Senior Project Finance Manager

Marie Stopes Sierra Leone (MSSL) was established in 1986 as a leading provider of high-quality reproductive healthcare. We are a social enterprise that blends the values of non-profit public service with the innovation and efficiency of private sector delivery. Every year, we serve thousands of women, men, and young people across Sierra Leone with compassionate, client-centered care.

 We are part of MSI Reproductive Choices, a global partnership operating in 37 countries, united by the belief that everyone should have the freedom to make their own sexual and reproductive choices.

 Our work goes beyond healthcare. By supporting the physical, emotional, and reproductive wellbeing of our clients, we also open doors to broader opportunities. When men, women and girls are able to make informed choices about their bodies and futures, they are better able to stay in school, pursue their careers, contribute to their communities, and build healthier families. In this way, reproductive choice becomes a pathway to dignity, autonomy, and the reduction of poverty.

The Function:

The Senior Project Finance Manager is responsible for overseeing the financial planning, management, and reporting of large-scale projects and the annual business planning. This role ensures that all project financial activities align with organizational and donor objectives, comply with regulations, and support strategic decision-making. The position requires strong analytical skills, leadership capabilities, and expertise in project finance and risk management

 The Role:

The Senior Project Finance Manager will support in developing budget proposals, create awareness about the budget for compliance purposes, monthly forecasting together with the Programme Operations team, monitor expenses through the BVA (budget tracker), provide regular updates about the budget current status and prepare donor report as per the donor guidelines for timely submission to MSI and the donor. The role will involve some travelling to MSSL sites across all districts in Sierra Leone.

 The PFM is responsible for delivering an efficient and effective donor contract management function. He/She will lead grants management process for all programmes across Marie Stopes Sierra Leone. The role has three main aspects to it:

• Lead and develop the MSSL grants management effort.
•  Capacity building for Program Operations and the Grants staff,
• Contribute to the development of best practices, systems and processes for managing and implementing projects.

 The role offers a leadership opportunity for an individual highly experienced in grants management, business development, business planning and donor communications. 

The role also requires an individual capable of providing strategic leadership to both the Operations team as well as the Senior Management Team in the Key donor contractual commitments and the risks thereof.

Key Responsibilities:

A. Project Financial Planning & Budgetting

 ·       Develop and implement financial strategies for projects to ensure successful implimentation

·       Build bottom‑up project budgets & Forecated that aligned with the project workplan.

·       Actively involved in all proposal development and responsible for providing financial technical support on the budget development process in accordance with the donor format

·       Responsible for uploading all project budgets upon approval with clear account codes & DRLs.

B. Cost Control & Performance Management

 ·       Monitor project expenses and ensure adherence to approved budgets

 ·       Establish cost control frameworks: commitment tracking, actuals vs. budget (BVA) reviews, analyze variances and recommend corrective actions to maintain financial health.

 ·       Lead monthly Project Finance Reviews; propose corrective actions and re‑forecast as needed.

·       Manage change control financials: quantify and negotiate cost/time impacts of scope changes/claims.

·       Quarterly Analysis of current Funding Pipeline.

·       Advising on and implementing effective cost-allocation methodologies & policy to ensure appropriate allocation of Support Office shared Costs

·       Responsible for validating all purchase requisitions for compliance purposes and ensure the expenditure is in line with the forecast and track into the budget tracker.

·       Ensure accurate donor codes and charged teams cost to grants that are funding them

·       Manage advances from local donors and expenditure charged through differed income and ensure the account is accurately reconciled.

C. Compliance and Risk Management

 ·       Ensure all financial practices comply with the donor & statutory regulations and internal policies.

·       Identify and mitigate financial risks associated with projects

·       Implement internal controls for procurement, approvals, segregation of duties, and asset management.

·       Lead financial due diligence on subcontractors/suppliers; monitor financial health.

 D. Stakeholder Management & Communication

 ·       Translate complex financials into actionable insights for non‑financial stakeholders.

·       Train PMs and cost centre leads on cost control, timesheets, and procurement discipline.

·       Work closely with Programme Operations team to prepare realistic forecasts that are achievable in accordance with MSSL approved templates throughout the life span of the project.

·       Liaise with donors and auditors and lead in MSSL Project audit.

·       Participated in the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for MSSL

·       Provide support to the finance team as and when required and other duties as requested by line manager.

E. Reporting & Analysis

·       Provide accurate and timely financial reports to the donor, senior management and stakeholders as per the agreed timeline

·       Interpret financial data to support strategic decisions and project performance reviews.

·       Maintain audit‑ready records: timesheets, cost allocations, evidence of deliverables/milestones.

·       Oversee cash flow management and forecasting to ensure that adequate funds are available for programme needs. Monitor the cash requirements and amounts drawn down against programmatic requirements.

  Experience (essential/desirable):

·       Experience in working with accounting software and preferable SUN6 and Q&A (essential).

·       Demonstrable experience in Grant and Donor Management (essential).

·       Experience managing large grants (e.g. FCDO, UNFPA, USAID, DFAT).

·       Excellent knowledge of financial management systems and donor reporting (essential).

·       Excellent IT skills (essential).