Building A Bridge To A Brighter Africa
ADVERT FOR THE POSITION OF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT THE PAFA SECRETARIAT
IFAC and DFID, which leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty, have entered into an agreement to develop the accountancy profession in emerging economies. Under the agreement, DFID will provide funding to IFAC over seven years to be used to strengthen the accountancy profession in at least ten DFID focus countries through capacity building projects at the national and regional levels.
Recognizing the time it takes to build PAO capacity, work in the approximately ten DFID focal countries will be underway within the first five years of the seven-year program. Work commenced in three DFID focal countries in Africa in 2015. Indications are that some PAO development needs might be more efficiently addressed at the regional level. IFAC’s Program Management Team has identified opportunities for such regional projects.
The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA)
The Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) is a regional organization with the mission of working in the public interest by leading and developing the accountancy profession in Africa. Further information regarding the organization is provided at appendix 1.
PAFA is seeking to increase its professional capacity to implement its recently-approved strategy. PAFA’s strategic objectives include:
· Strong and sustainable PAOs: To build strong and sustainable professional accountancy organizations in each African country that contributes to the national professional, economic and social development and demonstrates compliance with the Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
· International standards and best practice: To influence and facilitate adoption and implementation of international standards and best practice in each member country in order to improve the quality of financial and corporate reporting.
· Transparency and accountability in the public sector: To facilitate the accountancy profession to contribute in strengthening Public Finance Management (PFM) systems in order to achieve fiscal discipline, effective resource allocation and effective service delivery to citizens thus creating value for money.
The organization is now beginning to operationalize the business lines that will enable it to deliver on its strategy. A well-resourced and effectively-functioning PAFA will contribute significantly to developing the accountancy profession in Africa. It is therefore proposed that the DFID-funded IFAC PAO Capacity Building Program contributes to the regional body’s development by supporting the appointment of a Director: Technical to work with the Director: Strategy and Operations in the delivery of PAFA’s strategic goals.
PAFA Director: Technical
IFAC is reaching out to the development community to assist in identifying suitable candidates for the Director: Technical position. The Job Description is provided on page 3.
Each candidate will be asked to submit their CV along with a one-page cover memo that briefly summarizes:
· The background and relevant experience of the individual, including prior experience within Africa, and why that experience is directly relevant to the position.
· Demonstrated capabilities outlined in the job description.
1. Qualified candidates ideally should be fluent in English, and knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is highly desirable.
2. Applications that meet the criteria for the position will be reviewed by a panel composed of the PAFA CEO, an IFAC Board member, and an IFAC staff member. The IFAC PAO Capacity Building Program Independent Selection Panel will oversee the process and ratify the recommendation of the selected candidate.
3. A tripartite agreement will be signed by IFAC, PAFA and the Director: Technical. The Director will report to the PAFA CEO, and liaise closely with IFAC and collaborate on areas of mutual interest.
If selected, the candidate will be expected to comply with all IFAC and DFID policies.
The annual remuneration for the position is 1,130,265 ZAR.
Ideally, the Director: Technical should be selected no later than September 1, 2016 and start the engagement by October 1, 2016.
Interested candidates are required to submit their application by 5:00 PM South Africa Time on Friday, August 26, 2016.
Late submissions will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted by email to Vickson Ncube –
Details of the job description can be found on the PAFA website www.pafa.org.za
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Director: Technical, PAFA
Based in: PAFA office, Johannesburg, South Africa
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
PAFA seeks to employ a Director: Technical to assist in operationalizing its strategy.
The Director will be responsible for identifying and mobilizing the resources necessary to operationalize the sustainable delivery of core activities in the areas of international standards, public financial management (PFM), and research.
Initially, the Director will be responsible for directing and overseeing the work of the Manager: PFM and, later, the work of the Manager: Technical and Standards and Manager: Research. Until such time as the Managers are appointed, the Director will be expected to carry out responsibilities – in addition to direction and oversight – in the areas of technical and standards, and research.
Key Responsibilities
The Director will have the following responsibilities in relation to the International Standards and PFM Support operating lines:
· Provide input to the development of the PAFA strategy and budget
· Develop strategy implementation plans and monitor delivery of strategic priorities; including business planning processes and risk management
· Develop and oversee achievement of key performance measures and report to the Chief Executive Officer on such achievement
· Develop and oversee achievement of the budgets and report to the Chief Executive Officer on variances
The Director will be responsible for the recruitment, induction, training and development, and performance management of direct reports, including the relevance to strategic priorities, quality, and timeliness of the work
The Director’s responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to the following:
· Promote and support PAFA member organizations with the implementation of the pronouncements of the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB), International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPASB), and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) (i.e., the international standards) in accordance with Statements of Membership Obligations (SMOs) 2 – 5 and 7 issued by the International Federation of Accountants.
· Promote and support PAFA member organizations with the implementation of robust quality assurance review systems in accordance with IFAC SMO 1, Quality Assurance.
· Promote and support PAFA member organizations with the implementation of a robust investigation and discipline system in accordance with IFAC SMO 6, Investigation and Discipline.
· Monitor the level of compliance of PAFA member organizations with the IFAC SMOs, and support them with the development of actions plan to enhance compliance
· Manage the PAFA Technical and Standards Forum, the objectives of which are:
o to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of African influence on international standard-setting;
o to encourage the adoption of international standards;
o to facilitate capacity building in the development of standards and the implementation of the international standards; and
o to facilitate learning and development across African states
· Facilitate the transfer of knowledge to PAFA member organizations to enable them to strengthen the technical capacity of the accountancy profession in their respective countries, including providing support to the preparers and auditors of financial statements to comply with applicable international standards
· In consultation with IFAC, facilitate the translation of the latest versions of the international standards for use in the Francophone and Lusophone countries in Africa
· Identify emerging issues that may affect the accountancy profession in Africa and direct research; identify opportunities for thought leadership in the region
· Build / strengthen relations and maintain liaison with international standard-setters and other relevant international and regional organizations
· Design and implement a process to build the technical capacity of the accountancy profession in relation to specialized industries, including securities regulators, banking supervisors, pension fund supervisors, insurance supervisors, etc.
Other Responsibilities
· Liaise closely with IFAC and collaborate on areas of mutual interest
· Represent PAFA at events as necessary
· Arrange PAFA events as necessary
· Seek funding to support PAFA’s activities in the areas of adoption and implementation of international standards and PFM reform
· Monitor, measure and report on relevant initiatives and achievements of PAFA member organizations
· Contribute to the efficient and effective implementation of all aspects of the PAFA strategy, practices and policies, and ensure they are fully understood throughout the organization
Competencies
· Strategic planning and budgeting
· Developing and managing results-based programs
· Building strategic partnerships to achieve organizational goals
· Innovation and marketing of new approaches
· Good understanding of the international standards
· Good understanding of PFM
· Good understanding of professional accountancy organization development
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration.
Professional Qualification: Professional Accountancy Qualification awarded by a member body of IFAC.
Experience: Minimum of five years’ experience in a relevant field, the majority of which was obtained in Africa.
Language Requirements: Fluent written and spoken English. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese highly desirable.
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