Project Finance Manager at Genesis Analytics

About the position

Unleash Your Potential as a Project Finance Lead at Genesis Analytics!

Are you a newly qualified professional who is brainy, driven, and allergic to the ordinary? Or alternatively an experienced project finance individual? This is NOT your typical accounting role. We need a quick-thinking, adaptable individual who can thrive in a fluid, fast-moving setting where priorities shift and complex challenges, especially in foreign exchange, are the norm. If you're ready to make a significant impact in a truly dynamic environment, we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity:

Project Finance Lead (Chartered Accountant) - Programme Management Unit (PMU)

Location:
Johannesburg or Nairobi (Fixed-term contract, hybrid work model)

As a Project Finance Lead within our Programme Management Unit (PMU), you will report directly to the Head of Delivery in the PMU and the Head of Finance. The PMU supports all Genesis Analytics technical practice areas in the operational and financial project management of large, high-value, and complex projects, including frameworks, technical assistance mechanisms, and grant management projects.

This crucial role is about more than just numbers; it's about navigating the intricate financial landscape of projects that span the globe, involve multiple currencies, and rarely follow a standardised fiscal setup. You will be at the heart of our financial operations, providing high-quality oversight of project finance management within the PMU and offering technical accounting support across the entire Genesis project portfolio.

We are seeking a proactive and innovative individual who can act as a vital bridge between our Project Finance Team and the core Corporate Finance Team. Your ability to think on your feet, foster collaboration, and streamline complex financial processes will be essential to ensuring our projects are set up for success and deliver impactful outcomes.

Key Responsibilities (What You'll Be Doing):

• Financial Oversight & Management: Proactively contribute to effective financial planning and monitoring, providing accurate financial oversight of projects from pre-award planning to post-award reporting and close-out. This includes budgeting, cash flows, revenue, expenditure, and indirect cost recovery.
• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure strict adherence to internal policies, procedures, and guidelines, as well as donor requirements and accounting principles. Oversee day-to-day accounting activities, ensuring accurate financial reporting and timely tax submissions.
• Strategic Project Support: Provide timely, accurate, and relevant financial information for an agreed portfolio of projects. Support the submission of accurate and complete proposal budgets, realignments, forecasts, and cost modifications.
• Process Enhancement: Drive efficiency in project financial operations by implementing best practices and agile working methods. Collaborate with Finance and Commercial teams to design and manage systems, policies, and procedures for robust control of donor funding. Identify and lead continuous process improvement opportunities.
• Risk Management & Audit: Identify, assess, and report on material financial risks in a timely manner. Manage financial audits and liaise with external auditors for a smooth process.
• Team Leadership & Development: Manage and support the Project Accountants' team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. Cultivate professional growth through training, performance evaluations, and skills development, promoting job-shadowing and knowledge sharing.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Build strong networks and relationships across practices and GS teams.
• Finance Support: Support the organisation's Finance team on policy audits and implementation, and participate in relevant Finance meetings.
• Knowledge Sharing: Educate and promote staff understanding of financial processes and policies, and coordinate knowledge management initiatives.

What You'll Need to Succeed (Requirements):

• CA(SA) designation is essential.
• Bachelor's/Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a project finance professional, with a strong track record of successfully managing complex project finances, alternatively the orientation and aptitude required to learn very quickly and on-the-job while still bringing the value required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify issues, evaluate options, and implement effective solutions.
• A deep understanding of financial regulations, accounting principles, budgeting, financial analysis, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Experience and or knowledge in financial management of institutional funding and an understanding or knowledge of donor financial guidelines and requirements.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
• Proficiency in financial software and ERP systems.
• Experience in managing a team, including performance management and development.
• An independent self-starter able to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic business environment.
• Ability to collaborate, delegate, work well under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, organising, prioritising tasks effectively, and maintaining attention to detail.

Why Genesis Analytics?

Join a firm committed to unlocking and realising value in the Young World. You'll be part of a team that thrives on leveraging complementary areas of expertise to find bespoke solutions for challenging and impactful projects. This role offers the chance to contribute significantly to an organisation that values innovation, adaptability, and collaboration, particularly in a complex global financial context.

Contract Type: Fixed-term contract based on multiple longer-term (mostly donor-funded) projects, hybrid work model

Salary: Market Related and Negotiable

Desired Skills:

• Financial planning
• Financial monitoring
• Budgeting
• Cash flow management
• Revenue management
• Expenditure management
• Indirect cost recovery
• Compliance
• Financial reporting
• Tax submissions
• Proposal budgeting
• Realignments
• Forecasting
• Cost modifications
• Process improvement
• Risk management
• Audit management
• Team leadership
• Performance management
• Skills development
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Policy implementation
• Knowledge sharing
• Financial analysis
• Financial regulations
• Accounting principles
• Financial software proficiency
• ERP systems proficiency
• Project management
• Planning
• Organizing
• Prioritizing tasks
• Attention to detail
• Donor financial guidelines and requirements
• Project Finance
• Financial forecast
• Projection
• Capital Budgeting
• Project Management Finance
• Financial Control
• Financial reports
• Project Accounting

Desired Work Experience:

• 1 to 2 years Business Consulting
• 2 to 5 years Middle / Department Management

Desired Qualification Level & Accreditations:

• Honours
• South African Institute of Chartered Accountant

About The Employer:

About Genesis Analytics:

Genesis Analytics is a global impact firm with deep roots in Africa, operating in over 100 countries worldwide and 42 of the 54 countries on the African continent. Established in 1998, we are headquartered in Johannesburg with offices in Abidjan, Nairobi, Lagos, and London, plus representation in India, the UAE, and Canada.

Our purpose is to unlock and realise value in the young world-the arc of countries with young populations stretching across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia-by jointly creating solutions with our clients. We pride ourselves on leveraging our technical skills and deep sector knowledge in areas like human development, public health and financing, and the digital economy, to deliver bespoke solutions for a diverse client base including governments, development agencies, and private companies.

Employer & Job Benefits:

• Medical Aid
• Provident Fund
• Group Life Assurance