Context of the position:

SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda is an independent member association affiliated to the SOS Federation. SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda leverages existing community resources to strengthen quality childcare and protection through a holistic continuum of care tailored to orphans, vulnerable children, and their families. SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda actively advocates for the promotion of childcare and child protection. In Rwanda, SOS Children’s Villages operates in four Program Areas based in Gasabo, Gicumbi, Kayonza and Nyamagabe. To further fulfil the above-mentioned responsibilities, SOS Children’s Villages Rwanda is seeking a competent Head of Finance, to base at its National Office Kigali, Kacyiru.

JOB PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Deputy National Director-Operations, the Head of Finance is responsible for providing financial advice and support to the Board and National Management Team to enable sound decision-making in areas such as long-term forecasting, budgeting, liquidity management, key performance indicator analysis, cost optimization, and operational performance review.

The role is also responsible for developing and monitoring risk management policies and procedures, ensuring that effective external control mechanisms are in place, and developing and implementing internal financial policies and guidelines regulating finance-related processes and internal controls in line with the organisation’s vision, mission, strategy, policies, and standards.

Additionally, the Head of Finance leads and supervises the national finance department, represents the organisation on financial matters with external stakeholders, ensures compliance with tax regulations, and follows up on legal changes that may have financial implications for the organisation. The role further ensures timely and high-quality submission of financial data to the Regional and International Office in accordance with agreed quality standards and SOS CVI policies and guidelines.

Main clients:

• National Director
• All Senior Management Members
• Heads of Program Area
• All Finance Team

Key Performance Areas and Main Responsibilities:

The Head of Finance leads financial planning and budgeting by overseeing accounting and treasury functions, ensuring accurate financial reporting, managing financial risks and audits, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements, statutory regulations, and organizational policies.

Management and Strategic Planning & Budgeting:

• Provides directives and follows-up on the preparation and timely submission of budget proposals for different projects of the Organisation
• Presents budget proposals at management evaluation meetings and submits final budgets for the Board and Donor approval
• Ensures that the accounting functions are equipped with the necessary manpower, equipment and supplies.
• Studies and proposes improvements in financial management and accounting policies and procedures.
• He/she is responsible for the overall operations of the finance department, including the interaction and communication within and with other departments/ stakeholders as well as the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the association’s goals and objectives
• Contributes to the strategic leadership of the association as part of the National Management Team and helps to develop the national strategy and business plan
• Prepares long-term financial prognosis and income portfolio analyses to meet the MA long-term strategic objectives
• Defines the budgeting process for the whole association, ensures that the association’s budget is in accordance with the national strategic plan and SOS CVI requirements (i.e. planning letter parameters)
• He/she is responsible for the overall budget control

Accounting and Internal Control:

• Develops and implements an up-to-date documented system of accounting policies, financial procedures and internal control guidelines (in compliance with local regulations and SOS CVI standards) within the entire association
• Keeps abreast of changes in financial regulations and legislation
• He/he is ultimately responsible for timely and accurate accounting data submission to the Donors/International Office
• Performs regular internal audits in the locations/facilities

Financial Analysis and Reporting:

• Defines a set of key financial parameters to assess and steer the current and future financial status of the association
• Engages in key figure and cost optimization analyses and in benchmarking studies to establish areas of potential operational improvement in the association
• Provides accurate financial information and reports to specific deadlines as requested by different stakeholders (i.e. ND, MA Board, Donors, Finance Advisors and so forth)
• Ensures that reports related to projects (IPDs, Standards and others) are submitted in due time and following existing SOS CVI standards and/or special donor requirements

Funds and Risk Management:

• Monitors and analyses Organisation’s liquidity status (predicting future trends, checking plausibility of forecasted local income and proper reflection of public grants, exchange rate development etc.)
• Ensures that sufficient funds are available to meet on-going operational and investment requirements and informs the Direct Supervisor in a timely manner on estimated liquidity shortfall proposing solutions
• Ensures counterbalanced income portfolio as well as efficient bank account structure/ conditions of the Organisation
• Develops and monitors risk management policies and procedures to ensure that programme and organizational risks are minimized

External Audit

• Responsible for managing the engagement and contract with the external auditors, subject to approval by the Board. This includes coordinating the auditor selection process, facilitating contract negotiations, ensuring timely audit execution, and serving as the primary liaison between management and the external auditors.
• Ensures the timely submission and is ultimately responsible for the quality and completeness of the consolidated Annual Financial Statements of the Organisation (embedded in an entire audit package according to both, national and SOS CVI standards)
• In case of qualified audit approves Audit Progress Report (compiled by Chief Accountant) and is ultimately responsible for proper audit recommendations’ follow-up

Human Resources Development in Finance:

• Establishes appropriate staffing patterns and ensures adequate staffing of the national finance department
• Supports recruitment and selection procedure of leading finance co-workers
• Leads an effective and engaged finance team (incl. conducting PATs/ Feedback Talks), sets up and monitors execution of defined HRD measures

Grants Financial Management:

• Ensure accurate and timely preparation, review, and posting of financial transactions and reports in D365, maintaining high-quality accounting records in line with organisational policies and standards for all grant-funded projects
• Ensure that physical accounting documents and other financial information for all grant-funded projects are accurate, properly documented and stored in a manner which facilitates easy retrieval.
• Prepare budget vs actual reports for donors and management
• Track utilization of grant funds and ensure timely reporting of variances

Donor Reporting & Compliance:

