BACKGROUND

Cowater is a global international development consultancy firm that works with partners to deliver technical assistance to governments and the private sector in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Our key technical areas of focus include: public financial management and accountability, revenue reform, customs, trade and investment facilitation, conflict, stability and security, inclusive economic growth, sustainable extractives industries, social service delivery, climate adaptation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as women’s economic empowerment.     

Cowater works with a diversified set of development donors, including the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) the European Union (EU), the Nordic donors, the World Bank, and others. Cowater further counts on a dynamic and diverse team of professionals committed to designing and implementing projects that deliver lasting results for the clients and countries with whom we work.
   
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

Cowater International is seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Regional Finance Director with experience on donor-funded programmes to join our team in Ramallah, Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The Regional Finance Director will act as our financial lead for our large, £15m FCDO-funded economic development programme. The successful candidate will oversee all financial management functions as well as compliance of local financial and labour rules and regulations. The role will likely grow to oversee our expanding portfolio of programmes in the OPTs and the region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial oversight of project(s):

• Oversee financial management of projects according to commercial contracts; ensure compliance with donors’ financial obligations and budgets.
• Support project teams to monitor margin earned business plan targets as well as to manage/report our profits as per commercial contract requirements; suggest and implement profit optimisation strategies as needed.
• Closely monitor expenditures against project budgets; analyse variances and problem-solve any issues.
• Work with project teams to prepare modifications to contracts/budgets.
• Support Project Directors/Project Managers to prepare annual plans/budgets.
• Prepare financial reports as required for clients (e.g., quarterly and annual financial reports, budget variance reports, statements of eligible expenditures, etc.) or for Cowater HQ.
• Oversee the work of Project Financial Officers/Project Accountants to close the months-end (including transactions from field offices and post into head office accounting records); ensure all items from monthly closing checklist are completed.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate invoicing and payment processing. Prepare invoices for projects, as needed.
• Review bank reconciliation(s) for project bank account(s).
• Troubleshoot and problem-solve commercial issues on projects project teams.
• Set-up new projects for successful implementation on Cowater’s systems.
• Support Cowater BD teams in developing commercial strategies and winning budgets for new work in OPTs/the region.

 Corporate finance:

• Lead the annual external audit for the legal entity.
• Monitor short and long-term cash flows; making strategic decisions to optimise the flow of funds while balancing cash flow needs.
• Manage banking relationships and handling the release of all payments related to the legal entity.
• Provide financial statements to relevant stakeholders by established deadlines.
• Support the integration and the improvement of Cowater’s ERP systems and processes across various projects in the field.
• Review and approve payroll calculations and payments for the team, as well as overseeing timesheet and expenses postings.

Other:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with relevant Project Directors (PDs), Project Managers (PMs), and Team Leaders (TLs); clients’ finance focal points; Heads of HQ Finance; and in-country staff.
• Develop/mentor in-country Project Financial Officers/Project Accountants.
• Ensure overall compliance with local rules and regulations within our HR systems (e.g., payroll, staff benefits, contracts).
• Set-up integrated and streamlined processes and systems for our projects in the OPTs to generate efficiencies wherever possible.
• Conduct annual IATI financial reporting (for FCDO projects only).
• Perform other duties that may be required.