Job Summary
This is a core position in the Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan country office and is open for both Afghan national and international candidates. The Head of Finance will provide strategic leadership and oversight of all financial functions for Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan across both its charitable and commercial activities. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the postholder will lead and develop the Finance team while positively contributing to the country strategy; organisational culture and values; equality; and cross-departmental collaboration.
The Head of Finance will work closely with the Country Director, in-country team, and key global team members to ensure strong financial management of the country office budget, effective stewardship of resources, and financial compliance. The role will oversee Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan’s country-level entities and ensure cohesive and collaborative financial management within and between entities. The successful candidate will cultivate strong working relationships with all heads of department and function leads to foster positive and unified financial and commercial operations within the country office.
The postholder will be responsible for overseeing a variety of financial management processes including, but not limited to, budgeting, accounting, cash flow, payroll, financial reporting, donor awards and sub-awards, audits, commercial finance, and internal controls. The role will also ensure compliance with organisational, donor, and government requirements, manage financial risks, and strengthen financial systems and processes. The successful candidate will develop strong working relationships with country and global teams and represent the organisation with authorities, donors, and partners.
The position will be based in Kabul, Afghanistan, and is expected to start 1 January 2027.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Management and Team Building
· Oversee all finance functions of Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan, providing strategic direction and leadership to the Finance team across both charitable and commercial delivery streams.
· Be an active member of the Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan Senior Management Team and contribute positively to the strategic development of the country office and the implementation of its country strategy.
· Serve as a country office champion and leader for promoting and instilling Turquoise Mountain’s workplace environment, behaviour, and values.
· Actively promote and implement mechanisms that progress equality and inclusion in the workplace.
· Supervise and lead the Finance team. Facilitate one-on-one support, strategic guidance, and departmental meetings.
· Ensure and oversee the effective delegation of responsibility within the Finance team.
· In coordination and consultation with the Finance team, prepare departmental workplans and ensure the timely implementation of planned activities.
· Ensure effective collaboration with key country office functions including Programs, Operations, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) across all field sites.
· Liaise and build strong working relationships with core global team functions, primarily Finance, Operations, Commercial, and Fundraising.
Budgeting and Reporting
Country Budget
· Work closely with budget holders to oversee the effective financial management of the country office operational budget, ensuring appropriate stewardship of resources.
· Work closely with the Country Director and Heads of Department to prepare accurate departmental budgeting and conduct routine expenditure and reforecast updates to the country budget over the course of the year, in line with organisational requirements and timelines.
· Oversee the accurate allocation of expenses in line with the approved country budget.
· Ensure effective coordination with the global team members including the Group Finance Director, Financial Controller, and Commercial Finance Manager on country and donor budget management and reporting.
Award & Sub-Award Management
· Work closely with the Country Director and Head of Programs to develop accurate and compliant donor budgets for new grant proposals and budget realignments for existing grants.
· Oversee the monthly Budget versus Actuals process and work closely with Finance and Programs teams to ensure the timely preparation and distribution of all grant reports to project teams; review, revision, reforecast, and finalisation process; and overall compliance with individual donor requirements.
· Serve as the focal point for sub-awardee budgeting and financial reporting processes, including consolidation and supporting strong sub-award financial management, ensuring compliance with internal and donor requirements.
· Ensure the timely submission of donor financial reports per contractual obligations.
· Ensure financial obligations in donor awards and sub-awards are met, including monitoring payment schedules and disbursements in line with compliance requirements.
· Serve as the country office focal point for donor, governmental, and organisational financial audits and oversee the completion of activities and submission of documentation for related processes.
Commercial Management
· Working closely with the Global Commercial Director, Group Finance Director, and Commercial Finance Manager, support the Business Development Finance Coordinator to ensure that Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan commercial finance obligations are met, including the timely disbursement of payments to suppliers, accounting of committed funds as required, and effective inter-entity accounting management.
· Facilitate strong working relationships between Turquoise Mountain’s country-level entities for a cohesive and integrated approach to organisational financial management.
· Apply a problem-solving approach to ensure that inter-entity transactions are accurate and processed in a timely way.
· Work closely with the Commercial Finance teams to create analytical and monitoring tools to allow the organisation to better understand financial performance.
Accounting
· Lead and oversee the country finance function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial management and reporting.
· Ensure adherence to donor, statutory, regulatory, and organisational financial requirements.
· Oversee banking, treasury, cash management, and financial transfers, ensuring effective controls and adequate liquidity.
· Ensure robust cash flow forecasting and planning to support operational needs.
· Strengthen cross-departmental financial accountability, reporting, and reconciliation.
· Oversee financial management and compliance across all country entities.
· Ensure timely month-end closing, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial reporting in coordination with Global Finance.
· Monitor financial performance and proactively identify, manage, and escalate risks to the Country Director and Group Finance Director.
· Ensure effective payroll governance and controls in coordination with Human Resources.
· Maintain oversight of bank, cash, and third-party service provider reconciliations, ensuring timely review, approval, and resolution of discrepancies.
Internal Controls
· Ensure compliance with the country Finance Manual, including accurate utilisation and processing of internal templates, documentation, and financial records.
· Identify, propose, and roll out system and process improvement strategies.
· Deliver training and capacity building activities to the Finance team and Heads of Department to ensure comprehensive understanding and execution of internal control measures, policies, processes, and practices.
· Monitor budget execution and prepare and present the monthly management accounts to the Country Director and global finance team.
· Ensure that all financial activities and payments are in compliance with the entities’ and donors’ policies.
· Liaise with global finance colleagues on all aspects of documentation and control.
· Maintain strong cash controls and reconciliation processes.
· Work with global finance and operations colleagues, third party providers, to ensure timely inflow of cash to country office.
Coordination, Representation, and External Liaison
· Represent Turquoise Mountain Afghanistan and serve as an ambassador for the organisation in external engagements including with the Afghanistan authorities, donors, and partners.
· Work closely with internal teams to ensure the timely registration and reporting of projects with the organisation’s relevant line ministries.
· Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local financial requirements, including tax regulations, financial and legal regulations, and governmental processes.
· Actively cultivate and strengthen inter-entity and inter-departmental coordination.
This list is not exhaustive, and other duties may be required as determined by the needs of the organisation.
