Director of Finance and Administration (DFA),

USAID Transforming Financial Markets for Agricultural SMEs in Africa (TFMAS) Activity

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.  

This Opportunity:

 Palladium is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration for an anticipated USAID-funded program across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia which is anticipated to begin in 2025. The USAID Transforming Financial Markets for Agriculture SMEs is likely to be a 5-year program focused on mobilizing private capital for agricultural small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) strengthen agriculture value chains. The activity will leverage results-based tools used in USAID’s finance and investment mechanisms – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach.

*This is an anticipated project, and all positions are contingent upon award from USAID.*

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

Manage all project finances to ensure effective use of resources to achieve project objectives in compliance with all donor requirements.Ensure completeness of financial, procurement, and HR records retention and security.Ensure financial monitoring systems provide timely and relevant reports to Palladium staff, including analysis and tracking of grant commitments (i.e., cash advances), cash flow forecasts, obligations, awards, and liquidations, to support efficient and accountable implementation.Design and implement systems and procedures in compliance with Palladium standards, including systems and procedures to mitigate risks.Ensure that corrective action plans approved by Palladium in response to external or internal audits and other monitoring reviews are implemented as planned and scheduled.Monitor annual budget and financial projections and develop realistic financial forecasts for proper project planning.Oversee proper human resources management, from recruitment, staff policy development, and care for general staff well-being.Supervise, mentor and train relevant staff ensuring team members have the appropriate skill levels for their positions and are developing to their full capacity; conduct trainings for other personnel as needed, on efficient, effective financial and internal control systems, budget analysis, as well as policy and procedure awareness and compliance.

Key Competencies Required:

15 years of experience managing USAID contracts and/or cooperative agreements of $20 million or more per year.Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or any other relevant field (Master’s or higher preferred).Experience managing, in increasing roles of responsibility, finance, procurement, contracts management, logistics, safety and security, and/or human resource related matters for international development activities.Demonstrated familiarity with USG financial reporting and compliance requirements.Thorough knowledge and understanding of professional accounting principles, theories, practices, and terminology as well as principles and accepted procedures associated with USAID regulations is highly desirable.
Demonstrated ability to set up and maintain accounting and financial management systems and ability to build and review budgets.Demonstrated ability to work effectively in team-based environment, supervise a professional team and ability to interact with a variety of technical, clinical, and other specialists.Proficiency using online financial systems and databases; and excellent personal integrity and confidentiality.Fluency in English required, fluency in one or more regional languages preferred.Local candidates (i.e. from five target countries) preferred. 

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  
Should you require any adjustments or accommodation to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.