Finance and Administration Manager

Job Description

The Transforming Higher Education Systems (THES) project will help the higher education (HE) system in Malawi expand the nation’s pool of skilled and employable workforce to spur economic prosperity and self-reliance and enhance the country’s resilience to shocks. THES is committed to addressing gender, equity, and social inclusion needs for all Malawi youth, and focusing on sustainable, systemic capacity development.

The 5-year, USAID-funded project, implemented by Michigan State University (MSU), is seeking a Finance and Administration Manager (FAM) to join our Malawi-based project team.

Directly reporting to the MSU-based Fiscal Officer (FO) with daily oversight by the Chief of Party (COP), the FAM is responsible for ensuring sound management of financial, accounting, procurement, and human resources.

Key roles include:

• Provision of effective and prudent management of financial, accounting, procurement, and human resources, as well as provide guidance to financial and non-financial personnel.
• Overseeing the Management of the Project’s financial and administrative systems, processes and resources in line with best practice, relevant laws, and regulation.
• In collaboration with MSU, formulation of sound in-country financial and operational policies, procedures, and accounting systems that ensure effective management and accountability of funds.
• Overseeing the procurement of goods, works and services and their disposal in line with the policy guidelines of the funding agency and MSU.
• Ensure efficient provision of corporate services for the delivery of research and programmatic functions, including local procurement of goods and services in coordination with MSU and the in-country Project Management Unit (PMU), including: Preparing and conducting local tenders; and Maintaining a registry of local and regional vendors

• Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, and other financial, human resource, and procurement laws and regulations.
• Ensure timely preparation of budgets (including annual budgets and life-of-project budgets) and implementation of budgetary controls.
• Ensure compliance with funders’ requirements and MSU/project’s internal policies and procedures.
• Managing linkages with external auditors, banks, insurance, and other service providers to ensure accountability of the project resources.
• Ensure that the account records are always up to date, and are orderly, well kept, and readily available for reference and audit, when required.
• Ensure timely preparation of financial management reports. Create and maintain financial reporting and tracking systems that provide basic data on expenditure against the budget and develop/recommend cost cutting and compliant strategies where necessary.
• Liaise closely with Michigan State University on matters related to finance and accounting.
• Manage all project staff travel and logistics to ensure smooth project implementation, including any necessary approvals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

• A Bachelors’ degree in Finance, Business Administration, or relevant field.
• 3-4 years of professional experience managing project operations and financial and contractual aspects of international development projects, preferably USAID-funded projects.
• Strong analytical and computer skills, including extensive experience with Excel and accounting packages.
• Experience in logistics, procurement, and routine administrative office support.
• Collaborative and team-oriented approach to working with colleagues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail.
• Strong command of written and spoken English.

Desired qualifications

• Graduate degree in relevant field.
• Accounting certification.
• 10 years of work experience in accounting
• Past USAID project financial management experience

Required Application Materials:

Please submit the following:

1. a 1-page cover letter;
2. a detailed resume including a summary of relevant experiences and accomplishments; and
3. the names and full contact information for three or more references.

Submit application materials to: MalawiTHESjobs@gmail.com with the following in the subject line: FAM Posting.

Applications due by Thursday, 16 February 2023 by 17:00 EST.

Transforming Higher Education Systems Project actively encourages applications and/or nomination of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.

About the Organization

Michigan State University has been intentionally global for more than 60 years, and is known worldwide as a top research university. It is home to renowned scholars and scientists from around the globe and a vibrant and diverse community of undergraduates and graduate students. MSU leverages international partnerships with scientists and practitioners from academia, the government, private sector, and strategically chosen research and development organizations to create new knowledge and explore innovative and practical solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.