WHO WE ARE:

Purposeful is an Africa-rooted global hub for girls’ activism. For millennia, girls have played a critical role in struggles for freedom and liberation. From Africa’s anti-colonial movements to the Arab spring to climate justice organising and everything in between, their resistance has always sparked and sustained transformational change. And yet, too often girls are separated and side-lined from resources and shut out from decision-making spaces, their power deliberately obscured and hidden from view.

Cantering the political power of young feminists across the world, we work so that girls and their allies have access to the resources, networks and platforms they need to power their activism and remake the world.

Our Ways of Being in the World - We believe that another world is not only possible, it is already being built right here and now, in the ways that girls are organising with each other, imagining with each other and pushing us all a little further towards liberation. To build the world that we imagine, a core set of values guide all that we do at Purposeful: Taking bold action; Many ways of knowing; Centering lived expertise; Deep embodiment; Cultivating radical imagination; Joy as resistance; Power in diversity; Rooted in sisterhood.

Our Power-Building Strategies - Our holistic, movement-centred approach works to support girls to live into, amplify and compound their political power. It understands girls’ power-building as holistic and political and in centering the political power of girl activists, we enter all of our work through a power-building lens: Redistributing power assets; Building collective power; Organising power holders; Transforming power structures.

Our vision - Girls are living in safety, dignity and freedom, and the world is transformed.

Our Mission - Girl activists and their allies have access to the resources, networks and platforms they need to power their activism and remake the world for themselves.

CONTEXT OF THIS ROLE:

Purposeful currently provides financial resources in the form of grants and awards to girls and their allies fighting on the very front lines of oppression. We support a host of grassroots partners, many girl-led, unregistered or receiving formal funding for the very first time. We redistribute resources to girls and the groups that support them as one way of redressing power disparities – in community and in broader philanthropic and development spaces. As such, the way we give is as important as what we give, with a range of participation models used across our Karo Kura grants.

In addition, because we believe that solidarity forms the strong roots of any movement, we prioritise spaces of mutual learning, reciprocity and radical connection. Purposeful is proud to provide holistic support to a whole host of organisations – from those led directly by girls, to others just embarking on journeys to centre girls in their work. A relationship-based approach shifts the funding power paradigm to create a partnership which is powered by our respective strengths.

In 2019 Purposeful received a grant from FCDO (previously DFID) for the Support for Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment (SAGE) Sierra Leone program. Funding for that program has come to an end, yet Purposeful is embarking on an exciting new phase which continues the work that was started with FCDO, including working with the existing SAGE partners in a new way, under a Girls Circles workstream. Maintaining these partner relationships through new, unrestricted, ways of being with them is critical to the Girls’ Circles movement.

We are looking for a knowledgeable and experienced Finance Manager to work closely with the senior leadership team and these partners. They will play a vital role in the effective financial management of Girls’ Circles and act as the key financial focal point for Purposeful and partners. They will lead on managing partner budgets, training, periodic reviews and audits, and reporting and ensuring a high standard of financial management and compliance with the donor’s requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Finance, Accountancy and Budget Management
Managed daily by the Senior Finance Manager
Work closely with Senior Finance Manager to prepare monthly spreadsheet ensuring all spends are reconciled and funds accounted for
Report on a monthly basis to the Senior Finance Manager
Monitor petty cash and bank balances to ensure sufficient funds are always available depending on programme needs
Manage petty cash requests and complete reconciliations in a timely manner to ensure accurate and complete accounting in Quickbooks
Manage and reconcile the bank and cash accounts, prepare the bi-weekly cash counts and monthly financial records including cashbooks.
Disburse cash advances and complete reconciliations within 3 days of staff return to office, to ensure full recovery and accurate accounting.
Work with the Operations team and Senior Finance Manager to ensure salary payments to staff, including NASSIT and tax liabilities are correct and made on time and staff benefits including medical insurance, leave, end of service accruals, and 13th month payments
Be the contact point with the bank, raising payments and transfer requests to be authorised by your line manager
Mange staff expenses including subsistence allowances.
Collect and fill regular financial reports and budget records.
Prepare donor financial reports in line with donor reporting requirements
Monitor ongoing levels of expenditure on programme activities as against budget and provide timely advice of likely over- or under-spends.
Work with the management team to project the yearly Purposeful budget.
Participate in the construction of new proposals’ budgets.
Maintain programme and Purposeful fixed asset registers
Coordinate and maintain a cash forecasting system to ensure that adequate funds are available to meet the working requirements of the programmes
Partnership Management
Participate in the writing of the financial part of MoUs or grant agreements with partners
Review financial reports from partners and support their improvement in financial reporting
Support partners in their filing and submission of supporting documents for their reports in readiness for donor or financial audit
Train partners’ finance team and managers on an ongoing basis
Follow-up partners’ support and transfers
Administration
According to budget availability and following Purposeful objectives, participate in relevant sections of projects linked with administrative issues (e.g. capacity building, workshops or training sessions for partners, etc.)
Provide ad hoc assistance to the Senior Finance Manager or Operations team as required.
Support procurement processes, such as annual or ad hoc vendor reviews, as required.
Support the Operations team with inventory management of stationary, office consumables, cleaning supplies etc.
Assist in sourcing and filing NRA receipts

Other
Implement any other Finance duties as needed
Support Programmes teams on capacity building trips to partners
Assist Senior Management during capacity constraints
You may occasionally be required to work on weekends and/or public holidays, for which time off in lieu will be granted

REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALITIES:

Part qualified ACA / ACCA / CIMA accountant or a Bachelor’s degree in management, finance, accounting, business administration or any similar field
At least 2 years of experience in both finance and administration roles, as well as 1 year of experience in a supervisory position
Extensive knowledge of accountancy, budget management and treasury management
Proficient skills in Excel and accounting software (QuickBooks)
Proven team management experience
Leadership and organisational skills, superb verbal and written communication skills
The ability to multitask, meet deadlines and work independently and as part of a team, even under stressful conditions
People-oriented skills including patience, diplomacy, willingness to listen and respect for colleagues, prospective candidates for jobs, etc.
High personal integrity and ability to keep absolute confidentiality
Clear verbal and written communication skills
Believe in and support our feminist values
Committed to Purposeful’s mission and values

 

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please send your CV and a cover letter to:

applications@wearepurposeful.org

by 5pm on Friday 25th June 2021.

For more information on Purposeful please visit the website:

www.wearepurposeful.org

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