The Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) is an indigenous medical organization that was established in 1991 as a Limited Liability not-for-profit Joint-venture between the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Defense and Makerere University Medical School (now Makerere College of Health Sciences). The Centre was established to respond and provide a scientific approach to the national HIV&AIDS challenge.

Job title: Director Finance & Administration
Reports: Deputy Executive Director-Finance & Operations.
Supervises: Finance Manager, Procurement Manager, Estates Manager, Head Stores & Transport Manager.

Job Summary;
The role of the Director Finance & Administration is to oversee the execution of financial, procurement, stores, estate operations, transport and administrative management of JCRC to ensure that organizational objectives are achieved.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Provide financial expertise and counsel to both the Executive Director of JCRC and the Finance Committee of the Board with respect to organization’s financial position and performance, especially in the areas of budget discipline and cash flow monitoring.
• Ensure that the financial and administrative systems at JCRC function effectively and efficiently in accordance with the Organization’s policies and procedures manuals.
• Support the negotiation process with internal and external partnerships through financial analysis, information gathering and an understanding of business risks in order to advise on impact of decisions.
Financial management:
• Manage the operational and strategic functions of the finance department to ensure compliance and efficiency. Compliance shall entail regulatory compliance, donor compliance and compliance to organizational policies and procedures.
• Develop and implement process improvement plans to ensure effective and efficient financial controls and operational procedures.
• Oversee the development of budgets including overall institutional budget, project budgets, annual expenditure projections, annual cash flow projections, and forecast financial requirements on a regular basis.
• Maintain sound financial management and accounting policies, systems, regulations and procedures for the organization, including the regular revision and updating of the JCRC financial policies and procedures manual.
• Ensure timely production and dissemination of periodic reports to the various stakeholders. For example: annual budget, management reports, donor reports, annual final accounts and other special purpose reports
• Provide leadership audit reviews and assessment processes.
• Take lead in the development of a comprehensive financial sustainability plan and fundraising strategy for the Organization.
• Participate in the development of project proposals by ensuring that the costing for activities is properly done and that budgets include all relevant components of the proposal.
• Administration, including Transport & Estates operations:
• Manage the financial relationships with external parties and liaise with them on behalf of JCRC.
• Oversee administrative functions as well as facilities to ensure efficient and consistent operational processes.
• Ensure effective integration of all finance, transport and administrative services, as well as effective communication and collaboration between technical and support staff.
• Ensure effective management of JCRC assets including the maintenance of an up-to-date fixed assets register and ensuring that physical verification of the assets is undertaken at the end of every financial year.
• Ensure that the office premises and office infrastructure of JCRC are kept in the most appropriate conditions and provide an enabling research environment for JCRC staff and associates.
• Procurement and Inventory:
• Oversee and monitor development, implementation and compliance with the organizations procurement manual.
• Oversee and monitor controls that ensure transparency and attainment of value for money on all procurements.
• Oversee Stores operations by ensuring that periodic inventory physical counts and reconciliation are performed. Review reports from the Stores to ensure that all significant variances are adequately explained.
• Approve stock reorder levels.

Qualifications and experience;
• Advanced degree in Accounting, finance or business administration majoring in accounting and finance.
• Membership to professional accounting bodies such as ACCA and CPA.
• At least 7-10 years of progressive and professional accounting experience, preferably in a relatively large institutional set up, of which at least 5 years should have been in a senior management role related to accounting and finance.
• Knowledge of Principles and practices of general fund accounting and internal control systems. Ability to develop and implement financial procedures and controls
• Knowledge of Principles and practices of grant management and an understanding of compliance mechanisms will be an added advantage
• Significant experience in fundraising, and proposal writing skills shall be an added advantage budgeting
• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, e.g. in designing policies, writing memos and letters, and in discussions, negotiations and workshop settings
• Strong leadership skills
• Proven capacity for analytical and interpretative problem anticipation and solving