• Prepare financial reports for donors in accordance with grant agreements
• Ensure compliance with donor rules, regulations, and reporting deadlines
• Support audits (internal, external, and donor-specific audits)
• Ensure proper documentation and audit trails for all grant transactions

Required key skills set:

• Strong financial management and accounting skills
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• Audit coordination and compliance management skills
• Knowledge of tax laws, statutory regulations, and financial legal requirements
• Leadership and team management skills
• Policy development and implementation skills

Preferred personal attributes:

• High level of integrity, accountability, and confidentiality
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
• Capacity building, coaching, and mentoring skills
• Proficiency in financial systems and ERP/accounting software
• Strong communication and presentation skills

Formal qualifications and Experiencerequirements:

• Education: Master’s in finance, Accounting, or Business Admin
• Professional Qualification: CPA or ACCA or Equivalent is an added advantage
• Experience: At least 10 years financial management; 5+ years as Finance Head; NGO sector with donor funding
• Experience in payroll accounting and statutory tax computations (e.g., PAYE, pension, and other statutory deductions)
• Demonstrated experience in working with financial management systems (e.g., D365 or similar ERP systems)
• Experience in donor-funded or NGO/project-based accounting is an added advantage

• Provides directives and follows-up on the preparation and timely submission of budget proposals for different projects of the Organisation
• Presents budget proposals at management evaluation meetings and submits final budgets for the Board and Donor approval
• Ensures that the accounting functions are equipped with the necessary manpower, equipment and supplies.
• Studies and proposes improvements in financial management and accounting policies and procedures.
• He/she is responsible for the overall operations of the finance department, including the interaction and communication within and with other departments/ stakeholders as well as the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the association’s goals and objectives
• Contributes to the strategic leadership of the association as part of the National Management Team and helps to develop the national strategy and business plan
• Prepares long-term financial prognosis and income portfolio analyses to meet the MA long-term strategic objectives
• Defines the budgeting process for the whole association, ensures that the association’s budget is in accordance with the national strategic plan and SOS CVI requirements (i.e. planning letter parameters)
• He/she is responsible for the overall budget control
• Develops and implements an up-to-date documented system of accounting policies, financial procedures and internal control guidelines (in compliance with local regulations and SOS CVI standards) within the entire association
• Keeps abreast of changes in financial regulations and legislation
• He/he is ultimately responsible for timely and accurate accounting data submission to the Donors/International Office
• Performs regular internal audits in the locations/facilities
• Defines a set of key financial parameters to assess and steer the current and future financial status of the association
• Engages in key figure and cost optimization analyses and in benchmarking studies to establish areas of potential operational improvement in the association
• Provides accurate financial information and reports to specific deadlines as requested by different stakeholders (i.e. ND, MA Board, Donors, Finance Advisors and so forth)
• Ensures that reports related to projects (IPDs, Standards and others) are submitted in due time and following existing SOS CVI standards and/or special donor requirements
• Monitors and analyses Organisation’s liquidity status (predicting future trends, checking plausibility of forecasted local income and proper reflection of public grants, exchange rate development etc.)
• Ensures that sufficient funds are available to meet on-going operational and investment requirements and informs the Direct Supervisor in a timely manner on estimated liquidity shortfall proposing solutions
• Ensures counterbalanced income portfolio as well as efficient bank account structure/ conditions of the Organisation
• Develops and monitors risk management policies and procedures to ensure that programme and organizational risks are minimized
• Responsible for managing the engagement and contract with the external auditors, subject to approval by the Board. This includes coordinating the auditor selection process, facilitating contract negotiations, ensuring timely audit execution, and serving as the primary liaison between management and the external auditors.
• Ensures the timely submission and is ultimately responsible for the quality and completeness of the consolidated Annual Financial Statements of the Organisation (embedded in an entire audit package according to both, national and SOS CVI standards)
• In case of qualified audit approves Audit Progress Report (compiled by Chief Accountant) and is ultimately responsible for proper audit recommendations’ follow-up
• Establishes appropriate staffing patterns and ensures adequate staffing of the national finance department
• Supports recruitment and selection procedure of leading finance co-workers
• Leads an effective and engaged finance team (incl. conducting PATs/ Feedback Talks), sets up and monitors execution of defined HRD measures
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation, review, and posting of financial transactions and reports in D365, maintaining high-quality accounting records in line with organisational policies and standards for all grant-funded projects
• Ensure that physical accounting documents and other financial information for all grant-funded projects are accurate, properly documented and stored in a manner which facilitates easy retrieval.
• Prepare budget vs actual reports for donors and management
• Track utilization of grant funds and ensure timely reporting of variances
• Prepare financial reports for donors in accordance with grant agreements
• Ensure compliance with donor rules, regulations, and reporting deadlines
• Support audits (internal, external, and donor-specific audits)
• Ensure proper documentation and audit trails for all grant transactions

• Strong financial management and accounting skills
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• Audit coordination and compliance management skills
• Knowledge of tax laws, statutory regulations, and financial legal requirements
• Leadership and team management skills
• Policy development and implementation skills
• Capacity building, coaching, and mentoring skills
• Proficiency in financial systems and ERP/accounting software
• Strong communication and presentation skills

• Master’s in finance, Accounting, or Business Admin
• CPA or ACCA or Equivalent is an added advantage
• At least 10 years financial management; 5+ years as Finance Head; NGO sector with donor funding
• Experience in payroll accounting and statutory tax computations (e.g., PAYE, pension, and other statutory deductions)
• Demonstrated experience in working with financial management systems (e.g., D365 or similar ERP systems)
• Experience in donor-funded or NGO/project-based accounting is an added advantage