Finance & Operations Manager

MCC Lesotho

Finance & Operations Manager

FHI 360 is a non-profit human development organization dedicated to advancing equity, health and wellbeing through data-driven, locally led solutions — so that humanity thrives. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology; creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories. We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Finance & Operations Manager for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project in Lesotho. The position will be based in Maseru, Lesotho

Project description:

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has entered into a new Compact with the Government of Lesotho (GOL). Recognizing that strong human capital is key to driving poverty reduction (Lesotho scores only 0.4 on the Human Capital Index, indicating that a child born today would only be as 40% as productive as if they were to attain good health), $75m of the Compact has been allocated to the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Project which will improve outcomes through strengthening Lesotho’s Primary Health Care (PHC) system.

It is an opportune time to invest in strengthening PHC. In 1990, Lesotho had a relatively solid PHC system, with a Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index 9pp higher than the sub-Saharan Africa average, but was hard hit by the HIV epidemic soon after. This directly affected health outcomes and pivoted the health system away from other critical areas. Lesotho now has the highest neonatal mortality rate in the world (43/1000 live births), lowest life expectancy (53), and third highest rate of adult deaths from non-communicable diseases (43%) (WHO Global Health Observatory). Lesotho is currently ranked 197th out of 204 countries on the HAQ, and 203rd for progress since 1990. After sustained efforts by the GOL and partners, including MCC’s first Compact whose investments in rural health infrastructure enabled decentralization of HIV services, Lesotho is now moving towards epidemic control and positioned to rapidly improve the coverage and quality of PHC, the bedrock of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Regional experience from other countries with epidemic control shows that rapid improvement is possible: whilst Lesotho scores 48 on the UHC Index, Namibia scores 62 (despite a lower real expenditure on PHC per capita) and Eswatini 58 (despite significantly fewer doctors and nurses per capita).

The current health system does not prioritize PHC (only 7.5% of the health budget in 2018/19) resulting in low service quality, weak utilization, and extensive bypassing to tertiary care providers. Quality PHC requires strong district level management and governance, but Lesotho’s District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) underperform, held back by limited capacity and resources, weak data use, constrained decision space, and sub-optimal processes. Reforms must build the health system’s integral contribution to preventing and responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV) which is a key developmental and economic threat. The total cost of loss of income and expenses of GBV equates to 5.5% of Lesotho’s GDP, greater than the health budget.

MCC’s HSS Project targets these challenges through seven interdependent contracts, including this HSS/PHC/cGBV Support Contract. Working hand in glove with the other HSS Contractors, this contract will provide technical expertise and support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to improve the quality and availability of essential primary health services (including GBV), enhance the capacity of DHMTs to plan and deliver PHC services and improve budget execution, and amplify data use for decision making. The Contract will be operationalized through 54 tasks linked to 51 payment-based deliverables. Beginning with formative diagnostic and design assessments, a Pre-Compact Phase will be conducted to refine a 5-year Compact Implementation Phase with annually exercised option years.

Job description:

The Finance & Operations Manager will have overall responsibility for finance, operations and administration of the MCC project in Lesotho, under the oversight of the Program Director. They will provide financial and operations oversight for all aspects of the project in accordance with USAID and FHI 360 rules and regulations. Duties require broad conceptual judgment, initiative, and ability to deal with a wide range of finance, operations and administration issues. The Finance and Operations Manager will be responsible for budget development in partnership with the Programs team, budget forecasting, expenditure tracking, and financial analysis, as well as grant and contract management; overseeing administrative, operational, and human resources functions for the project; reviewing and approving recommendations for financial planning and control and key administrative decisions for organizational and local compliance requirements, in concert with the senior management team in Lesotho, but also FHI 360’s East and Southern Africa (ESARO) and Headquarters offices in the United States. They will also be responsible for selecting, evaluating performance, and developing capacity of finance, operations management, and administrative personnel to ensure efficient project support. The position will be based in Maseru, Lesotho.

Position Responsibilities

• Directs financial reporting for annual budget planning, pipeline analysis, audit reviews and assessments.
• Contribute to the development of high-quality work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by USAID.
• Maintains weekly and monthly schedule of financial transactions and reporting according to organizational requirements.
• Works with the country office’s finance leadership to contribute to the monthly and quarterly financial reporting to FHI 360 regional office and donor, as required.
• Oversees and directs the control of the project budget and activities of the finance and grants analysts, and accountant.
• Contributes to the review, provides input, and periodically updates operations, administrative, and financial office policy and protocols, as requested.
• Reviews and approves procurement requests and payment vouchers for purchasing of goods and services and for program activities and assure that all disbursements or reimbursements are made in compliance with FHI 360 policy and applicable to donor rules and regulations.
• Supervises project finance, operations and administrative staff members of the office and encourages a collaborative, cohesive working environment.
• Reviews sub-awardee and contractor budgets for correctness and verifies that budgets conform to FHI 360 and donor regulations.
• Supervises review of sub-awardee financial reporting and fund disbursement.
• Provides administrative, financial, accounting, and other technical assistance as required to FHI 360 staff and/or partner staff.
• Assists with internal audits and implements recommendations resulting from audit process.
• Monitors deliverables of consultants performing operations or local approval tasks, as required.
• Supports the Project Director with annual project budgeting, including sub-awardee budgeting, and as required during the project period.
• Supervises workflow of finance and operations teams to ensure quality deliverables and adherence to deadlines.
• Performs other relevant duties as assigned by the Project Director, HQ office and FHI 360 Lesotho office leadership, as applicable.
• Experience in managing Firm Fixed Price Contracts.

  Qualifications

  • Bachelors’ Commerce degree in accounting from a recognized university; Master’s degree in business administration will be an added advantage.
  • A minimum of 5 – 8 (five to eight) years accounting, operations, and financial management experience of large-scale, international development assistance programs; a minimum of 5 (five) years in management.
  • A minimum of 5 (five years) of relevant experience with financial analysis, financial reporting, cash flow analysis, budget development and forecasting, preferably on international health projects.
  • CPA/ACCA Professional qualifications.
  • Demonstrated experience with USG cost principles, including PEPFAR regulations, GAAP accounting rules and grants contract management.
  • Supervisory experience managing finance, operations and/or administrative staff.
  • Demonstrated experience and skills in developing and managing large budgets.
  • Experience developing and/or implementing finance and accounting policies, procedures and systems.
  • Experience developing and/or implementing office administrative policies, procedures and systems (human resources, procurement, operations, etc.).
  • Proficiency in relevant computer applications and databases.
  • Excellent diplomacy skills and a proven ability to establish and maintain interpersonal and professional relationships with USAID, host-country counterparts, and representatives from other key stakeholders such as NGOs, CSOs, and the private sector.
  • Extensive knowledge of Lesotho financial and NGO reporting requirements.
  • Knowledge of Lesotho labor law and statutory payment requirements.
  • Fluency in English is required.

    The position will ideally be based in Maseru, Lesotho and work out of the FHI 360 office. This is a local position.

    Travel Requirements:

    • 15-20% within Lesotho

      This job description summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

      This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

      FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

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