About Imagine Worldwide
All children have immense potential, but hundreds of millions don’t have access to the learning they need. Imagine Worldwide’s mission is to empower millions of children across Sub-Saharan Africa with the literacy and numeracy skills they need to reach their full potential. We provide an innovative education technology solution and implementation model to the global literacy/numeracy learning crisis using the onebillion application and various toolkits and systems to support implementation . Nine Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) across multiple countries and settings have shown dramatic learning gains, increased school attendance, and gender parity, all for less than $7 per child per year.
Imagine Worldwide partners with governments, organizations, and communities to provide child-directed, tablet-based learning that is accessible, effective, and affordable. We are a California-based (United States) nonprofit organization operating across seven Sub-Saharan African countries. Learn more on our website.
About the Role
The Finance and Administrative Officer will maintain accurate financial records, ensure proper documentation of transactions, and post journal entries as needed. He/she will assist in budget development, monitor expenditures, and provide regular budget reports. Managing cash flow, reconciling bank statements, and preparing financial statements are key tasks. Compliance with regulations and donor requirements, along with support for audits, is crucial. Tracking grants, preparing donor reports, and analyzing financial data for improvements are part of the role. Collaborating with departments to establish financial processes and providing guidance to teams are additional responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
Budgeting & Planning:
- Work along with the Finance Manager and the Director Finance & Admin in the preparation of proposal budgets as per the Imagine budgeting formats & requirements.
- As delegated by the Finance Manager and the Director Finance & Admin, participate in the Budgeting/ Business Planning process.
Balance Sheet Reconciliation:
- Review & reconcile all balance sheet accounts monthly ensuring that all issues are flagged timely to the Finance Manager.
- Update month-end balance sheet schedules and registers ensuring that balance sheet items are documented, known and evidenced.
- Ensure all balance sheet schedules are signed and uploaded in the Imagine Google Driver folder.
Financial Reporting:
- Ensure that month end reports and Fiscal Year end reports are accurate, complete, and submitted in a timely manner.
- As delegated by the Finance Manager, prepare some donor financial reports for both the Finance Manager and the Director of Finance & Admin’s review.
- As delegated by the Finance Manager, review financial reports submitted by the ISPs and provide immediate feedback as necessary.
- Ensure that ISP liquidations are correctly classified and that all the necessary journals are posted in the QuickBooks accounting software timely.
- Support the Finance Manager to prepare ISP cash projections and ensure that Imagine transfer funds to ISPs without delay.
- Work with the Finance Manager in the preparation of monthly Budget Vs Actual reports for active projects.
- Work with the Finance Manager to follow up on action point(s) with Program Managers for corrective action on transaction liquidations of the ISPs.
Treasury Management:
- Support the Finance Manager in the consolidation of the monthly/periodic cash forecasts and requests from the approved spend plans of the program teams.
- Support the Finance Manager in the weekly and monthly reconciliation of cash and banks.
Internal Controls & Audit:
- Assist the Finance Manager in maintaining robust and adequate financial internal control systems for cash management in the Country Office.
- Support the end-to-end process of both Internal & External audit processes ensuring the retrieval and evidence of transactions & the relevant documents.
Team Collaboration:
- Collaborate with other departments to ensure proper financial processes and controls are in place.
- Provide financial guidance and support to program managers and project teams.
Administrative Support:
- Manage incoming and outgoing correspondence, including emails and mail.
- Schedule and coordinate meetings, appointments, and travel logistics.
- Maintain office supplies and ensure the workplace is organized and functional.
- Support document filling, scanning and archiving.
- Provide general administrative support to the Executive Director and other team members as needed.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years experience in accounting and office administration, preferably in an NGO context.
- Strong knowledge of financial regulations and accounting principles.
- Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Office (Excel, word, PowerPoint); QuickBooks experience is a plus.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to multitask and work effectively in a team.
- Clear and professional communication skills.
- Professional certification in finance or accounting (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIMA) is an advantage.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Proven experience that includes:
- Professional certification in finance or accounting (e.g., ACCA, CIMA)
- Excellent understanding of budgets, financial processes, reporting requirements, and compliance regulations within donor-funded grants and contracts
- Proven track record in financial management, budgeting and reporting within a group or multinational structure
- Strong knowledge of financial regulations and accounting principles, as well as knowledge of donor funding and grant management
- Proficiency in accounting software, QuickBooks as well as and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
- Experience in risk management and fraud detection
- Ability to communicate financial information clearly, and excellent written and oral communication skills in English
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills and ability to proactively manage and resolve conflicts
- Ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and teams
- Strong organizational skills, superior attention to detail, ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
Qualities
- Passion for Imagine’s mission and vision
- Demonstrated commitment to equity in educational access and outcomes
- Passion for project management
- Demonstrated ability to think independently and solve problems
- Collaborative team player; clear and proactive communicator
- Flexible, adaptable, and able to work in a fast-paced, changing environment
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.
Location
The Finance and Administrative Officer must be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
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Imagine Worldwide is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
