Chief Financial Officer & EVP

Chief Financial Officer**

Management Sciences for Health

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is a nonprofit international health organization composed of more than 2,000 people from over 30 countries. Our vision is a world where everyone has the opportunity for a healthy life. Our mission drives us to work shoulder-to-shoulder with countries and communities to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by building strong, resilient, sustainable health systems. We take our inspiration from the Tao (Way) of Leadership, working shoulder to shoulder with our local colleagues and partners toward their empowerment and success.

WHO WE ARE

Management Sciences for Health advances knowledge and technology globally to support people locally to achieve health for all.

From ministry to community, private sector to civil society, as trusted advisors, we make the foundational changes that support the whole health system.

We are a mission-driven, global health nonprofit. For 50 years, we have focused on the people at the heart of the health system in each environment in which we work.

HOW WE WORK

MSH is committed to helping countries around the world achieve universal health coverage in alignment with the third Sustainable Development Goal: we focus our efforts on low- and middle-income countries and fragile states.

MSH partners to locally lead the way: we support people to build on what they already know to take charge of their own development and their own health. We establish trust and equitable relationships with those with whom we work. Our collaborators include the public and private sector, civil society and faith-based organizations, from Ministry to the community.

MSH develops innovations for now and future health systems: MSH is committed to helping health systems to adapt to the complex and evolving world we live in. We learn from all health systems globally and share what we have learned to build innovative solutions to health care challenges.

MSH applies systems thinking. We look at every aspect of the health system and the social, economic, environmental, and other conditions that impact it, to develop an adaptive and dynamic approach.

We bring data to bear on every decision. Our strategies and approaches are based on current research, detailed results monitoring, input from partners and country governments, demographic and epidemiologic trends, combined with decades of experience.

We work toward the goal of sustainability. Every intervention we undertake is designed to build on what already exists. We help develop leadership among motivated, well-trained health professionals and those who support them. Their leadership and ownership is at the heart of sustainability.

The Chief Financial Officer Role

The CFO will report to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As a member of the MSH Executive Leadership Team, the CFO will play a broad and strategic leadership role in MSH’s overall strategy for growth, development and ongoing success.

The CFO will serve as financial advisor/partner to the CEO, the MSH Leadership Team, the Board of Directors and its Finance Committee, on matters relating to financial status, risk management, and long-term planning. This includes timely and accurate management and financial information presented in an ongoing basis. The CFO will also work closely with the Audit Committee who will oversee the annual Audit plan and results. The CFO will work to ensure that our systems and processes are consistent and aligned with MSH’s overarching Strategic Roadmap and meet the compliance and reporting needs of our diverse donor base.

Working as a member of the MSH Leadership Team on matters relating to strategy, policies, operations, risk management, annual work planning, systems strengthening, performance management and MSH scorecard reporting, the CFO will participate in the development of MSH’s strategic, operational, and financial plans and programs. The CFO will evaluate and advise on the impact of long- range planning and the introduction of new programs/strategies as well as regulatory actions and novel business models.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will provide the leadership and financial stewardship required at this time in MSH’s history. This includes safeguarding MSH’s strong reputation for financial integrity and accountability and being accountable for the leadership and results of the traditional oversight areas of a CFO, such as expense control, investments, financial policies, information technologies, and risk management, forecasting and modeling, investments, financial planning and management. Importantly, the CFO will lead global IS and Business Operations departments with a focus on continuous improvement and increased effectiveness across the organization. The CFO will also work closely with Strategy, Business Development and Partnerships to establish structures and practices to support new business opportunities and diversification.

The CFO will provide management oversight, and ensure quality and continual improvement of day-to-day financial operations and systems, including budgeting, accounting, cash management, auditing, donor reporting, and contracts and grants management. This will require close collaboration with financial officers in MSH’s country offices, as well as direct management of headquarters accounting, finance and business operations staff.

