Finance Manager

Position: Finance Manager

Location: Paris, France

Language: The International Fund's working language is English. Fluency in other languages (particularly French) would be an advantage.

Timeline: Target start date of April 2025; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the posting will remain open until filled.

Overview

The International Fund for Public Interest Media (the "International Fund") is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented individual to support financial accounting, reporting, internal controls, and compliance for the International Fund. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in not-for-profit accounting, including experience with donor reporting and compliance (experience reporting to government and international organization funders would be a bonus).

About the International Fund for Public Interest Media

The International Fund, currently fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, provides a fresh, ambitious, coordinated, and well-resourced strategic international response to the crisis facing independent media around the world. The International Fund launched its First Phase of Operations in 2023 and established its independent headquarters in Paris, France in 2024. In 2025, it will complete the transfer of its activities and operations into this French entity, with the status of an international organization.

The International Fund is the world’s only multilateral mechanism responding to the existential threats facing public interest media in low- and middle-income countries. First announced at the inaugural Summit for Democracy in 2021, the International Fund is designed to pool resources and expertise to boost the economic resilience of media markets. The International Fund’s grants provide direct core funding to media outlets in need and help develop long-term sustainable media markets, including through experimentation with national funds and new regulatory approaches. The International Fund complements existing efforts in the media development sector, catalyzing new money as a globally coordinated but fully independent vehicle.

The International Fund is co-chaired by Maria Ressa, journalist, CEO of Rappler, and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Sir Mark Thompson, CEO of CNN and former CEO of the New York Times Company and Director General of the BBC. More details can be found at: www.ifpim.org.

The Role

The Finance Manager will play a pivotal role in supporting the Finance Director to ensure accurate and timely bookkeeping and donor reporting, robust internal controls, and effective financial risk management.

This position requires a highly organized, proactive individual who can manage multiple priorities, navigate complex environments, and ensure financial transparency and compliance. The Finance Manager will be instrumental in leading the transfer of the International Fund’s financial systems and processes from its current fiscal sponsorship arrangement with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA, a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit), and will play a key role in implementing ERP and P2P solutions for the Fund’s independent entity headquartered in Paris.

This position will grow as the Fund’s operations scale-up, with the potential to supervise other members of the finance team as the organization grows.

Key Responsibilities

1. International Fund Spin-Out Preparation (Initial 3-6 Months)

The Finance Manager will work closely with the Finance Director to prepare the International Fund to transfer its activities and operations from its fiscal sponsor, RPA, to its Paris headquarters, particularly through ensuring that all financial systems, policies, and controls are fully implemented and fit for purpose:

1. ERP and P2P System Implementation: assist in the design, configuration, and deployment of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Procure-to-Pay (P2P) systems, ensuring alignment with existing policies and scalability for future growth;
2. Internal Control Mapping & Risk Assessment: together with Finance Director, conduct comprehensive internal control mapping and risk assessments across the organizations. Identify control gaps and inefficiencies and work with the Finance Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer to design and implement necessary controls to mitigate risks.
2. Leading Fund’s Accounting & Donor Reporting (80%)

The Finance Manager will lead the Fund’s accounting function, ensuring timely bookkeeping, expense allocation, and donor reporting. This will include the following responsibilities:

1. Financial Planning & Analysis: manage budgets, forecasts, and cash flow planning;
2. Accounting & Expense Management: ensure timely and accurate bookkeeping, together with HR Business Partner supervise outsourced payroll processes, coordinate the creation and execution of payments, manage the Fund’s accounting system updates.
3. Manage donor reporting: review donor funding agreements to understand financial reporting requirements and related compliance obligations, perform donor-specific expense allocations, and collaborate with External Relations colleagues to manage and submit accurate and timely reports to donors.
4. Audit Preparation: collaborate with the Finance Director to coordinate and prepare for internal and external audits, ensuring readiness and compliance with relevant obligations.
3. Internal Control & Compliance (20%)

The Finance Manager will strengthen the Fund’s internal financial controls through performing the following functions:

1. Internal Control Reviews: conduct formal annual reviews of the Fund’s internal controls. Ensure documentation is up-to-date and properly archived in line with data retention and other policies, and that all controls are operating effectively and in line with established internal policies.
2. Internal Audit Recommendations Follow-Up: implement and monitor progress on recommendations provided by external auditors or following internal audits, ensuring timely and effective resolution of any identified issues or gaps.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate strong attention to detail, interpersonal skills, integrity, and commitment to advancing the mission of the International Fund and in building strong relationships with members of the team. The following qualities will be an asset to applications for this role.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. ACCA/CPA or equivalent accounting or audit qualification preferred.
• Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in accounting and financial management (ideally, with a focus on grant-making or non-profit financial oversight and government donor reporting). Previous experience with ERP and P2P implementations or exposure to different ERP interfaces is a plus.
• Skills:
  • Strong understanding of non-for-profit accounting, IPSAS, and internal controls.
  • Experience with ERP implementation and management, risk assessments, and audit.
  • Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities.
  • Ability to work independently and proactively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience working in a global distributed team and across different contexts (including cultural).
• Language: English as a working language, French would be a plus.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

The International Fund is a fiscally sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), an equal opportunity employer. The International Fund is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where diversity is valued and where there is equality of opportunity. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and therefore welcome applications from qualified candidates of all regions, countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Selection of candidates is made on a competitive basis, and we do not discriminate on the basis of national origin, race, color or ethnic background, religious belief, sex, gender identity and expression or sexual orientation, marital or family status, age, or ability.

For more information and to apply please visit our website via the apply button below.