Directorate: Programmes

Reporting to: Country Director Liberia 

Contract type: 2 Years Fixed Term

Working at Mary’s Meals International: 

Our mission, vision, and values are at the very heart of everything we do here at Mary’s Meals and working for Mary’s Meals International is so much more than a career opportunity, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic, flexible and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal and professional development. We believe in the innate goodness of people, respect the dignity of every human being and family life and believe in good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. In line with our values, Mary’s Meals is fully committed to a culture of safeguarding.

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Role purpose:

Reporting to the Country Director, with a ‘dotted line’ to the MMI Head of Finance, to provide effective and inspirational leadership of the Mary’s Meals Services team in Liberia. A hands-on and participative leader, coach and mentor who will lead and develop an internal team to support the following areas: Finance, security and risk management, procurement, governance and legal and IT. The role is accountable for ensuring that all finance and operations functions operate to the highest standards of effectiveness and to ensure robust systems, processes and controls are in place and adhered to diligently across the whole programme. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the role also has responsibility for ensuring that the wider programme strategy is implemented.

Key responsibilities & activities:

General

• To lead the finance and operations function providing leadership to staff
• To lead and participate fully as a member of the SLT to ensure that that wider programme strategy is achieved
• To support the Country Director in the management of the Programme Affiliate by ensuring the Finance and Operations function is delivered efficiently and effectively
• To develop, implement and maintain robust systems of internal control which ensure good stewardship of Mary’s Meals’ resources, both financial and non-financial
• To support relevant periodic internal assurance reviews and implement recommendations as appropriate
• To support the Country Director in ensuring that Mary’s Meals Liberia programme is accredited and compliant with all legal requirements, in cooperation with the appropriate line Ministries
• Working closely with the Country Director, maintain and monitor the risk register.

People

• To directly manage the Finance Manager and other functional managers
• To ensure finance and operations staff are managed in a pro-active and supportive manner to encourage high standards and best practice in all aspects of programme delivery
• Lead, coach and mentor Finance and Procurement Managers in their respective functions to maintain high standards and to ensure close and supportive supervision of staff

Financial Management 

• • To ensure the overall financial management of the Liberia programme meets the highest standards
  • To lead, advise and support the finance team in the management of the organisational budget, cash flow, payables, and receivables

• To ensure the finance team prepares the annual budget in consultation with the Country Director and the Mary’s Meals International finance team

• To ensure that forecasts are prepared as and when required, in consultation with the Country Director

• To provide timely information and commentary to support the monthly budget/forecast vs actual monitoring process
• To ensure effective and consistent implementation of financial and accounting policies and procedures
• To develop and implement best practice finance and administrative systems, in consultation with the Mary’s Meals International Finance team
• To serve as primary financial liaison with Mary’s Meals International
• To pro-actively advise on general financial matters or financial risks to the Country Director

Financial reporting

• To ensure that the year-end accounts are finalised and the statement of accounts is prepared

• To oversee the annual audit process, including preparation of all audit deliverables

• To ensure timely provision of financial information to the Mary’s Meals International Finance team as part of the year end consolidation process

• To review and submit routine management and donor reports
• To oversee the management of the fixed asset register 

Security and Risk Management

• Oversee the implementation of systems and processes to adequately safeguard our offices and assets, ensuring that regular maintenance and monitoring of those systems takes place
• Support the delivery of activities to educate staff and monitor compliance with security & risk policies and procedures
• Oversee implementation of processes for timely reporting, managing and recording of security and risk incidents (including monitoring of external threats)
• In collaboration with MMI Risk & Assurance, implement a robust crisis management approach and regular testing programme
• Encourage and demonstrate constructive engagement with the assurance programme, including overseeing timely implementation of audit recommendations
• Drive regular review and update of Services risks within local risk registers, reflecting the current local strategies and risk profile

