Regional Chief Financial Officer (CFO); Accelerate Prosperity

Title: Regional Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Reports to: Global Executive Director Accelerate Prosperity

Duty Station: based in one of the Central Asia AP country offices (Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) or remotely.

Deadline: January 17th, 2025

Accelerate Prosperity

Accelerate Prosperity initiative (AP) launched in 2016 as a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. AP’s overall mandate is to create an inclusive and prosperous society powered by entrepreneurs. Through a mix of technical support and tailored financing for start-ups, small and growing businesses (SGBs), AP facilitates entrepreneurship, employment creation, especially for youth and women, and socio-economic development within its relevant geographies.

Job Description

The Regional CFO at AP is member of the senior global management of the company and has responsibility for effective and robust financial planning and management of AP country units, ensuring all internal, statutory and donor reporting and compliance requirements are met. The CFO will also undertake capacity building and knowledge sharing with country units and teams on financial management and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Business Planning & Budgeting
Lead the company’s business planning, budgeting and forecasting processes, including coordination and integration of strategic (and business plans) for each country and legal unit, departmental/ functional cost centers and budgets.
Ensure effective annual financial planning/ budgeting in line with AP’s overall business plan, lead annual budgeting process of AP globally (consolidated) and for each unit and its defense in AP Financial Oversight Committee (FOC).
Ensure alignment of all project level budgets for existing and new funding proposals with AP’s strategy and business plan. Review and recommend all budgets for approval to AP Executive Director and subsequently AP’s governance for new proposals.

Compliance and Audits
Ensure integrity of AP’s accounting systems, sub-systems, internal controls, cash management, the signatories and discretionary authorities.
Lead, in liaison with country units, external and internal audits each country and legal unit annually. Liaise with AKF country unit CFOs and internal audit functions to facilitate AP internal/ external and donor audits and ensure execution of the action plans/ items that emerge out of the audits.
Ensure overall accounting and financial management policies, procedures, processes and systems in AP are streamlined and key issues/ gaps are addressed.
Ensure execution of accounting and financial management and reporting policies and manuals in each country and legal unit in letter and spirit. Drive changes in policies per the need and develop associated proposals for AP’s management and governance for a decision.

Financial Management and External Reporting
Serve as the management’s liaison with the AP’s Financial Oversight Committee, ensure the submission of frequent reports to the committee, manage minutes of the meetings, document all decisions and follow-ups on action items. Furnish necessary and classified information to the FOC along with analysis and recommendations.
Ensure timely and effective financial and business reporting to management, governance, donors and the regulator and tax planning.
Prepare and share with the AP ED and subsequently the FOC the following to strengthen and formalize management and governance decision-making process:
Annual business plan, financial statements, cash flow projections, forecasts and long terms plans and any funding gaps.
Results of the internal, external and third-party audits, and actions on recommendations.
Budgeting including capital, manpower and overhead budgets along with variance analysis.
Quarterly operating results of AP as a whole and in terms of its country and legal units, separately and at a consolidated level.
Update on financing/ investment portfolio, including on defaults and associated receivables and/or liabilities.
Capacity building of country units on finance management, statutory reporting, and reporting on various aspects of financial requirements (FS, Revolving Fund, Reserves, Investments, etc)

Any other task: as may be required and/ or given by AP Global Executive Director based on the needs and new programs adding up to the portfolio of the organization and extended to the new geographies.

Eligibility Requirements

Education:

Min. Master’s degree in finance management or equivalent in other related fields.
Min. Chartered Accountant (CA), CPA, Cost and Management Accountant (ICMA) or equivalent qualification.

Experience:

At least 8-10 years of experience, with min. 5 years at senior management level experience in a reputable organization in financial management and reporting.
Experience in finance management of investment operations, non-profit or related organization.

Core Competencies

Strong leadership skills, with a track record of leading and managing finance and accounts at a senior level.
A solid understanding of effective financial management and reporting, statutory compliance, investment operations and grants management.
Highly organized, detail oriented and able to multi-task effectively.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of diverse stakeholders and partners.
Results-driven, with a commitment to achieving impact and quality standards.
Ability to work under pressure and manage parallel priorities.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English, and some familiarity with local languages in South and Central Asia (Urdu, Russian, Tajik or Persian/ Dari)
A demonstrated ability to engage confidently and constructively with individuals from many different cultures and professional backgrounds.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
Sound business acumen and entrepreneurial disposition in dynamic or ambiguous contexts.
The ability to align to broader, institutional considerations including carefully managing risks.
A good understanding of the ethos, mission and activities of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the unique regional contexts in which it operates.

AP offers a competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer - women are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter (one page), CV (two page) with a subject line “Regional Chief Financial Officer (CFO)” by 17 January, 2025 to the email address: hr@accelerateprosperity.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interviews.

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is committed to safeguarding, which means it promotes respectful relations with and between all staff, associates, beneficiaries and wider communities with whom it works, and takes all reasonable measures to prevent harm, including all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment (PSEAH), bullying, discrimination, harassment and abuse of power that may arise from contact with its staff, programmes or operations. AP also adheres to child safeguarding principles, as set out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s), employment history and any potential history of misconduct. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a full background check.

By sharing their cover letter and resume with AP in response to this job application, applicants consent for AP to keep this information on file for recruitment and human resources management purposes.

Learn more and apply by visiting our website: OPEN VACANCY: Regional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Accelerate Prosperity