Global Finance Manager

About Imagine Worldwide

All children have immense potential, but hundreds of millions don’t have access to the learning they need. Imagine Worldwide’s mission is to empower millions of children across Sub-Saharan Africa with the literacy and numeracy skills they need to reach their full potential. We provide an innovative education technology solution and implementation model to the global literacy/numeracy learning crisis using the onebillion application and various toolkits and systems to support implementation. Nine Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) across multiple countries and settings have shown dramatic learning gains, increased school attendance, and gender parity, all for less than $7 per child per year.

Imagine Worldwide partners with governments, organizations, and communities to provide child-directed, tablet-based learning that is accessible, effective, and affordable. We are a California-based (United States) nonprofit organization operating across seven Sub-Saharan African countries. Learn more on our website.

Role Overview

The Finance Manager will play an instrumental role in carrying out Imagine’s mission, to test and scale tablet-based learning solutions in the scale countries (Malawi, Sierra Leone and Tanzania) that enable children to become literate and numerate. The successful candidate will play a key role in accounting and financial management. They will also implement financial procedures and systems and ensure compliance with corporate and project standards as well as maintain oversight of day-to-day financial activities.

The Finance Manager will join a highly committed and collaborative team that is working together to empower every child, everywhere to achieve their full potential. The position offers an international, flexible, learning environment to enhance individual career development and growth.

They will report to the Director of Finance

Key Responsibilities

The Finance Manager will work closely with Imagine’s Director of Finance, Director of Administration and scale countries finance teams to ensure timely execution of all project activities. The Finance Manager’s responsibilities will include - but will not be limited to - the following:

• Manage project risks with escalation as required.

• Manage accounting and financial processes at Imagine Global level.

• Manage relationship between Imagine and BDO.

• Oversee the Imagine annual audit.

• Establish and manage systems for EFT payments to scale countries and Imagine Global staff including expense claims.

• Assist with the implementation of the grants management system in the scale countries.

• Assist with the system change from Quick-Books to Sage Intacct.

• Assist with strategic financial management activities including annual budget development, financial planning and analysis, cash flow management, and financial reporting at Imagine Global.

• Assist in the development of project-level financial management policies and procedures, manage roll-out and oversight compliance, reporting and periodic review.

• Provide expert guidance in the costing of activities and operations.

• Organise and maintain comprehensive financial files and documents to ensure all recording is compliant with audit, corporate and client requirements.

• Support senior management to establish and implement policies and procedures for fraud control, anti-corruption and anti-bribery.

• Lead monthly financial reviews with scale country finance teams to assess performance against budgets and identify corrective actions.

• Strengthen internal controls by reviewing segregation of duties, approval matrices, and delegation of authority frameworks across countries.

• Coordinate donor financial reporting timelines, ensuring consistency between programmatic and financial reports.

• Oversee balance sheet integrity, including regular review of reconciliations, accruals, and prepayments at global and country level.

• Support capacity building of scale country finance teams through training, coaching, and standardised financial tools and templates.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or equivalent discipline.

• Registered with CA, CA(SA), CIMA, CPA, ACCA or equivalent professional qualifications.

• 5+ years’ experience with accounting and financial management of large and/or growing organisations.

• 2+ years’ experience with International NGOs

• Additional work experience is welcome.

Specific skills (required)

• Financial & Procurement Management: Proven ability to implement and manage financial systems, including accounting software, budgeting, and procurement processes.

• Accounting Expertise: Strong knowledge of cash flow management, reconciliations, tax filings, and financial reporting. CA, CA(SA), CIMA, CPA or ACCA certification required.

• Accounting Standards: Experience with IPSAS, US-GAAP and IFRS.

• Strategic Financial Planning and Analysis: Experience in financial analysis, budget forecasting, and cost management.

• Modelling: Experience in financial modelling. Development and Interpretation of models.

• Risk & Compliance: Ability to enforce financial controls, ensure compliance with audit standards, and manage fraud prevention policies.

• Procurement & Supplier Management: Skilled in sourcing, contracts, inventory control, and logistics to ensure cost efficiency.

• Team Leadership & Training: Experience in mentoring and developing staff in financial management, ensuring compliance with financial policies and best practices.

• Donor-Funded Projects: Knowledge of managing finances for international development projects, including donor reporting requirements.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Location

The role is fully remote but must be based on the African continent. Regional travel to field sites may be required.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis

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Imagine Worldwide is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.