African Development Bank (AfDB) - the premier pan-African development institution, promoting economic growth and social progress across the continent.

POSITION : Senior Financial Management Operations Officer

The Hiring Department

• The Senior Vice-Presidency supervises the Fiduciary and Inspection Department (SNFI), which is a custodian of the procurement (including procurement for private and public partnership) Financial Management profession and has the following responsibilities : (i) developing and interpreting policy, strategy and related guidance notes and manuals; (ii) preparing annual post review reports on the Bank’s Financial Management and procurement operations for the Board; (iii) developing training strategy for internal and external clients; (iv) dialoguing with external and global partners with a view to building partnerships and fostering harmonization; (v) providing the secretariat for the Procurement Review Committee (PRC) ; and (vi) inspecting and reporting on the performance of procurement and Financial Management activities undertaken by the regions.
• The Senior Financial Management Operations Officer is responsible to ensure that financial management of Bank-financed projects are compliant with the Bank’s financial management policy. This is done by advising on financial management arrangements and reviewing financial management decisions within the project/program operations cycle from the identification to completion stages. The incumbent also contributes to the preparation of the Bank’s Country Strategy Paper, and to building Public Financial Management (PFM) capacity of Borrowers which includes training of Borrower staff, advising on project related financial management matters, and assessing and strengthening the Borrower’s PFM systems.
• The Senior Financial Management Operations Officer reports administratively to the Regional Operations Manager for Implementation Support (ROM-IS) and functionally to the Division Manager-Financial Management (SNFI).

The Position

• Ensuring quality and timely FM advice and providing support to projects activities, including: (i) quality of Financial Management (FM) activities in the region; (ii) timeliness of responses on all FM issues; and (iii) quality of advice to both Bank sector and Borrowers staff in  countries covered by the Director General;
• Executing the operations fiduciary function for the Bank in projects and programs that it finances , including through: (i) conducting country, sector and project level FM assessments and related capacity development action plans; (ii) providing FM-related support for country dialogue; (iii) supporting development of regional professional FM networks; and (iv) participating in donors coordination meetings in their areas for promoting better coordination and effective resources mobilization
• Contributing to capacity development of Bank and Borrowers’ FM staff, including (i) coaching, (ii) mentoring, (iii) training and (iv) upgrading of the skills.

Responsibilities

• Take a proactive role in assessing the adequacy of the Borrower’s project financial management systems and their ability to manage and monitor Bank financed projects. This includes budgeting, internal control, treasury management, accounting, financial reporting and external auditing;
• Attend negotiations and ensure Financial Management issues are taken into account in the loan/grant agreements and other associated documentations;
• Participate in project/program launching missions to assist the project/program team in developing capacity building of the Executing Agencies in the area of financial management;
• Carry out supervision work to ensure that projects financial management systems are functioning appropriately, including the periodic review of project financial management reports for financial performance;
• Review audited financial statements received, monitor the Borrower's compliance with financial covenants including audit compliance, ensure adequate communication with the Borrower and the project implementing agencies with respect to audits and advise as appropriate;
• Provide advice and support to Borrowers and the Bank Project Teams on matters affecting financial management and disbursement on capacity building in projects and with public sector accountability institutions;
• Provide financial management guidance for the development of technical assistance programs and evaluate and monitor their implementation;
• Assess the selection and recruitment of external independent auditors, ensuring their suitability including their independence, and competence to perform;
• Play an active role in Country Portfolio Performance Reviews (CPPRs) /Country Strategy Pater (CSPs) from the financial management perspective and draft the FM sections of the CPPR/CSP report;
• In collaboration with other colleagues, undertake Public Financial Management diagnostic reviews;
• Undertake Financial Management Capacity building in Regional Member Countries and sector departments in the Bank;
• Participate in fiduciary clinics;
• Participate in donor coordination meetings within the region and in country dialogue platforms between the country and the donors on the basis of the overall Bank’s strategy to support aid effectiveness; and
• Undertake other activities, as appropriate, as requested by the Manager, Financial Management.

Selection Criteria

• A Master's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related discipline and a Professional Accounting Certification (CPA, CA, ACCA, Expert Comptable);
• 5 years of relevant experience in the Bank or similar financial institution, with particular expertise in designing, supporting and implementing financial management operations;
• Knowledge of the African Development Bank’s Financial Management Policy and Procedures;
• Experience in supporting private sector operations (banking, auditing, finance, microfinance institutions, agriculture, electricity, water) would be an added advantage;
• Experience in an Multilateral Development Bank, with emphasis on financial management, highly valuable;
• Experience in the preparation of financial management policy documents;
• Ability to lead highly technical staff and ensure that teams stay organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches;
• Strong planning, organization, and time management skills;
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Ability to communicate effectively (Written and Oral) in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language; and
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office Suite applications, preferably SAP and Risk Management Software.
• Expert knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) and the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs);
• A good understanding of cross-cutting issues beyond financial management (e.g. procurement, governance, donors’ practices) at sector/country level;