Country Finance Director job at Wildlife Conservation Society

About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS):

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

About the Finance Director

Leading financial strategy development, managing budgets, forecasting, risk management, and ensuring compliance while overseeing finance teams and providing key financial insights to support overall Country Program business goals, focusing on financial health and stability. You will provide strategic financial leadership and oversight for the Country Program. You will ensure robust financial management systems are in place, compliant with WCS’s global policies, donor requirements, and national legislation. The role guarantees transparent use of resources, safeguards assets, and delivers accurate financial information to support decision-making, donor accountability, and long-term sustainability.

Major Responsibilities

Financial Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Provide strategic financial leadership for the Country Program, ensuring alignment with WCS global and regional priorities as well as donor obligations.
• Lead annual institutional and project budget development, ensuring realistic forecasting, full cost recovery, and regular budget vs. actual monitoring.
• Advise the Country Director and Senior Management Team through regular financial analysis and decision-support to strengthen programmatic and operational planning
• Provide strong and effective financial management supervision, accountability, monitoring and reporting for WCS program, implementing partners, subgrantees/awardees, collaborating organizations, contractors to mitigate financial risks and loses
• Participate in fundraising, particularly grant proposal writing, pitching of value propositions to potential donors, including private entities and individuals, government institutions
• Participate in regional finance planning meetings, trainings and audits.

Financial Management & Controls

• Ensure all accounting and finance systems (including SAP) are accurate, reliable, and fully compliant with WCS policies, GAAP, donor regulations, and national legislation.
• Maintain strong internal controls, segregation of duties, and risk mitigation measures, ensuring compliance with tax, labor, statutory, and customs requirements.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, liquidity management, and treasury operations, ensuring secure management of funds and timely cash requests to HQ.
• Set up systems and procedures for financial management to ensure effective allocation, use of resources and reporting
• Conduct regular financial monitoring to ensure smooth operations, early detection of fraud, waste and abuse of resources and design timely mitigation and corrective measures, including fresher trainings for finance managers
• Ensure financial management principles, practices and standards are adhered to
• Serve as a liaison with the government financial institutions such as Uganda Revenue Authority, Financial Intelligence Authority with respect to financial risk mitigation and legal compliance with state laws
• Work closely with the Country director, OGC and the local law firm in preparing the necessary documentation for submission to government during annual reporting, renewal of operation permits, and annual financial audit.

Grants & Donor Financial Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of grant financial management, ensuring appropriate costing, spending, donor compliance, and high-quality financial reporting.
• Work closely with the Grants Manager to review donor agreements, identify risks, and ensure application of cost recovery policies.
• Prepare financial reports for submission to WCS and its donors and partners.
• Guarantee timely, accurate, donor-compliant financial reports, coordinating with Grants, Programs, Regional Finance, and HQ.
• Participate in negotiation of financial terms of donors and partner organizations for which WCS is either a lead or subrecipient

Accounting & Audit Oversight

• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of accounting records, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Lead coordination of internal, external, and donor audits, ensuring timely implementation of audit recommendations.
• Oversee adherence to national accounting standards, tax requirements, and statutory financial reporting obligations.

Financial Systems & Innovation

• Ensure effective use of SAP and other financial systems, including troubleshooting, user support, and maintaining data integrity.
• Identify and implement improvements to financial workflows, reporting, and analysis to increase efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
• Produce and maintain reliable financial data and dashboards to inform management decision-making.

Leadership & Team Development

• Supervise, mentor, and support the Finance Manager/Chief Accountant, Grants Manager, and broader finance team.
• Invest in staff capacity building and professional development to ensure a skilled and motivated finance and grants workforce.
• Foster strong collaboration between finance, grants, programs, logistics, and HR to ensure coherent, compliant, and efficient operations.
• Represent WCS finance with donors, auditors, government agencies, and external stakeholders as required.
• Conduct financial trainings for WCS staff and its partners

Qualification Requirements

Advanced degree in Finance, Financial Management, Business Administration, or a related field (e.g., MBA, MSc Finance, MSc Financial Management). Professional certification, such as CPA, ACCA, or CIMA, is required.

A minimum of 10 years of post-qualification experience, of which at least 5 years must be at a senior management level.

Experience in monitoring large budgets, cash flow management, and systems development for a non-profit organisation.

Demonstrated evidence of managing personnel on-site and remotely in the finance department

Experience using an ERP system and advanced Excel skills required.

Demonstrated experience in working for an international organization with multiple branch offices

Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse team. Must be solution-oriented and have strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Good communication skills, both written and verbal, and strong analytical skills.

