The job requirements for a Strategic Finance Lead position at a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) typically include a combination of educational qualifications, extensive experience in financial management and the non-profit sector, and specific technical and soft skills.
Education & Professional Qualifications
Required: A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is essential.
Preferred: Many employers prefer or require advanced professional qualifications, such as being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), ACCA, or CIMA certified. An MBA may also be an asset.
Experience
Financial Management: Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in finance management roles, including accounting, auditing, internal controls, and tax management.
Leadership: At least 3-5 years of experience in a leadership or management role, demonstrating managerial, supervisory, and team leadership skills.
NGO/Non-Profit Sector: Prior work experience with an international or local NGO is highly preferred or required, with in-depth knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles and grant compliance.
Donor Requirements: Specific experience managing funds from major international donors (e.g., USAID, EU, Danida) is crucial, including a deep understanding of their financial reporting requirements and regulations (e.g., knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) for USG funding).
Systems: Experience with financial and grant management systems, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, and advanced proficiency in MS Excel are often required.
Key Skills & Competencies
Technical Skills
Strategic Planning: Ability to lead the development and execution of the organization’s financial strategy, annual budgeting process, and multi-year forecasting.
Financial Reporting & Compliance: Expertise in timely and accurate financial reporting to donors, boards, and regulatory bodies, ensuring statutory compliance (e.g., charity legislation, FIRS, etc.).
Grant & Contract Management: Guiding contract and grant compliance, donor reporting, and cost recovery strategies; experience with proposal budgeting for fundraising teams.
Risk Management: Developing and enforcing internal controls to safeguard organizational assets and managing financial risks, particularly in complex or conflict areas.
Soft Skills
Leadership: Strong leadership, negotiation, and people management skills, with the ability to motivate and build capacity within the finance team.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial data to non-financial stakeholders and leadership in a clear, compelling way.
Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities to evaluate complex financial situations and inform decision-making.
Integrity & Discretion: Proven integrity and ability to manage sensitive information confidentially.
Adaptability: Flexibility to manage high workloads, prioritize multiple tasks with tight deadlines, and work effectively in diverse cultural contexts.
For those interested in pursuing a career in NGO finance, job boards like ReliefWeb, Impactpool, and CharityJob frequently list relevant opportunities.