Head of Finance

Call for Applications: Head of Finance

The Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation works to accelerate Africa’s Economic Transformation through social entrepreneurship, science and technology, innovation, public health, and progressive policies that create economic opportunities for all. Our areas of work include sustainable development, science and innovation, health, leadership, education, entrepreneurship, economic and public policy. The Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation is an umbrella non-profit institution with several departments, including the Nkafu Policy Institute, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center, the Communication Department, and the Sustainable Development Programs.

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Head of Finance to join our leadership team. This is a full-time senior management position based in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Description

 The Head of Finance will serve as the principal financial leader of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, providing executive-level strategic oversight of all financial, accounting, and operational functions across the organization and its programs. The position carries institutional responsibility for financial governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and the long-term financial sustainability of the Foundation. The Head of Finance will lead and develop the finance team, serve as a key advisor to the Director of Operations and senior leadership, and act as the primary interlocutor with auditors, donors, regulators, and the Board on all financial matters.

Financial Management and Compliance

• Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight of all financial management functions across the Foundation and its affiliated programs and projects.
• Ensure full compliance with applicable financial regulations, donor requirements, statutory obligations, international accounting standards, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Design, implement, and continuously strengthen robust financial management systems, internal control frameworks, and enterprise risk management practices.
• Monitor institutional financial performance and provide strategic guidance to ensure the efficient and effective utilization of financial resources.
• Oversee treasury and cash flow management to ensure the Foundation’s financial stability, liquidity, and sustainability.
• Ensure the timely and accurate processing of all financial transactions and the integrity of financial records across the organization.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight to the accounting team, ensuring full compliance with established accounting standards, donor requirements, and organizational procedures.

Budgeting, Planning, and Financial Analysis

• Lead the institutional budget cycle, including the preparation, implementation, monitoring, and periodic revision of the Foundation’s annual consolidated budget and all project-level budgets.
• Provide strategic financial analysis and recommendations to the Director of Operations and senior management to support organizational planning, resource allocation, and decision-making.
• Analyze revenue trends, expenditure patterns, and financial performance indicators to identify risks, opportunities, and areas requiring management attention.
• Develop medium- and long-term financial forecasts and scenario analyses to support the Foundation’s strategic planning and institutional resilience.
• Coordinate periodic budget reviews and recommend evidence-based adjustments in response to evolving organizational priorities and funding realities.

Financial Reporting and Audit Coordination

• Ensure the timely preparation and submission of accurate, complete, and professionally presented financial reports for the Director of Operations, senior management, donors, regulatory authorities, and the Board of Directors.
• Lead the planning and coordination of annual institutional and project financial audits and ensure the availability of audited financial statements within required timelines.
• Serve as the Foundation’s primary liaison with external auditors, statutory authorities, and regulatory bodies on all financial and compliance matters.
• Oversee the systematic implementation of audit recommendations and corrective action plans, and report on progress to senior management and the Board.
• Ensure strict compliance with all donor financial reporting requirements, grant management obligations, and contractual reporting deadlines.

Team Leadership and Performance Management

• Provide inspirational leadership, direction, supervision, mentoring, and professional development support to the Finance Department and all directly supervised staff.
• Establish clear performance objectives, conduct regular performance reviews, and lead annual staff appraisal processes for the finance team.
• Build departmental capacity through targeted training, knowledge transfer, and the cultivation of a high-performance, learning-oriented team culture.
• Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement aligned with the Foundation’s values and mission.
• Represent the Finance Department in cross-functional leadership forums and contribute to organization-wide strategic initiatives.

Project Financial Oversight and Grant Management

• Provide senior-level financial oversight and strategic support for all organizational projects, programs, and grant-funded initiatives.
• Monitor project budgets and expenditure against approved work plans to ensure compliance with donor requirements and effective resource utilization.
• Advise and support project teams in financial planning, budgeting, reporting, and resource management throughout the project cycle.
• Ensure the timely and accurate submission of all donor financial reports and supporting compliance documentation.
• Lead financial due diligence and risk assessment processes for new funding opportunities and partnerships.

Donor Relations and External Communications

• Manage and maintain professional financial correspondence and relationships with institutional donors, grant-making organizations, government institutions, and other key financial stakeholders.
• Provide leadership in the preparation of financial information, budget narratives, and compliance documentation required for donor engagement, proposal development, and reporting.
• Contribute at a senior level to the development of institutional proposals, project budgets, and funding-related documentation.
• Represent the Foundation’s financial interests in external forums, negotiations, and partnership discussions as required.

Strategic Support and Organizational Development

• Serve as a key strategic partner to the Director of Operations and senior leadership in assessing organizational financial health and identifying priorities for institutional strengthening.
• Lead the development, review, and implementation of financial policies, procedures, and internal governance frameworks across the Foundation.
• Contribute to the development and periodic review of the Foundation’s strategic plan, ensuring financial sustainability and resource alignment with institutional priorities.
• Champion a culture of integrity, accountability, ethical conduct, diversity, and excellence throughout the organization.
• Provide board-level financial reporting and analysis, and advise the Board on financial governance, risk, and compliance matters as required.

Human Resources

• Provide senior administrative and operational oversight for human resource functions within the Finance Department, including recruitment, onboarding, employee documentation, performance management processes, attendance tracking, and related HR administration.
• Collaborate with the Director of Operations on cross-departmental HR matters with financial or administrative implications.

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to the Director of Operations, Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in financial management, with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership finance role, preferably within an international NGO, foundation, or development organization.
• Demonstrated experience in institutional financial leadership, including oversight of multi-donor portfolios, grant compliance, and statutory reporting.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and accounting systems such as QuickBooks or comparable enterprise financial management platforms.
• Familiarity with project management and organizational collaboration tools such as Microsoft Planner, ClickUp, or equivalent.
• Bilingualism in French and English is an absolute requirement.

Education

• A Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field is required. A professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) is strongly preferred.

Key Skills Required

• Expert-level knowledge of accounting principles, international financial reporting standards (IFRS), and institutional internal control systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic budgeting, financial planning, multi-year forecasting, and financial performance analysis.
• Ability to synthesize complex financial data and present strategic recommendations to senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and external stakeholders.
• Extensive experience in treasury management, cash flow planning, and organizational financial risk assessment and mitigation.
• Deep knowledge of donor financial management frameworks, grant compliance requirements, and multi-donor reporting obligations.
• Proven experience leading external audit processes and driving the implementation of audit findings and corrective measures.
• Proficiency in accounting software, financial management systems, and data analysis tools.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and critical-thinking skills with the capacity to anticipate financial risks and opportunities at an institutional level.
• Exceptional organizational, planning, and resource management capabilities.
• Track record of aligning financial strategy with organizational objectives and mission-driven priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-funder program portfolios simultaneously.

Communications Skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in both English and French.
• Strong executive-level report writing, financial presentation, and Board communication skills.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and accessibly to non-financial audiences, including senior management, Board members, donors, and external partners.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills at institutional and donor levels.

Application Process

All applications will be completed ONLINE using the Application Portal below. To complete your application, you will need:

• A one-page cover letter indicating your interest (in PDF)
• A curriculum vitae / Resume (in PDF)
• A professional photo

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.