Supervisory Financial Management Specialist – U.S. Mission in Accra
Job Description
Duties
The Supervisory Financial Management Specialist (SFMS) is the Mission’s Financial Operations Manager and is responsible for overseeing and performing the full range of financial planning and budget formulation for the Mission. Serves as financial advisor to senior Mission management and leads the strategic planning to ensure the Mission’s financial requirements are met. Serves as the primary Locally Employed (LE) Staff supervisor, mentor, and trainer for the FMC’s diverse workforce.
Financial Operations Manager (45%)
The SFMS oversees and performs the full range of financial planning and budget formulation for State and other serviced agencies/sections’ multiple and complex budgets using Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) and Mission Resource Request (MRR) goals and objectives as a strategic framework; utilizes the following financial tools in the budget formulation and planning process: budget preparation instructions, MRR resource tables, budget data calls, historical funding analysis, inflationary trends, currency exchange rates, contract pricing, local compensation plan, Federal salary and allowances, unfunded priorities, and new positions. In carrying out the financial planning and budget formulation process using Project Management protocol . The SFMS is responsible for providing regional and functional Bureau instructions to stakeholders, soliciting budgetary input from stakeholders via data calls, facilitating stakeholder meetings, preparing budgets utilizing incremental planning approach with milestones and establishing/adhering to budgetary timelines. Provides guidance to Financial Analysts to resolve rejected/unprocessed financial transactions. The SFMS coordinates with the Office of Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service (EDCS) and the Regional Bureau on collections, reporting and reallotment to post of revenues generation from the Gift Fund program. Additionally, the SFMS oversees the Value Added Tax (VAT) reimbursement program. The SFMS, in coordination with the FMO, ensures that the FMC is appropriately engaged in the audit management program. This includes both internal and external audits (CGFS, the Department’s external auditor, OBO, etc.). The SFMS serves as the alternate designated billing officer and manages the purchase and travel card programs. The SFMS reviews and verifies the correct funding source, and ICASS agency code for all positions, and safeguards against inaccuracies in personnel actions submitted in the OPS system.
The SFMS oversees and manages budgets totaling $45 million for Financial Management and $27 million for Financial Operations on an annual basis.
Certifying Officer: The SFMS is an accountable officer, designated as Alternate Certifying Officer with authority up to $50K. Responsibilities in certifying payments include ensuring that the documents for payment are complete, accurate, correct, properly obligated, billing match payments and are properly approved by ordering/receiving officials. Reviews vouchers for compliance with Appropriation Law and Department regulations, policies, and procedures as well as applicable host country laws prior to submission for certification. The SFMS certifies cashier transactions – vendor payments, allowances, transportation, travel reimbursements, travel advances, petty cash, supplies, journal vouchers, utilities, purchase orders, recurring expenses as delegated by the Primary Certifying Officer. The SFMS Certifying Officer is personally responsible for any illegal, improper, erroneous or incorrect payments that they certify. For those payments exceeding the SFMS certifying authority, the SFMS will pre-certify and recommend certification to the Principal Certifying Officer.
The SFMS certifies 5,000 fiscal strip codes worth $8 million on an annual basis.
Financial Advisor (30%)
Serves as financial advisor for the Mission. The SFMS leads strategic planning ensuring Mission financial requirements are met. Subject matter expert on financial regulations and how these correlate with local business practices. Advises Mission-wide on issues involving the legality of proposed spending within the context of appropriation law, financial policies, and regulations issued by the Department of State, other agencies, and the Office of the Comptroller and Global Financial Service Center (CGFS).
Management of Financial Management Staff (25%)
Supervision: The SFMS directly supervises 14 staff. Responsible for maintaining an equitable work distribution, productivity, quality controls, internal controls, legality of transactions, training of new hires, as well as cross-training of existing employees.
Recruiting and Professional Development: In conjunction with the FMO, the SFMS manages the recruitment, development, and oversight of all FMC personnel.
Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a:
- Public Trust Security Clearance security clearance.
All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.
Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time 12 weeks upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
Education Requirements:
Baccalaureate degree (or local equivalent) from university in finance, accounting, business administration
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.Evaluations:
You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.
You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.Qualifications:
Experience:
Non-Supervisory:
At least seven years progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following areas: accounting, budgeting, financial management, vouchering, allowances, and cashiering.
Supervisory:
At least one year of supervisory or team lead experience is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Language:
Fluency in Speaking/Reading/Writing, may include the ability to translate
Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.
Job Knowledge:
Must have advanced knowledge or the demonstrated ability to learn this knowledge, cost distribution of administrative shared services, financial application software. Analysis, reporting, management, and financial skills. Abilities to manage, organize, and report large and complex volumes of data to customers with or without financial experience. Must be tech-savvy with the Microsoft suite of cloud-based applications, in particular Excel, Power Automate and Power BI. Must be knowledgeable on applicable Host Country legal and compliance guidelines pertaining to corporate financial procedures and requirements. Able to meet tight deadlines while working on multiple tasks. Strong knowledge of people management including motivation and leadership.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Skills And Abilities:
Must demonstrate strong leadership skills, able to think, act, plan, communicate, and write in conformance with American management requirements. Must have ability to foresee financial and budgetary problems and propose solutions. Possesses a high level of interpersonal skills in order to be able to gain acceptance of recommendations relative to financial issues. Must serve the public courteously. Must be skilled in dealing tactfully with all levels of USG personnel and external contacts. Must be highly organized and a self-starter. Possesses high level skills to articulate complex financial issues to mid and senior managers without financial background. Is capable of motivating subordinates and supervise impartially. Able to use fully MS Word, Outlook PowerPoint, and Advanced Excel skills and Outlook and Word. Must possess basic knowledge of host country labor laws, inflation concepts, and exchange rates.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:Agency Benefits:
The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees.
For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:
A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below. It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER
- Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
- AEFM / USEFM
- Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights **
* IMPORTANT: US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:
- Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.
- Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.
The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:
- Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible.
- Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.
How to Apply
How to Apply:
Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application. For an instructional video on how to apply click here.
Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.
You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.
To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.
Required Documents:
Please upload all applicable documents to your application. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
All Applicants:
- Residency Permit (if applicable)
- Work Permit (if applicable)
- University Degree
- Certificate (if applicable)
In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:
- Copy of Sponsor’s Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
- Passport copy
- DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
- SF-50 (if applicable)
Next Steps:
The HR Office will contact successful applicants. For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website https://gh.usembassy.gov/jobs/
Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.