Finance Manager

Job Summary

The Finance Manager is a key leadership role within the ACT Secretariat, responsible for ensuring financial integrity, sustainability, and compliance across the organization. This position actively engages with the Partnership and Fundraising Hub and Operations Hub to align financial strategies with ACT’s mission and decentralized model. The Finance Manager provides strategic guidance, while actively engaging in day-to-day financial and accounting operations. This role is critical to ensuring ACT Alliance's financial health, operational effectiveness, and alignment with its mission across diverse global contexts.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy and Planning

• Develop and execute a financial strategy aligned with ACT’s mission and priorities, ensuring synergy with the Partnership and Fundraising Hub on donor compliance and resource mobilization.
• Advise the Senior Management Team (SMT) and Hub Leaders on financial best practices, risk management, and budgeting.
• Mentor budget holders across Hubs to enhance financial literacy and decision-making.

Financial and Accounting Operations:

• Oversee all financial operations (general ledger, payroll, reporting), ensuring compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and ACT policies.
• Lead budgeting/forecasting in collaboration with the Operations Hub, ensuring real-time financial tracking and transparency.
• Provide hands-on oversight to ensure all financial operations are conducted to the highest standards.
• Monitor cash flow and multi-currency transactions, aligning with regional and donor requirements.

Financial Management and Fundraising:

• Engage with the Partnership and Fundraising Hub to:
  • Optimize financial structures for grants and donor funding.
  • Ensure accurate financial reporting for proposals and audits.
  • Support donor relations by providing transparent financial data and compliance assurances.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Implement robust internal controls, safeguarding assets across Hubs and regions.
• Ensure adherence to donor guidelines, legal standards, and ACT’s accountability frameworks (aligned with the Learning Hub).

Operational Leadership:

• Streamline procurement, HR operations, and administrative workflows with the Operations Hub to enhance efficiency.
• Collaborate with Programmatic Hub leaders to ensure project budgets align with strategic goals.

Team Leadership:

• Build capacity within the finance team, fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.
• Promote cross-Hub collaboration, particularly with Operations on systems and Partnerships on donor reporting.

Supervision & Accountability:

• Direct Reports to the General Secretary and liaises with the Executive Director, Head of Humanitarian Affairs and Thematic Programme Managers (Climate Justice, Gender, Migration, Advocacy, etc.)
• Lead and supervise a pool of finance coordinators and officers.

Skills and Experiences

Education:

• Advanced degree in finance/accounting; CPA/CFA preferred.
  Experience:
• 10+ years in financial management, including multi-country operations and donor compliance (e.g., UN, EU, faith-based partners).
  Skills:
• Expertise in accounting software (e.g., Microsoft Business Central) and multi-currency systems.
• Analytical rigor with attention to detail.
  Languages:
• Fluency in English; French/Spanish an asset.

Competences and Behaviours

• Commitment to ACT’s values, with a focus on collaboration across Hubs.
• Innovative problem-solving and adaptability in a decentralized model.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to motivate and influence diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic Agility to balance decentralized Hub autonomy with global coherence.
• Faith-Sensitive Approach to embody ACT’s values, respecting the alliance’s ecumenical identity.