Title: Head of Finance and Operations, Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan
Reports to: Country Director, Accelerate Prosperity Pakistan
Duty Station: Gilgit or Islamabad
Deadline: May 15th, 2025
Accelerate Prosperity
Accelerate Prosperity initiative (AP) launched in 2016 as a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. AP’s overall mandate is to create an inclusive and prosperous society powered by entrepreneurs. Through a mix of technical support and tailored financing for start-ups, small and growing businesses (SGBs), AP facilitates entrepreneurship, employment creation, especially for youth and women, and socio-economic development within its relevant geographies.
Job Description
The Head of Finance and Operations at AP is member of the senior management and has responsibility for leading financial operations of the company, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting, compliance with accounting standards, statutory and donor requirements and effective financial planning and management. As a part of operations, he/she is also responsible for administrative and HR management of AP operations in Pakistan per the policy.
Key Responsibilities
1. Financial Management
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- Ensure integrity of AP’s accounting systems, sub-systems, internal controls, cash management, the signatories, discretionary authorities, and maintaining books of accounts, keeping robust record of all transactions.
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- Manage relationships with banks, auditors and relevant internal stakeholders (AKF Finance) in this regard.
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- Ensure overall accounting and financial management policies, manuals and IFRS standards are followed in letter and spirit.
2. Compliance and Audits
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- Ensure complete compliance with statutory and donor rules and requirements, with no disallowances and/ or financial penalties.
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- Lead external and internal audits leading to improved and high audit ratings year on year. Ensure execution of the action plans/ items that emerge out of the audits.
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- Ensure that accounting and financial management policies, procedures, processes and systems in AP are streamlined and key issues/ gaps are addressed.Recommend changes in policies per the need and develop associated proposals for AP’s management and governance for a decision.
3. Investment Portfolio Management
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- Prepare and share monthly and quarterly updates on financing/ investment portfolio, including on defaults and associated receivables and/or liabilities.
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- Ensure effective revolving fund management in liaison with the Chief Investment Officer.
4. Financial Reporting
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- Prepare and share monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements and analysis as a part of management accounts in accordance with the IFRS requirements and overall expectations of the management and governance.
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- Prepare BVAs by each donor funded project on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis including annual financing reports.
5. Business Planning & Budgeting
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- Lead AP’s annual business planning and forecasting processes, including coordination and integration of strategic priorities.
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- Lead and ensure effective annual financial planning/ budgeting in line with AP’s overall business plan and work plans by each project.
6. Administration and HR
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- Ensure delivery of improved administrative services in AP including procurement, recruitments, HR payroll and contract management travel, procurement, transport/ fleet management of vehicles etc.
Any other task: as may be required and/or given by AP Country Director based on the needs and new programs adding up to the portfolio of the organization and extended to the new geographies.
Eligibility Requirements
Education:
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- Chartered Accountant (CA), CPA, ACCA, Cost and Management Accountant (ICMA) or Masters in Finance.
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- A strong understanding of the IFRS standards is required.
Experience:
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- At least 8-10 years of experience, with min. 5 years at senior management level experience in a reputable organization in financial management and reporting. Experience in donor funded grants management and compliance is required.
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- A blended experience in financial institutions and not for profit/ development organizations will be preferred.
Core Competencies
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- Strong leadership skills, with a track record of leading and managing finance and accounts at a senior level.
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- A solid understanding of effective financial management and reporting, statutory compliance, investment operations and grants management.
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- Highly organized, detail oriented and able to multi-task effectively.
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- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of diverse stakeholders and partners.
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- Results-driven, with a commitment to achieving impact and quality standards.
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- Ability to work under pressure and manage parallel priorities.
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- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English.
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- A demonstrated ability to engage confidently and constructively with individuals from many different cultures and professional backgrounds.
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- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
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- Sound business acumen and entrepreneurial disposition in dynamic or ambiguous contexts.
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- The ability to align to broader, institutional considerations including carefully managing risks.
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- A good understanding of the ethos, mission and activities of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the unique regional contexts in which it operates.
AP offers a competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer – women are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should submit their cover letter (one page), CV (two page) with a subject line “Head of Finance and Operations” by 15 May 2025 to the email address: hr@accelerateprosperity.org
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interviews.
Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is committed to safeguarding, which means it promotes respectful relations with and between all staff, associates, beneficiaries and wider communities with whom it works, and takes all reasonable measures to prevent harm, including all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment (PSEAH), bullying, discrimination, harassment and abuse of power that may arise from contact with its staff, programmes or operations.AP also adheres to child safeguarding principles, as set out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s), employment history and any potential history of misconduct. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a full background check.
By sharing their cover letter and resume with AP in response to this job application, applicants consent for AP to keep this information on file for recruitment and human resources management purposes.