Director of Finance - African Union

Job Title: Director of Finance at African Union

Organ/Department: The AfCFTA Secretariat

Post level: D1

Reporting to: Secretary General – AfCFTA

Duty Station: Accra, Ghana

Number of Positions: 1

JOB PURPOSE

Reporting to the SecretaryGeneral, the Director of Finance shall be responsible for all matters related to financial management, accounting planning and budgeting affairs of the AfCFTA to facilitate the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. Providing technical leadership in development and implementation of Financial Accounting Policies, Procedures, Rules and Regulations to ensure efficient functioning of the directorate, responsible for the overall management of directorate’s human resources, budget, performance, quality and training in conformity with relevant AU rules and regulations.

SUMMARY OF KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. General management responsibilities

• Determine and execute the directorate’s strategy and align to the AfCFTA Secretariat’s overall strategy;
• Promote sound financial management practices by ensuring adherence and compliance with International Public Sector accounting standards (IPSAS), the AU Financial Rules and Regulations, Systems and Procedures;
• Build staff capacity and continually improve the cost effectiveness in the delivery of the directorate’s mandate;
• Develop and oversee policy development guidelines;
• Build and maintain a strategic plan to form good working relations with other directorate/department;
• Develop and maintain regular working relations with top level stakeholders in appropriate agencies of Member States and partners; and
• Prepare periodic financial and budget execution reports and annual financial statements and other reports.

B. Specific responsibilities

• Establish funding structures and mobilize funds from State Parties and partners in accordance with the African Union Regulations and Rules to support the implementation of the AfCFTA;
• Prepare the Annual Budget of the Secretariat for the approval of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Trade;
• Propose draft decisions relating to financial and budgetary matters for the AfCFTA Secretariat;
• Make representations to the States Parties with respect to the functioning of the budget;

• Coordinate and take lead on the annual audit processes both internal and external;
• Oversee the annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the senior management team, administer and review all financial plans and budgets, monitor progress and changes and regularly update the SecretaryGeneral on the AfCFTA Secretariat’s financial status;
• Advise the SecretaryGeneral on financial strategy matters and provide the Secretariat with financial policy, programming guidelines, accounting system, budgeting guidelines and assets safeguard systems;
• Ensure effective implementation and compliance with Financial Rules and Regulations;
• Ensure annual “bulk” approvals e.g. procurement plan, meetings and conference calendars for Secretariat’s Directorates are up to date and in line with approved budget;
• Develop processes for identifying intradepartmental overlaps and provide advice to the SecretaryGeneral on handling of interdepartmental overlaps;
• Initiate and take necessary actions to collect funds of and for the AfCFTA Secretariat;
• Invest excess liquidity as authorized and guided by the Financial Rules and Regulations;
• Ensure safe custody of all liquid Assets of the AfCFTA Secretariat;
• Ensure prompt recovery of all receivables owed to the AfCFTA Secretariat;
• Produce periodic financial and budget execution reports and annual financial statements and other specific mission reports, in accordance with Financial Rules and Regulations;
• Responsible and accountable for managing the human resources component of the Directorate of Finance of the AfCFTA Secretariat;
• Propose training programmes relating to integrated budgetprogramme design, collaborative implementation, monitoring and reporting;
• Promote awareness of best practices in financial management and internal financial control systems;
• Provide technical guidance and ensure efficient functioning of supervised Divisions;
• Build and maintain good working relations with other Directorates and Organs of the African Union including the AU Commission;
• Effectively Organize coordination meetings on programming and budgeting
• Perform any other related functions as may be determined from time to time by the SecretaryGeneral. 

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