and oversight, and guidance to routine management of projects funded by the Global Fund and Gavi under the partnership with MOH.

In furtherance of grant strategic objectives in Malawi, PIU intends to use a portion of grant resources to fund the position of a Head of Finance. Given the pivotal role of the position, PIU is seeking an energetic, creative and highly seasoned professional, with proven skills in financial management and accounting.

The Role

Job Title: Head of Finance

Reports to: Director of Finance MOH Manager

Manage: PIU Finance Team

Duty Station: Lilongwe, PIU-CHSU

Salary: Competitive and Project Funded

Period: One year (renewable based on performance and availability of funding)

Closing Date: 20th October 2022 Position is open to international applicants.

Key Functions and Results Expected

Strategic functions

• The Head of Finance will be responsible for the overall financial management oversight of all health sector development grants managed by PIU, as well as ensuring timely completion of financial reporting obligations as per the terms and conditions of respective grant agreements.

• Ensure that the programme financial resources are well managed and properly utilized and accounted for during the implementation of the planned activities, in line with set procedures and guidelines of the funding institutions and our sector development cooperation partners.

• Participate in all strategic meetings to enhance financial management.

• Attend CCM meetings and provide overall financial performance of donor funding as well as updates of audited financial reports.

• Ensure the grant recipients follow established accounting procedures, and institute proper safeguards and risk mitigation measures to protect the use of grant funds and attain maximum development outomes.

• Responsible for strategic policy direction, management and accounting of donor supported grant funds by coordinating donor policies with other Principal Recipients.

• Ensure full compliance with donor reporting requirements in all material respects (both in terms of substance and format).

Operational Responsibilities

• Responsible for applying the best practices in grant financial management and generally accepted accounting principles.

• Manages PIU banking relations , operations as well as payment agents

• Ensure full compliance with donor reporting requirements in all material respects (both in terms of substance and format).

• Engagement with partners in all strategic discussions in the management of grants and providing high-level reporting in financial management and risk management of the resources.

• Work effectively with all assurance providers of Donors,

external auditors, internal auditors as well as the supreme audit to enhance the overall financial management and reporting of the MOH.

• Responsible for follow up and implementation of key recommendation from funding partners through management letters, external audit reports, MOH risk matrix, Co-Link assessment, etc., and provide regular updates to the Ministry of Health senior management and partners.

• Design and updating of financial management policies to ensure compliance with Malawi Government and Partner policies and guidelines.

• Design and deploy systems and controls for effective safeguards over grant resources, and ensure increased financial absorption.

• Oversee that the Donor directions, conditions and guidelines with respect to financial management, budgeting and reporting are adhered to, including those in the grant agreements and that program funds are released in a timely manner to facilitate grant implementation.

• Enhance controls within the accounting system and champion the migration to the upgraded SUN accounting package (6 ERP, or the most up to date version).

• Ensure that all requests for committing grant funds and/ or making payments are complete, accurate in terms of supporting documentation.

• Ensure value for money in all financial and procurement transactions sourced through grant funds.

• Coordinate the timely, accurate and complete preparation of the finance section of the reporting templates, in accordance with donor requirements.

• Support the LFA and the Fiscal Agent in carrying out the necessary due diligence checks on all program financial transactions.

• Create conditions for an open and effective collaboration with the Fiscal Agent, for the purpose of introducing needed operation improvement changes.

• Institute adequate accounting system and chart of accounts

to record and report on all financial transactions and monitor tax liability.

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting to the Ministry of Health, Donors and other stakeholders.

• Liaise with the MOH – Procurement Unit and the national programmes to ensure execution of procurement activities and ensure that the Ministry and the PIU has accurate information of delivery and stock status so that efficient supply management for commodities procured using Global Fund and Gavi grants is ensured.

• Build capacity of National Programmatic staff on the financial planning and budgeting processes.

• Ensure that the PIU Managers and all stakeholders are kept abreast of the state of affairs of the finance function.

• Ensure that all the government statutory requirements are adhered to.

• Facilitate the external audit of the grant funds and ensuring that recommendations from such audits are effectively implemented.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Ensure proper segregation of duties of finance staff within the PIU

• Build a strong team that can respond promptly and effectively to the demands of the various implementing units (sub recipients), assurance providers and donors

• Performs periodic staff evaluation and contributes to staff development through adequate supervision and coaching.

• Ensure an effective workload distribution and effective coordination within the Finance Team, through enabling leadership drive and technical support.

• Enhance controls within the Overseeing that the accounting system and champion the migration to the upgraded has robust internal controls to safeguard the use of the grant funds and champion the implementation of an upgraded SSUN accounting package version Infor (6 ERP, or the most up to date version;

• A Master’s Degree in Finance and Accounting, from a reputable university and

• Full CPA/ACCA

Experience

• Ten (10) years’ experience working as a Finance Director, Controller or Manager in a similar position responsible for accounting, budgeting, financial management and reporting.

• Significant experience in setting up a financial management operation.

• Working experience with international donors or development cooperation agencies and government. Experience of managing donor funded project of above $100million will be an advantage;

• Fluency in written and spoken English Specification

• Experience in grants management, contract management and procurement oversight.

• Extensive experience and proficiency in the use of automated accounting systems.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel, Word, Project and PowerPoint.

• Knowledge of the financial management requirements and policies of the Global Fund to Fight HIV, TB and Malaria and Gavi will be an added advantage.

• Ability to work independently within deadlines, self-motivated and creative to achieve results

• Proven ability to work under extreme pressure and deliver within tight deadlines.

Language Requirements

How to Apply

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter in two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The documents should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Janet-Mbugua-CV-092022.

Timeline Closing date: 20th October 2022

Selection process

All candidates will be notified about the status of their applications. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder. Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake an additional assessment prior to the final interview.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email moh-malawihead-of-finance@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

About Oxford HR

Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.