Finance Analyst: HEO - British High Commission

We are looking for a self-starting and enthusiastic person, with strong finance, accounting skills and accreditation to fill this position, as well as advanced Excel skills. The successful applicant should be a good communicator and able to work alongside colleagues across a range of grades.

The Finance Analyst will lead effective financial management across BHC Accra, with a particular focus on Official Development Assistance (ODA), as well as wider Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and other programme funding. As such, they will be expected to have a good understanding and experience of international development programming and financial management. They will also act as lead contact within a regional network of Finance Managers.

Ghana has an ODA/development budget of over £10m per year with 9 major active programmes in the economics, education, infrastructure, agriculture, health and climate sectors. Our programmes are delivered through local and international NGOs, multilateral organisations and the private sector. You will be expected to support programme teams, strengthening their skills to ensure that financial management best practice is applied at all stages of the programme cycle.

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As finance manager, you will also provide regular, robust financial information, detailed analysis and business insight to the Development Director and the Ghana Leadership Group. You will work closely with the Regional Africa Finance Business Partner to support effective planning and decision-making. The role will be pivotal to ensuring the effective cascading of financial information both up and down the organisation. The post holder will report to the Head of the Cross Cutting Team.

BHC Accra is a large post and is charged with delivering high impact and complex policy, programmes and campaigns on the full breadth of the Africa Strategy. All staff embody the new Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's approach to cross-departmental ways of working and the High Commission aims to be a highly-inclusive place to work, celebrating a workforce with both diversity of thought and background.

To help achieve this the British High Commission takes a values-based approach to leadership and people management, and has a zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment. Our local values are Respect; Openness; and Honesty & Integrity. An understanding and commitment to inclusion and values-based leadership will be discussed during interview, and tested during a probationary period.

This post will sit within an ODA Compliance Unit in the BHC Cross-Cutting Team. You will work closely with the Development Director and staff across the BHC working on ODA and other kinds of programming. BHC Accra has been in a process of transition and the post may evolve over time, including working more broadly on wider BHC financial management issues.

You will have experience in managing ODA/international development programming, including programme management, financial and other key skills.

Specific duties include:

1. Spend management: Prepare and support local scenario-based forecasts, taking into account risk, probability and contingency planning and support management of pipeline and pre-pipeline budgets in-year and across future years. Lead and conduct challenge meetings with senior local budget holders. Contribute to the production of better forecasting and variance analysis.
   
   
2. Lead/ coordinate reporting and returns to HQ: generate quality timely and accurate performance reports, analysis and recommendations, to facilitate effective decision-making, particularly around ODA and the financial year-end. Lead on month-end returns, central commissions, interim and year-end accounting packs. Ensure high-quality and accurate financial information is entered on Aries.
   
   
3. Strengthen control and assurance processes: Support the maintenance and strengthening of the internal control environment to mitigate risks, by ensuring compliance with key finance processes, highlighting control weaknesses identified through annual reviews, due diligence and annual audited statements and making associated recommendations for improvement. Support internal and external audits (i.e. MAP, IAD and NAO) and report on progress made recommendations relating to finance and control.
   
   
4. Counter aid diversion (CAD): Support the implementation of the embassy's approach to CAD, ensuring that all staff and partners are aware of their responsibilities. Support tracking and following up on any reports of aid diversion on programmes with the relevant programme teams in the embassy and HQ, to ensure cases are resolved as quickly as possible, and lessons learnt and shared with the embassy.
5. Provide on-going support to programme delivery teams: Support Programme Managers and Advisors on financial aspects of programme design (including risk mitigation, particularly around counter fraud, corruption, and leakage), implementation, planning & forecasting, monitoring and reporting.
   
   
6. Capability building: Improve the standards of financial awareness and financial management locally, for example, by providing support in understanding and interpreting management information and partner evidence to non-finance staff. Deliver training to all staff and actively facilitate the continuing up-skilling of all staff, as part of the embassy's L&D offer.
   
   

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Short-term objectives are likely to include making effective contributions to the merging of xFCO and xDFID systems, including leading the rollout of new financial systems - HERA and the new finance operating model.

Resources managed: C £11m ODA pa

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

The Skills and Experience required in this role are:

Relevant Accounting qualification (see below)

• A minimum of 3 years office experience in a fast-paced working environment in a finance management role.
• Strong people management skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Experience in working collaboratively with business or programme managers as well as with other finance staff to provide an accurate financial position, along with robust forecasts.
• Proven experience of manging fraud/fiduciary risks.
• Able to critically review financial management systems and make recommendations that will improve the quality of service received by end users.
• Have the confidence and enthusiasm to present complex financial information to a diverse audience including non-finance colleagues.
• Ability to understand end users' needs and provide the information in a way that takes this into account.
• Ability to manage conflicting workloads in order to achieve tight deadlines, adhering to the finance annual timetable and responding to ad-hoc requests as required.
• Can demonstrate strong analytical skills with attention to detail to produce financial analysis. Can draw on advanced excel skills in order to produce this.
• Experience of working on international development programmes is highly desirable, as well as experience of commercial, risk and other aspects of programme management.
• Able to work flexibly, managing competing demands and under minimal supervision.
• Strong organisational skills and good attention to detail.
• Good team player with strong customer service skills who can communicate financial information to all levels, including senior management.
• Ability to plan ahead and anticipate problems, as well as being able to respond to urgent demands.
• Ability to build highly effective relationships with external organisations.
• Demonstrates discretion and respect for confidentiality.
• It is highly desirable that applicants hold or are studying towards a qualification with one of the five Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies [CCAB] i.e. ACCA, CIPFA, ICAEW, ICAI, ICAS; or CIMA, or AAT; or someone who has undergone a period of equivalent structured training and accreditation in a specialist area of finance.
  
  

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Working Together

 

Other benefits and conditions of employment

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Learning and development opportunities:

The British High Commission in Ghana takes learning and development seriously. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop many core and transferable skills through both formal and informal learning and development opportunities, including the full suite of HMG training courses and opportunities and the opportunity to work closely and shadow the High Commissioner. Members of staff are encouraged to make use of the learning and development opportunities that the office has to offer.

Working patterns:

Flexible working may be required, working around the demands of the office.