Location: Tunis
Reports to: Country Director, Tunis
Duration: 1 June 2015 – 31 March 2016 (with possible extension)
Application instructions:
Candidates should send their CV and a cover letter (explaining their interest in the post and competencies to fulfil it), a list of three references and salary expectation to: tunisia@bbcmediaaction.org
This is a local post applicable to people who have the legal right to live and work in Tunisia - national terms and conditions will apply.
Application deadline: Sunday 7 June 2015
Background:
BBC Media Action is the BBC’s International Development Charity. We currently work in 28 countries around the world, producing radio and television programmes, social media, mobile phone services and enabling face to face dialogue to build knowledge and bring about shifts in attitudes, norms and behaviour.
Job purpose:
Our programmes in Tunisia, Algeria and Libya are run from two offices in Tunis. Our work provides a targeted training and development programme to support development of the media sector and supports national TV broadcasters to develop news, factual and public service programming.
As Head of Finance and Administration, you will be an integral part of the local Senior Management Team and will be responsible for ensuring that BBC Media Action activities in the Maghreb are implemented according to highest standards of financial management and administration in compliance with BBC and BBC Media Action values and regulations as well as Tunisian law and regulations.
You will be responsible for the overall financial management of the Tunisia office and for assisting both our Tunisia/Algeria Country Director and our Libya office Country Director (with programmes currently run from Tunis) with shared functions, compliance issues and business development, whilst also managing the payroll for all teams.
Main duties:
Financial management and control
- Managing BBC Media Action’s financial transactions for Tunisia programmes. Leading on all aspects of financial and administrative management for the Tunisia office under the supervision of BBC Media Action Country Director and its London Finance and MEE (Middle East and Europe) teams
- Maintaining the financial integrity of the BBC Media Action Tunisia office, ensuring full compliance with policies and procedures, particularly around cash, advances, banking and assets
- Reviewing and updating the office’s financial, procurement and human resources policies and procedures and ensuring that all staff are trained to understand and comply with these
- Being the primary source of expertise for BBC Media Action Tunisia staff on financial best practice
- Ensuring a fair selection of quality vendors and service providers and fairness and transparency in the awarding of all contracts; overseeing local procurement
- Occasionally travelling to London, other countries and field sites to undergo training and to undertake audits and spot checks as appropriate
- Leading on the response to internal audit reports. Being the main point of contact on financial and administrative matters with in-country donor organizations and building good working relationships with donor finance officers
Financial and management accounting
- Supervising the Finance and Administration Assistant to maintain the in-country financial systems and ensure all income and expenditure is accurately recorded
- Leading on migration of financial data and processes to a newly implemented finance system
- Preparing monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports and forecasts in accordance with internal deadlines and donor reporting deadlines and ad-hoc requirements (in collaboration with the Project Accountant in London and under the review of Country Director)
- Preparing monthly actual versus budget analysis and other management information that may be required from time to time. Communicating the financial status of projects to relevant staff in country using financial reports
- Overseeing and operating bank accounts for both the Tunisian and Libyan programme
- Preparing regular cash flow forecasts
Business development
- Supporting and co-ordinating business development in country for our Tunisia, Algeria and Libya operations
- Leading on the preparation of budgets for project proposals and ensuring that shared costs are appropriately allocated
Compliance
- Supporting the Country Director to ensure that Algeria, Tunisia and Libya operations are fully compliant with in-country laws, regulations and government approvals, including local tax laws and advising the Country Director and others as appropriate, on financial and legislative changes that may affect BBC Media Action’s operations
- Ensuring that both offices are compliant with registration and statutory financial requirements and adapting financial policies and procedures as necessary
- Ensuring compliance with all financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting requirements of donors, and that all expenditure is incurred and reported in line with donor agreements
Human resources management
- Developing Human Resources policies for both the Tunisian and Libyan operations are in line with overall BBC policy and ensuring all contracts and policies are in compliance with local/national regulations
- Developing and reviewing the monthly payroll for both offices and ensuring that all local taxes are appropriately accounted for and paid
- Supervising the Finance and Administration Assistant to ensure that up-to-date HR records are maintained
- Co-ordinating recruitment processes and ensuring transparency in advertising and selection of candidates
Management, training and capacity building
- Managing and supervising the work of the Tunis office Administrative and Finance Assistant and the Driver and Logistics Assistant and supporting them in developing their skills in finance, administration and logistics
- Ensuring line-managed staff are adequately informed of the tasks they are responsible for and that activities are delivered according to agreed timeframe
Administration and logistics
- Supervising the maintenance of the office and equipment (office furniture/equipment, utilities, sanitation, security and transport)
- Managing relationships with suppliers and ensuring that all payments are made on time
- Ensuring all contracts, risk assessments, expenses reimbursement, travel, accommodation, venue bookings, and all other administration and logistics tasks are dealt with according to deadlines and activity plans and in the most efficient and professional manner
- Ensuring the Tunisia office is fully compliant with BBC and Tunisian health and safety requirements
Required skills, knowledge and experience:
- Qualified accountant
- Fluency in English, Arabic and French is essential
- At least 3 years post qualification experience working at management level within a recognised NGO or INGO
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities. In particular, experience of managing multiple, complex budgets at the same time
- Experience of working with, and reporting to, international donors
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to quickly establish effective working relationships with financial and non-financial staff and key stakeholders
- Able to communicate effectively at all levels within the organisation
- Excellent IT skills with experience of operating computer-based financial management systems. Competent to advanced level in Microsoft Office, in particular Microsoft Excel
- Strong team player able to work effectively under pressure, demonstrate patience to team members, explain financial responsibilities to team members, train others in financial management
- Willingness and ability to take the initiative in identifying problems, suggesting solutions, and implementing agreed solutions
- An eye for detail and a concern for accuracy, together with the ability to keep sight of the broad picture
- Able to work in a fast paced environment
Key competencies:
The following competencies (behaviours and characteristics) have been identified as key to success in the job. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate these competencies.
- Planning and Organisation – Able to think ahead in order to establish an efficient and appropriate course of action for self and others. Prioritises and plans activities taking into account all the relevant issues and factors such as deadlines, staffing and resources requirements
- Resilience – Can maintain personal effectiveness by managing own emotions in the face of pressure, set-backs or when dealing with provocative situations. Can demonstrate an approach to work that is characterised by commitment, motivation and energy
- Decision Making – Ready and able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the consequences of the decision made
- Influencing and Persuading – Ability to present sound and well-reasoned arguments to convince others. Can draw from a range of strategies to persuade people in a way that results in agreement or behaviour change
- Communication – Ability to get one’s message understood clearly by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information
- Managing relationships – Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people
- Self-Development – Able to identify and apply opportunities for learning and development
