The Organisation
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances childrenโs 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 childrenโs 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 childrenโs rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for โ and respond to โ 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 wonโt 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 โDesign, Implementation and Management of International Development Inclusive Education Programmeโ, 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 womenโs 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 teamโs in Rwanda and Zambia, ensuring coordination, and consistency across the three countries.
Expected Outcomes:
- Role models Plan Internationalโs 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 Internationalโs Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
- Ensures that Plan Internationalโs 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 Internationalโs global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.