ICAN (PAFA) Vacancy for Chief Executive Officer

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF NIGERIA

PAN AFRICAN FEDERATION OF ACCOUNTANTS

VACANCY

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Pan African Federation of Accountants [PAFA] is an institution recently established in May 2011 as the pre-eminent body of the African region’s accounting professional organisations. PAFA is currently made up of

Thirty Seven (37) professional accountancy organizations from countries of Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Congo Republic, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. PAFA aims to have all professional accountancy organizations in Africa to be part of its membership.

PAFA’s Secretariat sits with the South Africa Institute of Chartered Accountants and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.  That will be the seat of the Chief Executive Officer of PAFA.

PAFA seeks to build a solid and reputable performance track record straight from its creation, on the basis of its strong mandate from its member bodies. Because of the nature of PAFA’s mandate the Chief Executive Officer must interact with key stakeholders in private and public sectors and specifically senior government officials, senior member body executives, private sector executives and actors as well as practitioners.

PAFA seeks to achieve the following primary objectives:

1. Provide a forum for cooperation and assistance among African professional accountancy organisations for the further advancement of the status of the accountancy profession;
2. Provide encouragement for and assistance with the formation and development of national professional accountancy organisations in Africa;
3. Engage in the development and enhancement of the accountancy profession in the African continent through participation in the development and the dissemination of the standards, guidelines and other pronouncements of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the independent standard-setting boards under the auspices of the International Federation of Accountants (herein after referred to as “IFAC”) and  the establishment and implementation of appropriate strategies and work programs;
4. Promote the development of common technical, ethical and educational guidelines for the accountancy profession in Africa;
5. engage national governments, regional trading and economic blocs and Development organisations in the development of the accountancy profession in the African continent;
6. Facilitate the development of a continental approach to accounting education and training by way of shared curricula and expertise;
7. Share and exchange information and best practices on technical matters, regulatory frameworks and corporate governance principles;
8. Identify and highlight challenges affecting the accounting profession in the African continent and formulate proposals towards the solution of these challenges;
9. provide African accountants with a platform for the exchange of relevant significant information on the accountancy profession;
10. Work in cooperation with other organisations whose development efforts may be complementary to that of PAFA;
11. Communicate with and participate in the work of IFAC and IASB Boards and Committees in agreed areas and liaise with other international and regional organisations; and
12. Influence and represent the African accountants in international accounting and other organisations.

PAFA is now looking for a dynamic, self motivated person who has the capability, energy and drive to lead the ongoing institutional development that will steer the accountancy profession in the African region into a position of world recognition and leadership. The position will be available from 1st January 2012 and will be assumed once all necessary formalities have been completed. This is a full-time position, appointed for an initial Five-year contract basis, renewable on successful accomplishment of agreed goals.

The incumbent will have maturity, experience and a down to earth attitude necessary to provide leadership from the front. Strong leadership, immense professional and industry knowledge and contacts will therefore be essential attributes for the position. PAFA is keen to fill the position with an individual who has excellent people skills, solid all round business acumen, strong client/stakeholder management record, and proven institutional development testimony. The successful candidate will also have strong administrative skills and systems proficiency. Strong communication competencies will be a major advantage.

Basic Objective

The basic objective for the Chief Executive Officer’s position is to provide leadership and direction and coordinate all activities of PAFA in accordance with the Constitution as well as PAFA’s Strategic Plan. The Chief Executive Officers assumes total responsibility for implementing decisions of PAFA’s Board as well as the day to day management of the affairs of the Pan African Federation of Accountants.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy Development, Planning and Reporting

·    Taking a proactive role in the formulation of strategic objectives and bringing them to the PAFA’s Board for input, discussion and approval.

·    Ensuring that strong strategic and annual planning processes are in place to produce effective plans for approval by the PAFA’s Board.

·    Ensuring that all financial and non financial reporting requirements are met on a timely and regular basis.

·    Provides a Secretariat to the PAFA’s Board and its Committees ensuring that all proceedings are correctly recorded and subsequently followed up as necessary.

Relationship Management

·    Developing and maintaining effective strategic relationships with key stakeholders including the government, donors, professional members and other partners.

·    Developing a wide range of relationships and networks with the local, national and international professional organisations to position PAFA as a well known and credible organisation throughout the Africa region and beyond.

Operational Management

·    Ensuring that the day-to-day operations of PAFA are effectively and efficiently co-ordinated and implemented and conducted within the framework agreed to by the PAFA’s Board.