English fluency is required.

French or/ and local language a plus,

Ability to work independently and work effectively in a complex environment

Experience and knowledge of working in a non-profit context in Africa, an advantage.

Demonstrate experience in working with government institutions

Ability and willingness to travel regularly to remote sites.

Commitment to the mission and values of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Additional Requirements:

Approximately 30%-40% of travel to the field offices

• Provide strategic financial leadership for the Country Program, ensuring alignment with WCS global and regional priorities as well as donor obligations.
• Lead annual institutional and project budget development, ensuring realistic forecasting, full cost recovery, and regular budget vs. actual monitoring.
• Advise the Country Director and Senior Management Team through regular financial analysis and decision-support to strengthen programmatic and operational planning
• Provide strong and effective financial management supervision, accountability, monitoring and reporting for WCS program, implementing partners, subgrantees/awardees, collaborating organizations, contractors to mitigate financial risks and loses
• Participate in fundraising, particularly grant proposal writing, pitching of value propositions to potential donors, including private entities and individuals, government institutions
• Participate in regional finance planning meetings, trainings and audits.
• Ensure all accounting and finance systems (including SAP) are accurate, reliable, and fully compliant with WCS policies, GAAP, donor regulations, and national legislation.
• Maintain strong internal controls, segregation of duties, and risk mitigation measures, ensuring compliance with tax, labor, statutory, and customs requirements.
• Oversee cash flow forecasting, liquidity management, and treasury operations, ensuring secure management of funds and timely cash requests to HQ.
• Set up systems and procedures for financial management to ensure effective allocation, use of resources and reporting
• Conduct regular financial monitoring to ensure smooth operations, early detection of fraud, waste and abuse of resources and design timely mitigation and corrective measures, including fresher trainings for finance managers
• Ensure financial management principles, practices and standards are adhered to
• Serve as a liaison with the government financial institutions such as Uganda Revenue Authority, Financial Intelligence Authority with respect to financial risk mitigation and legal compliance with state laws
• Work closely with the Country director, OGC and the local law firm in preparing the necessary documentation for submission to government during annual reporting, renewal of operation permits, and annual financial audit.
• Provide strategic oversight of grant financial management, ensuring appropriate costing, spending, donor compliance, and high-quality financial reporting.
• Work closely with the Grants Manager to review donor agreements, identify risks, and ensure application of cost recovery policies.
• Prepare financial reports for submission to WCS and its donors and partners.
• Guarantee timely, accurate, donor-compliant financial reports, coordinating with Grants, Programs, Regional Finance, and HQ.
• Participate in negotiation of financial terms of donors and partner organizations for which WCS is either a lead or subrecipient
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of accounting records, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.
• Lead coordination of internal, external, and donor audits, ensuring timely implementation of audit recommendations.
• Oversee adherence to national accounting standards, tax requirements, and statutory financial reporting obligations.
• Ensure effective use of SAP and other financial systems, including troubleshooting, user support, and maintaining data integrity.
• Identify and implement improvements to financial workflows, reporting, and analysis to increase efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
• Produce and maintain reliable financial data and dashboards to inform management decision-making.
• Supervise, mentor, and support the Finance Manager/Chief Accountant, Grants Manager, and broader finance team.
• Invest in staff capacity building and professional development to ensure a skilled and motivated finance and grants workforce.
• Foster strong collaboration between finance, grants, programs, logistics, and HR to ensure coherent, compliant, and efficient operations.
• Represent WCS finance with donors, auditors, government agencies, and external stakeholders as required.
• Conduct financial trainings for WCS staff and its partners

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently and work effectively in a complex environment.
• Experience using an ERP system.
• Advanced Excel skills.

• Advanced degree in Finance, Financial Management, Business Administration, or a related field (e.g., MBA, MSc Finance, MSc Financial Management).
• Professional certification, such as CPA, ACCA, or CIMA, is required.
• A minimum of 10 years of post-qualification experience, of which at least 5 years must be at a senior management level.
• Experience in monitoring large budgets, cash flow management, and systems development for a non-profit organisation.
• Demonstrated evidence of managing personnel on-site and remotely in the finance department
• Demonstrated experience in working for an international organization with multiple branch offices
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse team.
• English fluency is required.
• French or/ and local language a plus.
• Experience and knowledge of working in a non-profit context in Africa, an advantage.
• Demonstrate experience in working with government institutions
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to remote sites.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Wildlife Conservation Society.