Finance Director

Company Description

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The USAID Youth for Empowerment Activity will reach 25,000 South Sudanese youth in 14 counties across six states (Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Upper Nile, Central Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal) over a four-year period. This community-based intervention will establish a vibrant Youth Corps and support local organizations enhance youth-friendly service offerings. The USAID Youth Empowerment Activity will tailor its intervention to meet the realities of each implementation area and to best support a diverse group of youth with varied capacities and aspirations to reach their full potential.

Job Description

Position Description

The Finance Director will be responsible for overseeing the overall financial management of the project, as well as complying with USAID and EDC policies. This includes administration of project operations, forecasting and tracking project expenditures, and overseeing daily financial management. Additionally, the Finance Director will supervise the Finance Manager. S/he will be responsible for preparing timely and accurate project financial reports, overseeing procurement functions, tracking the project budget/expenses, and maintaining project financial records. The Finance Director will report to the Chief of Party. This is full-time position based in Juba, South Sudan (no relocation allowances are provided for this position). The anticipated start date is February 2025.

Essential functions include (but not limited to):

• Forms a part of the senior management team along with the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party;
• Directs and supports the Financial Manager to manage all financial issues of the project, to improve procedures, increase efficiency and provide the means to accomplish project goals; 
• Provides oversight for the day- to-day financial operations of the project office;
• Monitors project spending, including quarterly analysis to identify over- or under-spending, bringing any issues to the attention of the Chief of Party for action; 
• Work closely with the Financial Analyst and Finance & Grant Specialist to review and update financial projections for the project pipeline, ensuring alignment with budgetary forecasts and future funding needs;
• Monitors advances to employees and ensures timely liquidation; 
• Ensures timely preparation and submission of statutory returns, reports and tax compliance; 
• Ensures the accurate and timely generation of payroll;
• Works closely with the Accountant to ensure all employees and vendors are vetted according to USAID and EDC policies; 
• Serves as a liaison with EDC Home Office Financial Analyst to facilitate financial management processes including: contributing to preparation of cost to complete projections, providing guidance and oversight on project financial management, and participating, as appropriate, in resolution of financial issues; 
• Models standards of accuracy, timeliness and adherence to policies and guidelines that enables others to perform with due diligence; 
• Ensures compliance and adherence to USAID regulations and procedures including maintenance of internal controls, accountability of EDC resources for all financial and operational issues; 
• Manages with support from EDC’s Director of Corporate Compliance any external financial audits and ensures that management responses to internal financial reviews are implemented in a timely manner;
• Reviews management comments from audit reports and works with the Chief of Party and Director of Corporate Compliance to ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken; 
• Oversees work of accounting team to ensure timely and accurate submission of monthly transaction reporting to the Home Office, including preparation of wire transfer requests; 
• Provides support to costing and budget realignment efforts in collaboration with HO Finance Manager;
• Manage the tracking and documentation of cost share contributions, including volunteer time, ensuring all backup materials are maintained for compliance with EDC policies and donor regulations;
• Keeps track of accruals and commitments and provides up-to-date reports as needed;
• Ensures that accounting staff work smoothly with technical teams to accomplish project goals in a manner consistent with policies and procedures; models collaboration with technical leaders; 
• Provide technical support and training to project staff in financial procedures, budget management, and reporting;
• Work closely with Finance & Grant Specialist to designs and oversees training programs to continuously improve individual and project capacity and ensure high standards of accountability, ethics and compliance;
• Work closely with Finance & Grant Specialist to monitors the liquidation of AO advances and ensures that the accounting team collaborates effectively with AOs for timely processing;
• Conduct periodic internal audits of EDC transactions to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial records;
• Other duties, as assigned. 

Qualifications

The Finance Director shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s degree in business, accounting, finance, international development or other related field.

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible and directly relevant experience in accounting and/or financial management, including the management and oversight of multimillion-dollar, USAID-funded project budgets and financial reporting;
• Extensive knowledge of and financial management experience with USAID funded-programs;
• Demonstrated and detailed understanding of financial management and accounting principles;
• Proven ability to manage a team and corresponding workflow;
• Proficiency with QuickBooks accounting system or similar software required; 
• Proficiency with MS Word and MS Excel required; 
• Knowledge of South Sudan labor and tax laws;
• Must be able to work within a cross cultural setting, negotiate diplomatically, and function well under pressure; 
• Detail-oriented and organized.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.

Additional Information

Job closing date: January 16, 2025 

To apply, Applicants are encouraged to visit the Careers Page at: https://go.edc.org/SouthSudanJobs

Only if technical difficulties occur, applicants may send their resumes to: [email protected], listing “Job Title-Finance Director” in the Subject Line. Emails submitted without a resume and/or Job Code in the Subject Line will not be reviewed.

Or hand deliver applications, enclosed in an envelope to Afex Security Reception to the attention of Chief of Party, Education Development Center, (EDC), USAID Youth Empowerment Activity. Indicate on the envelope the position applied for.

Applications will be progressively reviewed as they are received. Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified. No phone calls, please. 

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

This announcement is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this notice are the sole responsibility of Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. 

Note: EDC doesn’t solicit for money from applicants at any level of the recruitment & selection process.