·    Implement stringent project management processes to ensure the timely and cost effective development of the key projects undertaken by PAFA.

·    Assisting professional accountancy organizations to respond to SMOs and prepare Action Plans as may be necessary.

·    Familiarity with World Bank Reports on Standards and Codes (ROSC) Policy Recommendations and assist professional accountancy organizations to respond to ROSC findings and develop Action Plans to implement Policy Recommendations.

·    Develop and manage performance based contracts for the achievement of PAFA’s strategic objectives.

·    Draft speeches for the President and prepare articles for PAFA Newsletter and to make presentations on PAFA activities and/or specific projects at relevant seminars and conferences.

·    Liaise with IFAC staff, Boards and Committees as appropriate.

·    Maintaining effective working relationships with the Chairman and PAFA’s Board.

Human Resources and Leadership

·    Building and maintaining a high performance culture through effective performance management, communication and coaching of staff.

·    Provide clear leadership and promote and foster a team culture consistent with PAFA’s organisations values.

·    Ensuring the recruitment of appropriately skilled staff to positions, and establishing appropriate remuneration levels and performance based conditions for staff within the framework agreed to by the PAFA’s Board.

·    Manages the development and implementation of a manpower plan to include organisation structures, optimum staff numbers and supporting plans for recruitment, transfers, and retrenchment, where necessary.

·    Oversee individual evaluation of senior staff, promotion and discipline.

Key Competencies

Leadership

·    Demonstrates passion and enthusiasm for PAFA’s vision, and motivates, leads, and empowers others to achieve goals of PAFA.

·    Inspires and leads others towards high levels of performance.

·    Demonstrates an intellectual and professional leadership style that supports that attainment of respect and credibility throughout PAFA.

Relationship Management

·    Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with key stakeholders.

·    Ability to influence or persuade others to gain acceptance or agreement of ideas and approaches.

Problem Solving and Analysis

·    Ability to analyse complex policy issues, draw reasonably accurate conclusions and articulate clear and focused policy to wide, diverse and sometimes incompatible audiences.

·    Ability to understand issues and make systematic and rational judgments based on the relevant information.

Strategy Formulation

·    Ability to formulate strategies and policies, and craft new approaches in changing situations as appropriate.

·    Ability to take a broad based view of issues and events, and have an understanding of their longer-term impact or wider implications.

·    Ability to translate strategies into strategic and operational activities.

Communication Skills

·    Ability to assimilate complex issues and use appropriate communication strategies to influence wide and diverse audiences.

·    Ability to actively listen, seek information, and ask questions to ensure the understanding of underlying concerns of others.

Understanding of Regulatory, Government and Industry Processes

·    Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of, and experience in, local and national government, professional promotion, registration, examination and regulatory processes.

·    Politically astute; is able to read situations aptly and exhibit sound judgment.

Interpersonal Style

·    Has a personal commitment to organisational excellence; displays honesty, integrity, and a strong sense of ethics in all decision and actions.

·    Is resilient; remains calm and deliberate under conditions of stress

·    Understands how people work and has and maintains a positive non-threatening presence which commands respect from staff, professional members, and stakeholders.

Personal Organisation

·    Has the ability to organise time to the best advantage of PAFA.

·    Manages competing demands to maintain a healthy balance between work, family and community activities.

·    Maintains and manages personal health and fitness.

Governance/Management

·    Experience in working with boards of directors providing professional, accurate, and strategic advice.

·    Ability in implementing and delivering on boards of directors’ decisions and policies.

·    Understands the interface between the role of directors and management.

Relationships

The Chief Executive Officer is accountable to the PAFA’s Board through the Chairman.

Qualifications and Experience

The candidate must have a basic degree and must be a holder of a professional accountancy qualification and a member of one of the PAFA members. He or she must have at least 10 years post qualifying managerial experience at senior level. Proven institutional development testimony, postgraduate qualification, proficiency of English and French languages will be added advantage.

Remuneration

An attractive package will be offered to the successful candidate.

Mode of Application

Applications supported by a Curriculum Vitae, copies of relevant certificates, full postal address including day telephone numbers and e-mail address, if any, two contactable referees should reach the undersigned on or before Friday 19^th August 2011 , via email to azimo@saica.co.za

The Pan African Federation of Accountants Secretariat

7 Zulberg Close Bruma Lake , Johannesburg

South Africa