Procurement

• To oversee the procurement function for the programme
• To coordinate with the International Procurement Committee (IPC) and ensure that robust procurement policies and procedures are followed, in a transparent and fully accountable manner, ensuring compliance with current financial procedures, safeguarding value for money for the organisation and justifiable use of funds
• Develop, maintain and track progress against the annual procurement plan
• Oversee supplier management in collaboration with the Operations team including monitoring performance against key performance indicators

Information Technology

• To adhere to Mary’s Meals IT standards and policies – working with the MMI Head of IT and the MMI IT Infrastructure/Applications Leads
• To work with the MMI IT team, ensuring the ongoing management, maintenance and updating of hardware, software, and applications and maintenance of the asset register
• To oversee that IT services and systems are appropriate and maintained in all sites

Governance and Legal  

• Provide financial reports and proposals as necessary to the MML Board
• Maintain key organisational documents and records
• Liaise and seek advice from lawyers and financial advisers on governance-related issues

External Representation:

• Ensure the maintenance of excellent relations with all of Mary’s Meals partners, supporters and visitors.

Other

• To contribute to the establishment of a positive, healthy, and safe work environment in accordance with appropriate legislation and regulations
• Any other duties commensurate with the role

Additional information:

• As part of your role, you may be required to travel to countries where Mary’s Meals operates.

Essential skills & experience required for this role: 

• Strong commitment to Mary’s Meals vision, mission and values
• Senior-level strategic thinker, with proven experience of developing and delivering strategy in a complex environment
• Significant experience working in a leadership position in a developing country.
• Experience in leading finance and operations function and leading, engaging and motivating a team
• Well-developed individual and team leadership, management and coaching skills with extensive experience of managing a team
• Advanced and well-developed inter-personal skills, with solid track record in persuading and influencing others
• Proven ability to lead a team to drive forward and consolidate change and influence behaviours
• Good skills in conflict resolution/ problem solving, team-work, crisis management, influencing, collaborative relationship and coaching
• Able to work well with people of different cultures and nationalities
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills, particularly Word and Excel
• Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise work to deadlines and pay attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and information to a range of audiences and stakeholders
• Extensive experience of budget and financial management and implementation of internal control frameworks
• Able to apply judgement, creativity and flexibility to generate new and innovative ideas and approaches and to solve complex problems
• Ability to identify, analyse and take action to effectively manage risk to meet strategic objectives
• Experience working in a matrix structure
• Experience of negotiating and influencing across all levels, and building relationships and partnership
• Strong track record of developing and implementing strategy and policy
• Experience of managing conflict and sensitive issues and achieving positive outcomes
• Experience of working in a leadership position in a developing country
• Experience of developing, monitoring and reporting against agreed strategy, delivering strategic priorities within strict timelines
• Fluent written and spoken English

Desirable skills & experience required for this role: 

• Understanding of the principles of international development
• Understanding of the place of school feeding in relief and development
• Experience of working in a charity or not for profit organisation

Qualifications: 

• CCAB qualified, or equivalent, with a significant post-qualification experience.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent level professional experience.

Mary’s Meals 7S Leadership Competencies: 

As a leader within Mary’s Meals International, you have a responsibility to approach your role in line with our 7S competency model.

Changes to your role:

As our organisation evolves and grows, your job description may need to be reviewed and if appropriate, changed. These changes may be initiated by you or your manager but always in consultation with you and your job description may also be reviewed as part of your annual PDR process.

How to apply for this role

Mary’s Meals is a values driven organisation, we believe in the innate goodness of people, respect the dignity of every human being and family life and believe in good stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. In line with our values, Mary’s Meals is fully committed to a culture of safeguarding.

If you want to become part of a worldwide movement of people who will not accept that any child in this world of plenty should endure a day without a meal, then we would love to hear from you. To apply, click the link below and tell us why you want to work for Mary’s Meals and why you are interested in this role

https://apply.workable.com/marys-meals/j/31DAC59381/

Closing date:  18th November 2022, at 5pm. Only shortlisted candidates will be communicated to for interview.