The Assistant Manager/Manager, Finance will ensure accurate, timely, integrity and transparent financial transactions and information to support decision-making by management, the Board, and regulatory stakeholders. He/She will enforce compliance with the Charities Act and regulations, Charities Accounting Standard (CAS),strong internal controls, as well as support financial reporting, consolidation, budgeting, and mission-driven initiatives.

This is a strategic role requiring a strong financial background, sound judgment, and leadership skills to support sustainable growth and governance.

Under the direction of the Head of Finance & Compliance, he/she will lead a team of staff to uphold the Mission and work in partnership with all other programmes/sectors to serve the holistic needs of the children and families. He/She will coordinate and support the Sector Managers in all matters pertaining to financial administration.

He/She will serve as an experienced role model to guide, mentor, and empower the Finance team while creating a positive work and team culture where members strive together to bring their best to the people we serve.

Critical Work Functions and Key Tasks

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Manage full-spectrum of Finance and Accounting functions including leading month-end and year-end close processes of Canossaville’s financial results and reporting package, ensuring general ledger accuracy with sound understanding of accounting treatment in accordance with Charities Accounting Standard (CAS)
• Prepare monthly financial statements, review balance sheet schedules reconciliations, and investigate analysis for management
• Lead the coordination of external audits and act as the primary liaison with auditors, ensuring timely resolution of audit findings and implementation of corrective actions where required
• Manage month-end and year-end closing processes, and prepare monthly financial reports and analysis for Finance Sub-Committee, Management, Sectors and Departments
• Prepare cash flow forecasts to ensure sufficient funds for operational and expenditure needs
• Monitor banking transactions and review bank reconciliations

Finance Operations Oversight

• Review and oversee Accounts Payable (AP), Accounts Receivable (AR), payroll-related finance transactions, and cash management processes to ensure accuracy, completeness, proper authorisation, and timely processing
• Review payment vouchers, claims, journal entries, collections, and reconciliations to ensure compliance with internal controls, delegated authority limits, and organisational policies
• Monitor outstanding receivables and follow up on collections where necessary to support healthy cash flow management
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of vendor payments, staff claims, grant disbursements, and other financial obligations

Compliance & Controls

• Ensure proper authorisation, access control, and supporting documentation are in place for all bank account matters
• Act as the system owner for the accounting / EPR system (support implementation, upgrade and user training) and ensure system configurations align with accounting policies and operational requirements (where necessary)
• Maintain proper documentation of vendor contracts, accounting policies, SOPs, and workflows; ensuring adequate systems are in place for asset and facilities management
• Review procurement and vendor payment processes to ensure compliance with procurement policies, approval limits and value-for-money principles
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen internal controls, improve efficiencies and support operational scalability
• Ensure compliance with guidelines set out in the Charity Transparency Framework and Code of Governance
• Support the Head of Finance & Compliance in the risk management exercises and IPC status renewal processes
• Assist with preparation of Annual Report

Budgeting & Strategic Business Partnering

• Lead the Annual Budgeting process, mid-year budget review and overall budgeting cycle to drive financial planning and accountability
• Conduct monthly financial reviews with stakeholders, monitor budget performance and forecasts, and report variances to Management. Work with sector and department heads to review cost structures, resource requirements, and funding utilisation
• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes by providing accurate financial data and trend analysis

Fund Management & Grant Accountability

• Oversee the financial administration of grants, donations, designated funds and restricted funds to ensure compliance with donor requirements, grant conditions and regulatory obligations
• Monitor fund utilisation and ensure expenditure is aligned with approved purposes and funding agreements
• Prepare grant claims, fund utilisation reports and financial submissions required by funders and regulatory agencies
• Establish controls and reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability and stewardship of charitable resources
• Ensure proper accounting, tracking and reporting of donations, fundraising proceeds, designated funds and restricted funds in accordance with regulatory guidelines and donor requirements

Systems Development

• Establish and strengthen finance governance, internal controls, policies, SOPs, and approval frameworks
• Review and enhance department processes, workflows, documentation, and reports to improve efficiency, standardisation, and controls

Resource Management

• Work with the Head of Finance & Compliance in the annual budget allocation exercise to ensure prudent spending and efficient resource utilisation across the organisation
• Ensure that his/her Team are equipped with the necessary resources and tools to perform effectively 
• Ensure resources are utilised in a cost-effective manner 
• Monitor and ensure spending is within the approved budget for the financial year

Supervision and Reporting

• Serve as the key liaison and provide secretariat support to the Finance Sub-Committee, including the preparation of financial reports, board papers, analysis, meeting materials, and follow-up on action items arising from meetings
• Act as the management representative to the Finance Sub-Committee, providing financial analysis, reports, presentations and recommendations to support effective governance and decision-making
• Prepare management reports and financial updates to the Management, Finance Sub-Committee and Canossaville Management Committee (CMC)
• Ensure that the Finance staff’s yearly performance targets are aligned with the Canossaville’s strategic focus areas
• Escalate key financial, compliance, audit, and governance matter to the Head of Finance & Compliance where appropriate
• Ensure that staff under care are growing professionally and achieving targets set for the year
• Conduct appraisals for direct reports, where applicable
• Lead, manage, nurture and develop the personal growth opportunities of staff, whilst ensuring that the working environment is safe and encouraging
• Provide technical guidance and quality review of work performed by Finance staff, ensuring consistency, accuracy and adherence to accounting standards and organisational policies.

General

• Performs any other duties as assigned by the Senior Management

Education and Experience 

• Degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline
• At least 5 years of relevant finance experience, including 2 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity
• Experience in social services, public sector, or grant-funded environments is highly preferred

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Experience in accounting software
• Strong in use of excel for analytics and PowerPoint for presentation
• Strong in internal control procedures
• Possess ability to apply critical thinking skills (observation, planning, analysis, review) to the workplace  
• Effective problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, when dealing with different stakeholders, including the Finance Sub-Committee and Management Committee members

Generic Skills and Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to collaborate, build and maintain strong relationships with different stakeholders
• Ability to create a positive work and team culture where members strive for the highest standards of work delivery
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented and multi-disciplinary environment
• Ability to adapt to change and a willingness to embrace new strategies and ways of working
• Has a strong learning agility and is resilient in managing change and ambiguity
• High level of self-management/ownership and ability to work independently with minimal supervision 
• Ability to function in a fast-paced environment with tight/competing deadlines by prioritising and managing multiple projects and tasks simultaneously
• Keen interest in continuous improvement and work excellence
• Highly meticulous and possess high degree of accuracy
• Resourceful and possess the ability to problem-solve with a macro-view
• High level of personal integrity