Financial Management Specialist (2 year contract)

The candidate will be responsible for providing technical assistance, carry out functions to assist municipalities with the resolution of financial problems and other related provisions, in collaboration with other sector departments, through
• Preparation of financial recovery plans
• Monitoring and implementing of the recovery plans
• Assist municipalities to identify the causes of and potential solutions to the financial problems
• Collecting information on municipal financial management and finance governance problems and on best practices in resolving the problems
• Assisting in the overall improved organisational performance in municipalities and
• Improving the service delivery by the municipalities and overall infrastructure planning
• Development of financial recovery plans within the legislated timeframes
• Monitoring the implementation of financial recovery plans
• Capacity building and technical support on the resolution of financial problems

Development of Financial Recovery Plans

• Status quo Assessments: conduct a municipal status quo assessment in each municipality to inform the development of voluntary, discretionary, and mandatory financial recovery plans, which must cover the following areas: finances, governance, institutional arrangements, and service delivery.

• Preparation of FRPs inputs and consolidation of FRP.

• Stakeholder engagements: Engage with the Provisional Departments of Co-operative Governance, the Provisional Treasuries, municipal creditors, employee organisations and municipal leadership in the development and finalisation of FRPs.
• Revise the framework for the Financial Recovery Plan.
• Assist in the development of models to enhance the value of the Financial Recovery Plan.

Monitoring implementation
of an FRPs • Ensure that monthly progress reports by municipality on the implementation of the FRP are submitted by the due date.
• Follow up any non-compliance within reporting timeframes.
• Verify the information on reports submitted to ensure that the reporting is a true reflection of actual progress.
• Conduct quarterly audits on the municipality’s portfolio of evidence to verify progress and prepare a report on findings.
• Report all areas of slow progress and non-compliance for escalation within the National Treasury
• Simplify the current dashboards to monitor progress in the implementation of the Financial Recovery Plan.
• Ensure that FRPs are regularly reviewed and updated
• Prepare management reports on the status of FRP implementation in municipalities.

Capacity building and technical support

• Assist with the building of capacity in the Provincial Treasuries to develop and monitor the implementation of voluntary and discretionary FRPs.
• Assist Provincial Treasuries and municipalities with reporting challenges on FRP templates.
• Provide guidance and support in the implementation of the financial recovery plans/MFRS functions as required in terms of MFMA.
• Assist in the provision of technical support relating to organisational design, legal services, specific financial management and infrastructure and support of municipalities.
• Conduct research into best monitoring tools and benchmarks.
• Develop and update monitoring tools and benchmarks.
• Provide general advice, support and financial management reforms and any other ancillary activities to assist the MFRS unit and CD: LGBA as and when required.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERTISE

Highest educational qualification obtained in either of the fields
• Accounting /Auditing,
• Financial Management,
• Public/Business management,
• Public/Business Administration or any related field
A minimum of ten (10) years, experience in Local Government. Five years in a managerial position.
Demonstrated experience and achievements in municipal financial management operations in the following key components aligned to the scope:
• Budget and revenue management including financial modelling and planning, tariff setting and costing;
• Expenditure management;
• Asset management;
• Development and implementation of financial recovery plans;
• Municipal turn around initiatives;
• Supply chain management;
• Municipal auditing and;
• Municipal financial accounting and reporting