Congo: Chief Financial Officer

Mission Statement:

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild lands through careful science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks. These activities change attitudes toward nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in sustainable interaction on both a local and a global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

Summary of Position Function:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports to the WCS Congo Country Director, with a dotted-line report to the Comptroller in New York (NY). The CFO is based in Brazzaville. This position is responsible for management of the financial systems, reporting to Central Africa Regional and New York headquarter offices and donors, country budgetary planning, financial reporting and controls, monitoring of and compliance with internal controls, conducting/coordinating operation reviews of project sites, and cash management.

Responsibilities will include:

• Develop and manage the overall country program budget (over 10 million USD)
• Provide monthly reports on spending against budget by individual project
• Verify severance and other salary related calculations completed by the Human Resources department
• Ensure financial data quality control
• Work with project managers/directors to generate donor reports.
• Work with project managers/directors and the WCS-NY office to produce budget proposals for potential donors.
• Assure timely accounting and reporting on all country project expenditures
• Assist in recruiting, training, and managing of financial and administrative staff for the country and field offices.
• Ensure the proper booking and posting of revenues and tracking of receivables
• Manage the cash flow of the program
  • Verify money requests from field offices
  • Regularly analyze assets and liability accounts

Qualification requirements:

• Bachelor degree in Business Administration, accounting major preferred. MBA or CPA a plus.
• Demonstrated ability in the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.
• Experience with managing large, complex budgets
• Staff management and training experience.
• French as well as English language skills.
• Significant experience with the financial management of government and agency grants and contracts –minimum 5 years.
• At least five years of experience managing a financial area for a corporation or non-profit organization.
• Willingness to travel to field sites
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as strong analytical skills.
• Proven managerial skill and ability to work in a team setting within an organization.

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by sending an application letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three references to the addresses below. Please include “Congo CFO” in the subject line of your email. Send to: africaapplications@wcs.org. Candidates must also apply online via the WCS career portal by searching job title at: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.