Finance Manager- Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park Republic of Congo At Wildlife Conservation Society

Location: Bomassa (Headquarters of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park)

Reports to: Head of Administration & Finance Department of Nouabalé Ndoki National Park

Direct Reports: Nouabalé Ndoki National Park Finance Staff

Start Date: August , 2022

Duration: 1-year fixed-term contract, renewable

Organizational Context

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit organization founded in 1895. Its mission is to preserve wildlife and wilderness by understanding critical problems, developing scientific solutions and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, a presence in more than 60 countries, and experience in the creation of more than 150 protected areas around the world, WCS has accumulated the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships needed to ensure that wild places and animal species 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 rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources.

WCS Congo Program Overview Over the past 30 years, WCS Congo has been the government’s principle conservation partner, assisting the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF) in managing wildlife and its habitat in several of the country’s national parks, reserves, and protected area buffer zones. Within these sites WCS is developing and implementing actions for effective wildlife protection; community based natural resource management; ecological monitoring; scientific research; and environmental education. The program is the largest in WCS’s global portfolio and reports to the Regional Program for Central Africa and Gulf of Guinea. WCS Congo’s current portfolio of programs includes the management of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) through a Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Congo, wildlife management in the substantial buffer zones of the Park, co-management of Lac Tele Community Reserve, a national program to support reform of marine conservation and resource management, and a substantial policy support program to the central government in Brazzaville.

The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) covers more than 4,000 square kilometers of intact continuous lowland rainforest in northern Republic of Congo. The forest is part of the larger Sangha Tri-National Forest Landscape inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is a stronghold for important populations of large mammals, including forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and chimpanzees. The park also contains forest clearings that offer a window into the lives of shy forest wildlife, creating fantastic opportunities for tourism development and conservation science.

Created in 1993, the NNNP and its buffer zone have benefited from more than 25 years of collaborative management between the Congolese Government and WCS to emerge as one of the most successful protected areas for the conservation of wildlife in Central Africa. In October 2014, WCS signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Ministry for Forest Economy (MEF), for the long-term management and financing of NNNP, creating the Nouabale-Ndoki Foundation as the Park management entity under a 25-year agreement.

Job Summary

The Finance Manager reports to the Head of Administration & Finance Department of Nouabalé Ndoki National Park. S/he is responsible for all accounting at the Nouabalé Ndoki National Park. Based in Bomassa, there will be frequent travel to Makao to support the field-based finance staff and review financial documentation.

Responsibilities

• Directly responsible for the accounting team in Nouabalé Ndoki National Park including Makao.
• Support the Head of Administration & Finance in the management of the treasury, including the whole accounting of the Park in order to ensure the smooth running of operations at all times and maintaining as much control as possible on financial risks. This position is responsible for:
• • Reviewing daily accounting – Ensuring a total review of transactions in the JV Upload and supporting documentation before posting to SAP system in order to minimize errors – Maintaining relations with bank – Ensure that weekly petty cash verification is done properly – Ensuring management of NNNP safe and petty cash – Verifying monthly bank reconciliation – Managing the cash flow of the NNNP – Ensure that tracking of outstanding advances with employees is done by accountant. – Ensure that follow-up and reconciliation of accrual accounts are updated periodically, – Overview of cleaning of pending accounts
• Providing regular and adequate indicators to monitor the financial health of the Park.
• Providing relevant cost analysis and accurate cost data for personnel and supplies to assist in accurate budget preparation
• Participate in the coordination and supervision of the monthly and annual closing of accounts with the aim that the statement reflects the financial reality of the NNNP.
• Ensure completeness and compliance of documentation on all financial transactions
• Monitor bank transfers, banking activities, and expenditures.
• Oversee financial management and documentation of project infrastructure
• Verify monthly NNNP salary calculations
• Prepare NNNP money requests to be sent to Brazzaville
• Ensure implementation of a proper physical and electronic filing system of financial documentation
• Assist in the preparation of documents required for audits
• Assist the NNNP Head of Administration & Finance in the implementation and follow up of the timesheets templates
• Assist the NNNP Head of Administration & Finance on budget follow ups and financial reports.
• Other duties, as assigned by the NNNP Head of Administration & Finance

Qualification Requirements

• A degree in Finance, accounting major preferred.
• Demonstrated ability in the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures a plus.
• French and English language fluency required.
• Significant experience with the financial management of government and agency grants and contracts, experience with KFW, EU, US Government grants a plus.
• Five years of experience managing a financial area for an international non-profit organization.
• Advanced Excel required
• Willingness to live in a remote area. The position is an unaccompanied Post.
• Experience working in a developing country setting, experience in Central Africa a plus.
• Ability to work in a team setting within an organization