Director of Operations and Finance โ VIA Foundation
Position Title: Director of Operations and Finance
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Start Date: As soon as possible
Disclaimer: This position is for the Vumbuzi Impact Africa (VIA) Foundation โ a new, independent nonprofit organization registered in Rwanda, which operates separately from the World Resources Institute (WRI). WRI is assisting with the recruitment of this position, and the candidate will be hired exclusively by the VIA Foundation. You will not be an employee of WRI under any circumstance. The hired applicant will be an employee of the VIA Foundation. WRI has no legal liability or oversight regarding employment, funding, or operations or any other issue associated with the employment of this position. All hiring and employment responsibilities including reporting, and funding associated with this role are managed solely by the VIA Foundation and its Board of Directors. Applicants should be aware that employment terms, policies, and procedures will be of the VIA Foundation and not WRI. The hiring organization is subject to and will adhere to Rwandan law regulations. WRI takes no legal responsibility or otherwise for the employment with the VIA Foundation.
About Vumbuzi Impact Africa (VIA) Foundation
The VIA Foundation is a recently founded financial intermediary organization dedicated to supporting the acceleration and scale-up of Ecosystem Restoration efforts across member countries of the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). The mission of the VIA Foundation is to provide innovative financial solutions and strategic support to restoration champions, the local organizations that mobilize communities to revitalize degraded land.
As a trusted and up-and-coming intermediary, the VIA Foundation intends to mobilize resources, foster partnerships, and drive the implementation of sustainable landscape restoration projects. Our goal is to enhance ecosystem resilience, empower local communities, and contribute to global climate goals. With the support of a newly appointed board and executive management team, VIA aims to create a legacy of restored landscapes that thrive both ecologically and economically, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Scope and schedule of work
- Position Overview
As VIA Foundation moves towards full operationalization, we are excited to welcome a results-driven Director of Operations and Finance who will play a dual role in driving operational efficiency and overseeing financial management. This position will focus on streamlining daily operations while ensuring robust financial oversight, aligning both functions to advance the foundationโs mission. In this pivotal role, you will oversee the foundationโs daily operations, ensuring seamless execution of initiatives that align with our bold mission. You will play a critical part in fostering growth and amplifying our impact across the continent, with an initial focus on the three landscapes: The Greater Rift Valley of Kenya; the Lake Kivu & Rusizi River Basin of Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda; and the Ghana Cocoa Belt. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of transformative change while driving real, lasting progress.
By April 2025, VIA Foundation will build its core operational policies, procedures, and team, with the goal of issuing grants to 100+ local organizations. Building on the established TerraFund program at World Resources Institute, your work will allow VIA Foundation to demonstrate its ability to catalyze public, private, and philanthropic capital to locally led organizations across the continent.
WRI will serve as the Guardian of VIA, collaborating extensively with the foundation to support its operationalization. This collaboration includes working closely with VIA, and the Director of Operations and Finance to establish VIAโs operational framework, financial systems, and governance policies, ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. While WRI provides this guardianship role, the Director will operate independently within the VIA Foundation's governance structure, maintaining a clear separation from WRIโs guardianship responsibilities.
- Responsibilities:
You will play a key leadership role, driving the day-to-day operations and finance while aligning efforts with the foundationโs strategic goals. Key responsibilities include:
Accounting (40%):
- Ensure all financial and accounting transactions are properly supported and processed in the foundationโs financial management system.
- Prepare monthly reconciliations for bank accounts and other general ledger accounts for the foundation.
- Review and post financial transactions, collaborating with program and operations staff to ensure accurate accounting and coding.
- Prepare journal entries for corrections of misallocated expenses.
- Ensure timely and accurate monthly financial close processes.
- Manage advances and receivables for staff and oversee expense reconciliation for corporate credit cards.
- Support the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.
- Ensure compliance with donor guidelines, managing awards and grants, including the preparation of financial reports and required documentation for donor reporting.
Operations (30%):
- Review all payment requests for completeness and compliance before approval.
- Process payments to vendors and staff, ensuring timely and accurate disbursements.
- Oversee subgrant advances and reimbursements to restoration champions and private fund partners.
- Collaborate with program staff to ensure smooth processing of participant payments, including mobile money transactions.
- Maintain and reconcile the mobile money account.
- Ensure adherence to standard procedures, tools, and templates in alignment with the foundationโs operational framework.
- Lead internal and external audits, ensuring timely preparation of financial reports and documentation.
- Maintain and update the foundationโs asset register, performing regular physical verifications and reconciliations.
- Manage electronic and manual filing systems for efficient record-keeping.
Budgeting and Financial Management (20%):
- Collaborate with program and business development teams to prepare budgets for proposals.
- Review proposal budgets to ensure accuracy, feasibility, and compliance with donor regulations.
- Prepare quarterly fund requests and update budgets and forecasts for projects and operations.
- Monitor project expenditure against budget and provide variance analysis.
- Lead monthly financial reviews to assess spending trends and inform strategic decision-making.
- Provide financial analysis, including dashboards, to inform leadership decisions.
- Support the development of annual and interim financial reports for funders.
- Responsibilities: