Director of Finance at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director of Finance

Requisition ID: 255
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Organization: African Union Commission – AUC
Reports to: Deputy Chairperson
Department: Sustainable Environment & Blue Economy
Number of Direct Reports: 5
Number of Indirect Reports: 73
Job Grade: D1

Purpose of Job

• To provide strategic direction and leadership in managing the operations of the Finance Directorate in order to achieve the AU strategic objectives and goals.

Main Functions

• Develops and executes the overall strategy for the Directorate and ensures alignment with overall organizational strategy.
• Manages and supervises employees within the directorate, ensures the timely delivery of the directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation.
• Drives the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions.
• Ensures the delivery of the directorate’s annual targets in line with the organization’;s overall goals and maintains robust departmental monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Divisions within the Directorate
• Manages the work of the Directorate and supervises direct reports to ensure their effective performance in line with the organizations performance management policy and system.
• Leads the Directorate and ensures effective management of personnel, budget, performance, program quality, employee relations matters and training in conformity with relevant rules, policies and procedures.
• Builds and maintains good working relations and collaboration with other directorates/departments.
• Develops and maintains regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member State and partner institution.
• Coordinates meetings between the organization and relevant partners;
• Ensures the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and other reports
• Ensures the effective management of funds contributed to the organization;
• Implements and maintains thematic partnerships in support of the mandate of the Directorate.
• Develops and oversees policy development and guidelines in line with the organizations legal framework
• Designs policies consistent with the AU’s strategic goals and mandate in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area
• Prepares and oversees integrated programs, projects and overall activities of the organization.
• Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures (SOP&s) for the Directorate.
• Manages risks, develops mitigation measures and ensures business continuity of the Directorate.

Specific Responsibilities

• Develops and implements effective, responsive and efficient financial and budgetary strategies, policies and management systems, as per the international accounting standards
• Plans, develops and implement Financial Accounting policies and policy to execute budgetary programmes, Rules, Regulations and Procedures.
• Collects and manages statutory and other funds contributed to the African Union.
• Ensures inter-departmental coordination in programming and the budgetary process.
• Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of programmes in realizing organizational goals and objectives.
• Promotes sound financial management by ensuring adherence and compliance with International Public Sector accounting standards (IPSAS), the AU Financial Rules and Regulations, Policies, Systems and Procedures;
• Seeks continuous improvement and cost effectiveness in the delivery of services.
• Provides accurate, reliable and timely accounts of the Union and professional and strategic advice to Member States and internal stakeholders
• Advises the Deputy Chairperson on policy and strategy matters and assists in developing financial management policies, programming guidelines, accounting system, budgeting guidelines and assets safeguard systems
• Prepares the programme budget of the Commission and follows up its implementation
• Organizes coordination meetings on programming and budgeting
• Initiates, manages and implement financial policies
• Promotes awareness of best practices in financial management and internal financial control systems
• Controls budget execution and process payments
• Invests excess liquidity as authorized
• Facilitates the conduct of external audit
• Ensures effective implementation of Financial Rules and Regulations;
• Ensures safe custody of all liquid Assets of the Union
• Ensures prompt recovery of all receivables owed to the Union
• Produces periodic financial and budget execution reports and annual financial statements and other specific mission reports, in accordance with Financial Rules and Regulations;
• Develops, maintains financial and accounting rules and procedures;
• Performs any other relevant duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Master’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field with fifteen (15) years of relevant work experience in Accounting, Finance, Auditing or Financial
• Management out of which eight (8) years at managerial level and five (5) years at supervisory level .
• Membership of an internationally recognized professional accounting body (CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA, Expert Comptable)is mandatory.
• Relevant specialist professional qualifications are an added advantage.

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
• Ability to develop multi-annual plans and budgets based on Result Based Management
• Communication and reporting skills with internal and external stakeholders;
• Computer literacy – knowledge of major accounting systems especially SAP – ERP shall be an advantage
• Interpersonal skills and ability to organize and motivate others and to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Drafting and reporting skills
• Planning and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Driving Change
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationships
• Responsibility
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking and Problem Solving
• Job Knowledge
• Drive for Results
• Innovation and taking initiative

Tenure of Appointment

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Remuneration

• Indicative basic salary of US$ 78, 138.00 (D1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
18th May, 2021.