Finance Business Partner

Purpose of Role

Reporting to the Group Financial Manager of Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropy Africa (Philanthropy Africa), the Finance Business Partner is responsible for supporting entities in the group on strategic financial management, and in embedding sound policies, processes and systems to ensure strong financial management and controls, and compliance with all relevant regulatory and legal requirements.

Philanthropy Africa has a shared service department focusing predominantly on transactional services for Finance. Some value-add services which do not fall within the mandate of Shared Services will be provided by the Finance Business Partner who will support entities with limited Finance capacity. The Finance Business Partner will be responsible for providing non transactional finance services, stakeholder management and focusing on strategic and tactical planning and execution and will support not for profit companies located in South Africa and East Africa.

Objectives of Role

As a Business Partner, you will be responsible to perform the following on behalf of the entities supported:

Technical

• Ensure the effective operation of financial management policies, procedures, and systems.
• Support in the preparation of budgets, forecasts and variance analysis.
• Assist entities in defining budget planning and performing budgeting processes.
• Ensure the preparation and review of detailed monthly management accounts and related schedules and preparing journal entries.
• Receive requests for and provide information as defined in the Service Catalogue to Shared Services, as applicable.
• Conduct ad-hoc financial analysis to support business decision-making.
• Support entities on preparation of grant reports, fundraising or partnership proposals.
• Collaborate with Shared Services in the annual audit processes, including preparation and/or review of complex year-end financial accounting or transactions (for example provisions).
• Final review and presentation of the Annual Financial Statements to management and Board committees.
• Preparation and presentation of board papers, as applicable.
• Support the entities in ensuring reporting and compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Assist in the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures in line with group standards.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools (where approved) to streamline financial processes and improve efficiency through process automation.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with the relevant stakeholders to set expectations and to ensure the provision of finance services that meet agreed service levels.
• Manage relationships with the entities’ leadership to understand how to improve support and to inform the planned future state of the entities.
• Represent entities in the Finance Function forums, supporting continuous improvement of systems and processes to deliver excellence in support of growth of entities.

Outcomes

• Strategic and strong financial management for the group entities.
• Timely and relevant financial budgeting, forecasting and monthly management reporting to aid effective decision making.
• Efficient and effective use of resources to support sustainability of the entities.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Up to 10 years finance experience.
• Minimum 3-5 years in a business partnering/similar role.
• Strong numerical ability and accounting skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and trends.
• Strong relationship and stakeholder management.

Competencies

• Identification with the AGGP Africa Vision, Mission and Values.
• A collaborative interpersonal style and a strong customer service orientation.
• Ability to provide highly detail oriented; analytical and solutions across multiple entities in various stages of development, and in a demanding environment.
• High level of integrity and ethical conduct.
• Strong results orientation and drive.
• Effective soft influencing skills.
• Coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Excellent communicator with excellent written and verbal skills.
• Strong sense of personal accountability.
• High attention to detail and checking skills.