Finance Head, Country Programs, Nigeria and Ghana

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the  Director, Program Finance, the Finance Head, Country Programs is the primary business partner for the Country Directors in Ghana and Nigeria, providing financial leadership and stewardship for all program finance and operations to enable the achievement of the country's strategic objectives. 

In this role, you would provide functional and enterprise leadership to the Country Director by providing financial insights and partnering in decision-making regarding resource allocations within the country envelope. The role is responsible for the financial management of all programs undertaken within the country. 

You will also provide direction to local program finance teams to manage the foundation’s financial matters effectively, building the country's accounting, finance, and operations infrastructure as part of a multi-year growth strategy.

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE

• Manage the full lifecycle of Finance program partner contracts, including Expression of Interest (EOI), concept and proposal review, contract approval, due diligence, budget assessment, program execution, monitoring, financial reviews, and program close-out.

• Conduct ongoing financial monitoring and reporting post-kickoff to ensure resources are deployed as planned, with sufficient funding and controls to support program outcomes and compliance with CRA record-keeping requirements.

• Coordinate program close-out activities and ensure all financial documentation is accurate, timely, and complete.

• Guide and train external program partners on budgeting, financial reporting, due diligence, internal controls, and Canadian regulatory compliance.

• Lead assessments of partner financial capacity and ensure robust due diligence processes are conducted, including annual reviews, risk screening, and financial analysis.

• Engage and cultivate strong relationships with partners to ensure good financial governance and support program success.

• Provide financial expertise and guidance to the Programs team on strategy development, budgeting, and execution.

• Play an advisory role in decision-making by providing cash forecasts, disbursement outlooks, and program spend analysis.

• Participate in the country strategy process by providing financial insights for internal resource allocation and prioritization.

• Analyze monthly financial performance against budgets and forecasts, investigate variances, and recommend corrective actions.

• Prepare and deliver monthly financial reports and analysis to the Country Director, Director of Program Finance, and other key stakeholders.

• Maintain updated grants systems and financial trackers with accurate data on commitments, disbursements, and cash flows.

• Ensure compliance with Canadian and international financial regulations, including CRA guidelines, anti-money laundering, and anti-terrorism laws.

• Lead program risk assessments, identify financial risks, and monitor mitigation measures in coordination with the Program Finance team.

• Promote a risk management culture across the country office and ensure controls are in place to safeguard the Foundation’s assets.

• Lead and manage the country-level Program Finance team to deliver against operational and strategic goals.

• Coordinate operational activities across functions (e.g., technology, security, facilities) to support smooth in-country operations.

• Oversee implementation of internal controls, financial policies, and the Purchase-to-Pay process in coordination with Accounting and the Country Director.

• Support centralized accounting and tax teams in compliance with tax regulations and annual audits.

• Coordinate with the Finance team for tax filings, year-end close, and responses to regulatory audits.

• Build and manage relationships with external stakeholders such as banks, tax authorities, legal counsel, and service providers.

WHO YOU ARE

• Degree or Master’s degree in BA or related field.

• You have a relevant professional qualification, such as CPA or CA, and are a member of a relevant professional body.

• At least 15 - 18 years in progressively senior financial roles within large and/or global organizations, with at least 10 years in management capacity (Previous Finance Leadership experience).

• Experience interfacing and operating with senior executives in public, government and private sectors.

• Experience building capabilities and capacity of accounting and operations teams in high-growth organizations.

• Able to Identify and Mitigate Operational, Financial and Business Risks.

• Manage Operational Internal Control Systems, processes and Policies.

• Management & Financial Reporting including Financial Forecasting & Budgeting.

• Demonstrated people management and leadership capabilities in a fast-growing organization.

• Ability to assess risks and exercise judgment in making important decisions (Risk Management & Internal Controls Management).

• Ability to influence senior executives internally and externally and manage the pressure of work.

• Ability to lead through complexity and lead enormous work volume, manage organizational risks and recommend appropriate decisions.

• Demonstrated initiative and drive towards innovative problem solving. Honed business partnership skills with Impeccable integrity.

• Ability to assess risks and exercise judgment in making important decisions.

• Ability to challenge and provide feedback in a constructive manner with the goal of improving efficiency and operational excellence.

• Flexible, adaptable, and able to execute a range of job duties and changing priorities.

• Possess excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to articulate information to a variety of constituents across cultures.

• Possess professional maturity, sensitivity with different cultures, and impeccable integrity.

The Mastercard Foundation values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.

Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment.

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