Manager, Finance Operations

Location: Delhi, Lusaka, Nairobi, Dakar, Rabat

About IDinsight 

We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission is to use data and evidence to help leaders combat poverty worldwide.

IDinsight is a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organization that helps global development leaders maximize their social impact. We tailor a wide range of data and evidence tools, including randomized evaluations and machine learning, to help decision-makers design effective programs and rigorously test what works to support communities. We work with governments, multilateral agencies, foundations, and innovative non-profit organizations in Asia and Africa. Our work spans various sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in various rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support clients’ use of data and evidence for routine and major decision-making.
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches.
• Create and share tools, knowledge, and ideas that expand the use of data and evidence for social good.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 200 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries worldwide.  Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.  

About the the Manager, Financial Operations role

The Manager, Financial Operations oversees the areas of finance that occur between and across the financial planning and accounting functions, and he/she will report directly to the CFO.  These operational areas include, but are not limited to, Treasury functions, such as Cash Management and Cash Forecasting, Procurement, Billing and Receivables, financial governance, due diligence, and policy.  The Manager will also manage our finance vendor contracts and coordinate financial projects which span across the organization.  The Manager will work with the CFO to create and present reporting for senior leadership, donors, and other stakeholders.  In addition, the Manager will support Accounting on audit coordination and IRS reporting such as form 990, US GAAP research and compliance, and will coordinate other special projects on behalf of the CFO.

This role is ideal for an experienced finance professional with strong organization skills, who is looking to further broaden their experience in the finance function within an organization, and get exposure to cross-organizational issues, projects, and executive leadership.  This would also be an excellent role for an experienced financial professional looking to transition to the Social Sector and/or candidates from a consulting or accounting firm background who are transitioning to working within a company’s finance organization.

The Manager should have experience in accounting, preferably including US GAAP, and Internal controls, as well as exposure to project management, with demonstrated success working across multiple functions in an organization.  Prior work in international multi-entity environments is preferred.  Those applying should expect a significant amount of work produced directly on their own and will also coordinate work across the organization.

Responsibilities

Treasury and Cash Forecasting (15-20%)

• Oversee and administer the banking relationships of the organization in multiple countries, and ensure that transactions are handled in the most cost-effective manner possible
• Ensure appropriate management of cash balances across the organization’s legal entities in various countries
• Ensure appropriate controls over cash transactions exist, are functioning as intended, and are monitored
• Work together with financial planning team on monthly cash forecasting, and proactively identify future actions to manage cash effectively

Procurement, Billing, and Finance Vendor management (15-25%)

Oversee the procurement process

• • Ensure appropriate policy and process vendor management, vendor selection and bidding processes
  • Support client facing teams with request for proposal and bidding processes
  • Ensure selections are appropriately documented
  • Complete due diligence on vendors

Oversee external financial vendors

• • Lead RFP process for financial vendors, including renewal processes for auditors
  • Negotiate contracts and renewals, where applicable
  • Manage 3rd party software relationships, and ensure appropriate billing for users
  • Implement appropriate vendor management processes
  • Ensure due diligence, controls, and adherence to policies, for processes and transactions related to vendors, including data security, OFAC compliance, AML, and other policies

 Billing and Accounts Receivable

• • Oversee billing to clients
  • Ensure appropriate follow-up on amounts owed by clients,
  • Monitor work in process balances
  • Provide appropriate reporting to management on status of client balances

Financial Controls & Governance (15-25%)

• Oversee preparation of IRS Form 990, working with external accounting firm
• Prepare internal financial due diligence requirements for (potential) funders and clients
• Oversee internal finance policies
• Update Finance policies and procedures
• Ensure appropriate documentation of processes
• Ensure finance compliance with data security policies and procedures
• Support accounting team with tracking, monitoring, and executing compliance to local policies and procedures
• Identify, manage, and monitor enterprise risks that are related to finance
• Coordinate with legal on compliance and governance matters

Finance Project Management and Leadership Financial Support (25-40%)

• Coordinate across all finance functions and with other Global support functions and regions, on projects and processes than span across the organization.
• Working with Senior Accounting Manager, Coordinate the annual audits for both consolidated and local audits
• Provide Ad-hoc analysis, Reporting, and Presentations to support leadership on financial strategy and execution
• Communicate effectively with teams across the organization to ensure process are rolled out effectively initially and continue to function effectively

Qualifications

• 8+ years of work experience in finance, with varied experience that covers all or most of the following: Financial planning, financial reporting, Accounting, Internal Controls, and Treasury
• Demonstrated success at building effective processes
• Demonstrated ability to prepare effective presentations and other communications
• Experience in a project-based client service environment highly desirable
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or other relevant area required. Master’s degree in a related area is helpful but not required.
• Professional accounting qualification - CPA/ACA/ACCA part II or equivalent strongly preferred. Experience with US GAAP is very useful.
• Skills and attributes:
• Highly organized and able to work independently
• Thrives in fast paced environments and is excited by opportunities to explore and implement new ideas as our organization grows and changes
• Proactive attitude with a bias to action
• Analytical approach, and experience modeling financial scenarios
• Excellent communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate financial information clearly
• Strong project management and change management skills
• Ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams located across many countries

Professional development

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy and have been noted highlights of teammates’ experiences. IDinsighters receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and considerable autonomy when ready. They maintain professional development plans and are provided "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen various skills. Real-time feedback is embedded in our culture, and a formal structure enables maximum professional growth. Additionally, teammates have access to an annual professional development stipend that they are encouraged to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

Nuts & bolts

Location

The position is located in Delhi, Lusaka, Nairobi, Dakar, Rabat.

Start date

The start date of this position is flexible, although there is the potential to start almost immediately. We expect a minimum one-year commitment, with regular professional development conversations and potential for a long-term career at IDinsight.

Work authorization

IDinsight can sponsor employment visas for all nationalities in these locations; however, we will prioritize candidates who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work authorization in the aforementioned countries. All candidates not currently located in our country offices listed above will be expected to relocate to their office locations at the onset of their employment.

Compensation

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with the qualifications and experiences IDinsight is hiring for and competitive within the global development sector. We are especially proud of the people-focused benefits we offer, including comprehensive international health insurance, including mental health coverage; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; relocation benefits; a travel stipend; technology and work from home stipends; a professional development budget; and more.

Please note, as a non-profit, we are unable to provide compensation similar to leading private sector organizations.

How to apply

Please click the "Apply for this job online" button at the top right. Applications wiil be reviewed on a rolling basis. The application asks various questions for us to get to know you and requires a CV and cover letter. 

Please ensure that your CV includes relevant professional and personal experience and details on academic qualifications. CVs can range from one to two pages. Please note that headshot photographs, parental information, birth dates, marital status, and other personal information not relevant to the application do not need to be included in your CV. Additionally, we strongly encourage you to use your cover letter to highlight why you want to work for IDinsight specifically and what has prepared you to succeed in the role you’re applying for. A customized cover letter is an important part of IDinsight’s recruiting process as it allows us to understand your motivations for the position, relevant skills, and clarity of writing.

More information, including details on IDinsight’s hiring process and frequently asked questions, can be found online at IDinsight Careers. Any queries should be directed to careers@IDinsight.org. 

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work. 

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is an equal opportunity employer and strives to create a diverse and supportive workplace.