PURPOSE

Palladium

The Finance Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing systems to ensure effective financial management within Climate Smart Jobs – Market Development Programme in compliance with the requirements of the Government of Uganda, Palladium and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Management

• Overseeing all financial management including funds disbursements requests, payments and acquittals
• Ensure financial systems are complementary to administrative systems
• Prepare financial statements, report, and ensure adherence to accounting standards (EFRIS) and regulations
• Preparing and managing monthly financial statements and forecasts including responding to FCDO's requirements for Annual financial forecasts
• Work with the programme management and operations team to review and verify monthly invoices to FCDO
• Maintaining overview of programme expenditure against programme budgets
• Maintaining a rolling cashflow projection
• Prepare & monitor the day-to-day financial operations such as payroll, invoicing, and other transactions
• Preparation of annual accounts, manage and respond to programme and corporate audits
• Complete tax returns and other statutory compliance requirements
• Identify financial risks and implement strategies to mitigate them
• Ensure the appropriate use of programme coding and the up-to-date documentation and reconciliation of programme expenditure
• Train and mentor Climate Smart Jobs - Market Development staff on the use of the financial system, for example supporting all budget holders in the budget preparation process/financial management procedures including guidance with compiling program budgets and forecasting
• Advise senior management on financial implications of business decisions and long-term goals
• Develop, implement and monitor appropriate financial systems, procedures and internal controls to support the efficient and effective operation of the Finance function
• Ensure effective prompt and value for money procurement, including leading the process of introducing and establishing systems and processes to capture VFM
• Manage all programme banking requirements ensuring that clear audit trails are left of all transactions and bank reconciliations are kept up to date
• Assist in the provision of data to enable research and analysis within the programme
• When needed, conduct field visits to examine compliance of systems and processes to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and to support staff in financial management for the programme
• Supervise the Finance Officer.

Administration

• Support programme staff in the preparation of subcontracts, hiring management of subcontractors including review of Terms of Reference and negotiating fee rates and daily subsistence allowance (DSA) of subcontractor consultants
• Ensure that the general office facilities are running smoothly
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements relating to the employment of staff and all assets procured or leased by the programme
• Negotiation, preparation, and management of all contracts of suppliers and service providers relating to programme operations to ensure value for money.

Key Outputs and Deliverables

• Fund requests and forecasts ensuring effective cashflow management monthly
• Weekly and monthly financial reports submitted to Palladium
• Contribution to draft and final programme reports
• Quarterly and annual progress and financial reports
• Audited accounts and portfolio reports

Required Competencies

The preferred candidate will exhibit the following competencies

• Achieve Results: Sets and aligns challenging, achievable objectives in performance of tasks having lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: Create opportunities to help teams expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: Politically savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion wider collaboration
• Financial Expertise: Strong knowledge of IFRS, IAS, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Software Proficiency: Expertise in accounting software (Costpoint, QuickBooks, SAP,) and advanced MS Excel.

Required Skills and Experience

• A Masters degree majoring in Accounting and Finance, Business Administration or its equivalent.
• Professional Certification: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) ACCA
• 5-10+ years in finance/accounting, with 3-5 years in senior management
• Knowledge of corporate governance principles and best practices.
• Compliance: Knowledge of Ugandan tax laws and statutory compliance.
• Leadership: Proven leadership, team management, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Donor Experience: Experience with multi-donor funding (FCDO, EU) is crucial.
• Attention to detail with analytical skills
• Advanced knowledge and hands-on experience in using Spreadsheets particularly MS Excel.
• Knowledge of corporate governance principles and best practices.
• Strong conceptual understanding and appreciation of project accounting and operational management.
• Proven budget development and oversight experience.

• Overseeing all financial management including funds disbursements requests, payments and acquittals
• Ensure financial systems are complementary to administrative systems
• Prepare financial statements, report, and ensure adherence to accounting standards (EFRIS) and regulations
• Preparing and managing monthly financial statements and forecasts including responding to FCDO's requirements for Annual financial forecasts
• Work with the programme management and operations team to review and verify monthly invoices to FCDO
• Maintaining overview of programme expenditure against programme budgets
• Maintaining a rolling cashflow projection
• Prepare & monitor the day-to-day financial operations such as payroll, invoicing, and other transactions
• Preparation of annual accounts, manage and respond to programme and corporate audits
• Complete tax returns and other statutory compliance requirements
• Identify financial risks and implement strategies to mitigate them
• Ensure the appropriate use of programme coding and the up-to-date documentation and reconciliation of programme expenditure
• Train and mentor Climate Smart Jobs - Market Development staff on the use of the financial system, for example supporting all budget holders in the budget preparation process/financial management procedures including guidance with compiling program budgets and forecasting
• Advise senior management on financial implications of business decisions and long-term goals
• Develop, implement and monitor appropriate financial systems, procedures and internal controls to support the efficient and effective operation of the Finance function
• Ensure effective prompt and value for money procurement, including leading the process of introducing and establishing systems and processes to capture VFM
• Manage all programme banking requirements ensuring that clear audit trails are left of all transactions and bank reconciliations are kept up to date
• Assist in the provision of data to enable research and analysis within the programme
• When needed, conduct field visits to examine compliance of systems and processes to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and to support staff in financial management for the programme
• Supervise the Finance Officer.
• Support programme staff in the preparation of subcontracts, hiring management of subcontractors including review of Terms of Reference and negotiating fee rates and daily subsistence allowance (DSA) of subcontractor consultants
• Ensure that the general office facilities are running smoothly
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements relating to the employment of staff and all assets procured or leased by the programme
• Negotiation, preparation, and management of all contracts of suppliers and service providers relating to programme operations to ensure value for money.

• Strong knowledge of IFRS, IAS, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Expertise in accounting software (Costpoint, QuickBooks, SAP,) and advanced MS Excel.
• Knowledge of corporate governance principles and best practices.
• Knowledge of Ugandan tax laws and statutory compliance.
• Proven leadership, team management, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Experience with multi-donor funding (FCDO, EU) is crucial.
• Attention to detail with analytical skills
• Advanced knowledge and hands-on experience in using Spreadsheets particularly MS Excel.
• Strong conceptual understanding and appreciation of project accounting and operational management.
• Proven budget development and oversight experience.

• A Masters degree majoring in Accounting and Finance, Business Administration or its equivalent.
• Professional Certification: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) ACCA