The CFO will build upon past and current efforts to develop the financial infrastructure of the organization. This will include a focus on the continued strengthening of risk management strategies, financial management systems and reporting, and partnership with Field Operations and Country Presence Units. This will involve the updating and roll out of policies and standard operating procedures, and effective strategies for compliance monitoring and the management of financial risks. The CFO will ensure that Country Office accounting and financial systems for planning, managing, and reporting are efficient, consistent, user-friendly, aligned with MSH policies and local laws and regulations while responsive to donor needs. At the same time, the CFO must be a leader in MSH’s effort to improve its expense ratios and provide value for money through programmatic and operations efficiencies as well as budgetary discipline.

The CFO will foster a collegial and partnership culture with regard to accounting and finance activities across MSH. This will include a high level of responsiveness by and communication across MSH’s finance and program departments in addition to all operations levels.

Key Functional Responsibilities:

• Controller and Accounting including Treasury and Payroll
• Corporate Finance, Pricing and Contracting Administration
• Financial Reporting
• Country/Project Finance Operations
• Procurement
• Information Systems
• Global Operations including Registrations, Facilities & Risk Management
• Emergency & Crisis Response Team Leader

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will bring at least 12 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting and financial operations, including international experience. Given the strategic nature of the role, qualifications such as an MBA, CPA, MPA, or MA with a concentration in finance, economics, accounting, business, or a related field are helpful, but not required. The successful candidate will bring experience working in a complex, high-performing non-profit and private sector organization with the ability to make timely strategic decisions and obtain effective buy-in from colleagues and staff. The candidate must bring an ability to supervise strong professionals with many years of international development experience. Experience with government donors such as USAID, CDC, PEPFAR, UNICEF, DFID, the Global Fund, and other major partners is preferred. Understanding their contracting policies and procedures as well as experience working in developing countries is preferred.

Additional competencies include the following:

Technical and Functional Experience

• Extensive experience in finance and accounting on both revenue and expenses.
• International work experience.
• Strong GAAP and reporting skills coupled with strong analytical and budgetary experience
• Deep experience in the review and communication of financial results, balance sheets, statements of cash flows, and have the ability to build financial models.
• Confident communicator of high-level strategic vision as well as the details associated with variances against budgets/forecasts to senior management and the Board of Directors.
• Demonstrated understanding of advanced business system applications and methods used to improve effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to refine and deploy effective business processes, including Quality/ISO certification.

Management and Leadership

• Demonstrate humility, intellect, creativity, transparency, curiosity, discipline, and resourcefulness.
• Proven leadership skills, and will be comfortable with a high level of visibility, responsibility and accountability.
• Ability to hire and retain strong teams and solid experience in delegating, training, and empowering staff both locally and in countries.
• Motivate talent, including providing growth, mentorship, and learning opportunities.
• Unquestioned level of integrity, sensitivity and respect for diversity, equity and inclusive work cultures.

Building Relationships & Communication

• Excellent written and oral communications, as well as decision-making, problem-solving, and administrative skills.
• Fluent in written and spoken English; ideally have some ability to work in at least one other relevant language in addition to having strong listening skills.
• Inspires and communicates with enthusiasm, passion for the mission, and motivation for the MSH organization and staff.
• Proven experience in managing and/or coordinating global partnerships or collaborative working relationships at both executive and operational levels.
• Demonstrates excellent professional judgment and decision-making skills.
• Builds effective and trusting relationships internally with staff in and outside of the finance function, as well as with key external partners or vendors such as auditors, bankers, and other service providers, including multiple organizations, donors and international counterparts.

Strategy

• Relentlessly strategic with the ability to translate these skills into flawless operational plans, ensuring that MSH has a competitive edge and takes advantage of best practices.
• Well-honed critical thinking skills with the ability to be flexible and adaptable, and revise and adapt as necessary.
• Accustomed to the ongoing analysis of the complex financial operations in the international public health management and development assistance sector to identify efficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• Demonstrates a track record of process improvement, in addition to setting long-term financial goals.

The preference is to have the CFO role based in the US or Africa and requires a time commitment in the US at the MSH offices in Medford, Massachusetts and Arlington, Virginia (i.e.10 business days per quarter) as well as have the ability to travel away from home, often to remote locations, estimated at approximately 30% of your time (post COVID period).