Finance Manager

Job Description

                                                                       Helen Keller Intl 

                                                    Job Announcement – External/Internal 

                                                                      Finance Manager 

                                                                 (Freetown, Sierra Leone) 

Job Type: Full-time 

Location: Freetown 

Start Date: May 2026 

Reports to: Country Director. 

Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners  with communities striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By delivering the  essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition and clear vision, we help millions of  people create lasting changes in their own lives. Working in more than 20 countries – across  Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States – and together with a global community of  supporters, we are ensuring every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their  true potential.  

We are currently seeking a Finance Manager in Sierra Leone to manage all aspects of the  finance function and to Support the integration between accounting, finance, and program  staff towards the common goal of ensuring that project objectives are met. The Manager will  serve as a thought partner to the Finance Director Burkina Faso & Sierra Leone to analyze  and maintain the financial health of the program portfolio.  

Functional Relationships 

Helen Keller has a matrixed reporting structure. Regular communication and a spirit of  teamwork among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this  structure thrive. 

The Finance Manager reports directly to the Zone Director, Guinea, Niger, and Sierra Leone/Finance  Director Burkina Faso & Sierra Leone and is a key member of the Country Finance Team. The  position directly supervises a team of staff at different professional skill levels, works closely with  colleagues at all levels of Helen Keller’s global management structure, especially subject matter  experts in accounting, budget and finance, business development, finance systems and grants  compliance.  

Scope of the Position 

The Finance Manager Supports the Finance Director Burkina Faso & Sierra Leone in the overall  financial management of the country office portfolio which is be composed of projects funded by  foreign governments (FDDO) and/or other multi-lateral and privately funded initiatives. S/he will  support the Finance Director to manage a collaborative effort with country office and global  management colleagues to ensure adherence to Helen Keller policies and procedures, maintain 

strong internal controls, and maintenance of the general ledger and all other accounting functions.

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Specific Responsibilities 

Overall Management and Leadership 

• Under the supervision of the Finance Director, work closely with the Program Management  team to monitor burn rates, pipelines, and other aspects of country office financial health.  Flag unusual budget variances or problems and recommend corrective action.  
• In collaborative effort with program managers, ensure high-quality financial planning,  management, reporting and auditing of all programs, including thorough budget preparation and monitoring.  
• Be familiar with finance and other systems in the organization and optimize utilization to  achieve efficiencies. 
• Review and assess status of the country office policies, procedures, and workflows, identify  gaps or outdated policies and recommend improvements. 
• Keep abreast of changes in laws and regulations of local authorities (e.g., consortium of non governmental organizations, Tax Department) and constituents that impact Helen Keller’s  operations and ensure country office adherence. 
• Support in Building a highly effective Finance team, recruiting, supervising, mentoring, and  evaluating staff, and engaging in frequent performance conversations with team members. • Delegate responsibilities, consult with, and guide staff to achieve goals and contribute to an  atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development. 
• Identify and implement best practices in financial operations. Participate in international work  groups assigned to develop global policies and/or optimize systems and procedures. 

Budget and Grants Management  

• Maintain a complete financial knowledge of the portfolio of awards in the country office. • Support the preparation and analysis of the annual and mid-term budget of the  country office. as well as re-forecasts, as needed. 
• Work with the Finance Director and in Collaborate with Business Development unit to prepare  proposal budgets, budget narratives and budget amendments. Review budgets to ensure  conformity with the work plan. 
• Review and analyze impact of cost extensions, no-cost extensions, and other budget  realignments. 
• Conduct monthly monitoring of project implementation rates and share variance  analysis reports with Finance Director for strategic decisions and actions • Ensure invoices, financial reports, analysis of accruals, forecasts and other financial  deliverables for awards are completed accurately and on a timely basis.  
• Reconcile donor reports to the general ledger (cash and expenses).  
• Track and report monthly project expenditures with the Finance Director for program actions. • Conduct field visits to sub-recipients and state offices as required, to assist in the assessment  of sub-recipients’ financial management and State team mentoring 
• Manage project start-up and/or closing processes, as needed. 
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of donor procedures and rules and regulations and ensure  compliance. 

Accounting and General Ledger Management 

• Perform, and engage hands-on as needed, with accounting and finance staff to ensure timely  and accurate general ledger maintenance, banking and cash management, accounts  payable, and payroll and procurement processes, for the primary office and any sub-offices. • Support Accounting functions and reviews to ensure that: 

o financial data is accurate and up to date for a timely monthly closing process.

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o general ledger balances are analyzed; 

o quality financial reports are produced according to donor and Helen Keller timetables o payroll is analyzed for accuracy and consistency before final approvals and payment o benefit and tax payments (social security contributions, taxes, etc.) are made on time  

with solid documentation of all payments and calculations to conform with local law  and Helen Keller Human Resources policies. 

o filing systems and archiving of financial records are maintained; 

o any contingent liabilities are tracked and reported to Finance Director 

o country and project audits are scheduled on a timely basis and that any corrective  action plans are fully implemented; manage and engage in process as needed. • Support the Finance Director efforts to Maintain cash flow to ensure that liquidity is  maintained; monitor currency fluctuations; establish sound electronic banking procedures  including preparation of accurate monthly bank reconciliations. 

Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in finance management, accounting, or an equivalent university  degree; ICAN or equivalent certification desirable plus 
• Professional experience of at least Ten years with at least five years in a similar  position, preferably in an international NGO, or equivalent combination of education  and experience. 
• Demonstrated experience with financial reporting, financial and general ledger  management, financial controls, and project management including demonstrated  ability to develop and monitor budgets and collaboratively manage operational  activities. 
• Interest in international development and public health programs as well as an  understanding of the synergy between the programmatic, operational, and financial  components in project design and implementation. 
• Analytical and conceptual skills, as well as the curiosity and learning agility necessary  to be successful in a growing organization with evolving financial and operating  systems. 
• Knowledge of donor regulations including foreign government development agencies,  and other multilateral development agencies. 
• Ability to negotiate/support negotiations effectively with donors, troubleshoot issues,  and take proactive approaches to improving financial and budget management  processes. 
• Excellent capacity building, team building/management, and coordination skills. An  ability to delegate responsibilities effectively and coach and mentor junior staff. • Well established and practiced organizational and planning skills. 
• Good oral and written English language skills, including the ability to clearly  communicate complex financial, compliance and operational issues into layperson  language. 
• Demonstrated high-level proficiency in the use of various financial related software  (spreadsheets, accounting packages).  
• Collaborative, flexible and solution oriented. Ability to work under pressure, maintain  balance when under stress and meet strict internal and donor deadlines.

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• Ability and willingness to flex work hours to accommodate multiple time zones, as  needed. 
• Demonstrable respect for all people regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender,  with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated  commitment to high professional ethical standards. 
• Personal commitment to Helen Keller’s mission and goals and the values embodied  by Helen Keller Intl’s co-founder, Helen Keller: compassion, grit, rigor, and optimism.  

To Apply  

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to 

SierraLeone.Recruitment@hki.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  

In the spirit of the extraordinary ability and vision of our founder, Helen Keller Intl fosters an  environment of fairness and belonging for our workforce. 

Helen Keller Intl is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to the principles of  equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. 

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