Background

The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) is an indigenous medical organization that was established in 1991 as a limited liability not-for-profit Joint-venture between the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Defense and Makerere University Medical School (now Makerere University College of Health Sciences). JCRC is located on plot 101 Lubowa Hill Off Entebbe Road P.O. Box 10005 Kampala. Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) seeks to recruit competent, dynamic, motivated and innovative candidates for the following positions;

General Position Summary

The Finance and Operations Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the project's financial, human resources, operations, information technology, and administrative management. He/she will be a strategic thought hands-on and participative leader responsible for the financial and administrative business management of all operations of the project. This position will be responsible for the accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, tax compliance, risk management and audit functions of the project. The position will ensure that there are effective financial and accounting system controls and standards in place and is also responsible for managing the administrative operations of the program.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the project, ensuring regional cohesion across finance/operational functions.
• Works closely with the regional program manager, technical staff, and pertinent JCRC regional office staff to ensure project resources are effectively and efficiently budgeted, analyzed, disbursed, monitored and reported in achieving project objectives and results.
• Provide guidance to regional finance and administrative staff members, using well-written and thorough policies, and procedure manuals.
• Support the compliance and external audit exercises of the project.
• Ensure compliance to policies and procedures that are in line with organization and donor requirements, which provide a basis for new staff with an orientation and existing staff refresher training.
• Lead the regional project budget preparation and monitoring, financial management and reporting, accounting, human resources management, procurement, transportation, IT, legal, office management, security and all other administrative and operational functions of the organization. Responsibilities extended to oversight and ensuring compliance of local partners.
• Ensures that adequate and appropriate internal controls are in place, in compliance with DOD policies and procedures, to meet generally recognized accounting standards.
• Develop and implement process improvement plans for to ensure effective and efficient financial controls and operational procedures.
• Keep abreast with the latest trends in financial accounting and share learning with project finance and administrative staff.
• Tracks project expenses to prepare monthly financial reports and annual budget projections to ensure full compliance with DOD and JCRC rules and regulations.
• Develop capacity of team performance and drive for excellence Manages project funds for the appropriate execution of the project.
• Enforce and implement procedures for project financial management, procurement, subcontracts, and consultant contracts to ensure transparency and good business practices.
• Actively participates and coordinates planning and status meetings to ensure proper implementation of programs and service.
• Provide stewardship of project assets and other resources.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills and experience;

• The ideal candidate must have a Master’s degree in business, Finance, Accounting, or a similar relevant field majoring in accounting and finance.
• Professional certification, active ACCA or CPA member is a must.
• At least 5 -10 years of progressive and professional experience in finance, operations, administration, logistics and/or HR-related matters for international development activities of similar scope and size of this Activity, of which 5 years must be at Senior managerial level.
• Fluency in financial and project management systems and procedures and demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Experience in managing donor-funded projects of similar scope and size as this Activity.
• Previous experience working on DOD or PEPFAR-funded programs.
• Demonstrated experience in risk management and implementation of internal controls for Finance and Grants sections, including establishing and managing financial management and compliance systems and procedures.
• Significant experience in fundraising, and proposal writing skills shall be an added advantage
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, e.g. in designing policies, writing memos and letters, and in discussions, negotiations and workshop settings
• Strong leadership skills, Proven capacity for analytical and interpretative problem anticipation and solving and Supervisory experience with demonstrated ability to mentor staff through skills development.
• Knowledge of Accounting, proficiency in Excel and Navision or other ERPs is an added advantage

• Provide strategic leadership to the project, ensuring regional cohesion across finance/operational functions.
• Works closely with the regional program manager, technical staff, and pertinent JCRC regional office staff to ensure project resources are effectively and efficiently budgeted, analyzed, disbursed, monitored and reported in achieving project objectives and results.
• Provide guidance to regional finance and administrative staff members, using well-written and thorough policies, and procedure manuals.
• Support the compliance and external audit exercises of the project.
• Ensure compliance to policies and procedures that are in line with organization and donor requirements, which provide a basis for new staff with an orientation and existing staff refresher training.
• Lead the regional project budget preparation and monitoring, financial management and reporting, accounting, human resources management, procurement, transportation, IT, legal, office management, security and all other administrative and operational functions of the organization. Responsibilities extended to oversight and ensuring compliance of local partners.
• Ensures that adequate and appropriate internal controls are in place, in compliance with DOD policies and procedures, to meet generally recognized accounting standards.
• Develop and implement process improvement plans for to ensure effective and efficient financial controls and operational procedures.
• Keep abreast with the latest trends in financial accounting and share learning with project finance and administrative staff.
• Tracks project expenses to prepare monthly financial reports and annual budget projections to ensure full compliance with DOD and JCRC rules and regulations.
• Develop capacity of team performance and drive for excellence Manages project funds for the appropriate execution of the project.
• Enforce and implement procedures for project financial management, procurement, subcontracts, and consultant contracts to ensure transparency and good business practices.
• Actively participates and coordinates planning and status meetings to ensure proper implementation of programs and service.
• Provide stewardship of project assets and other resources.
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

• Fluency in financial and project management systems and procedures
• Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated experience in risk management and implementation of internal controls for Finance and Grants sections, including establishing and managing financial management and compliance systems and procedures.
• Significant experience in fundraising, and proposal writing skills
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, e.g. in designing policies, writing memos and letters, and in discussions, negotiations and workshop settings
• Strong leadership skills
• Proven capacity for analytical and interpretative problem anticipation and solving
• Supervisory experience with demonstrated ability to mentor staff through skills development.
• Knowledge of Accounting
• Proficiency in Excel and Navision or other ERPs

• Master’s degree in business, Finance, Accounting, or a similar relevant field majoring in accounting and finance.
• Professional certification, active ACCA or CPA member is a must.
• At least 5 -10 years of progressive and professional experience in finance, operations, administration, logistics and/or HR-related matters for international development activities of similar scope and size of this Activity, of which 5 years must be at Senior managerial level.
• Experience in managing donor-funded projects of similar scope and size as this Activity.
• Previous experience working on DOD or PEPFAR-funded programs.