Richard Busingye

Reporting to head of Programme, Set up Office and established the infrastructure and systems needed to ensure sound internal financial management and facilitate coordination between the programme internal and external stakeholders and partners through regular communication with member organizations, staff, and donor representatives. Monitored the programme progress, overseeing the coordination and reporting of funds, ensuring compliance with International IDEA and EU regulations. Provided guidance on financial and programmatic progress to the programme leadership, and lead important financial skills building sessions for fellow colleagues. involved in strategic planning and producing budget forecast for partners and the steering/technical committee

Finance and Administration:

• Managed all finance, administrative, human resources, procurement and facilitated related aspects of Khartoum office, and supervises Programme support team;
• Monitored adherence to financial and contractual requirements in line with International IDEA and donor financial and procurement procedures and policies, with special focus on timelines for reporting, invoicing and disbursement; Prepared financial projections, statements and expenditure reports as required;
• Tracked financial progress of projects and expenses as required, underlining budget deviations and provided project’s internal and external leadership and members with analysis;

Grant and Partnership;

• Provides support and guidance to internal and external stakeholders and partners in all matters related to grant management, contract management, as well as prepared and revised of budgets;
• Provided guidance to internal and external stakeholders and partners to ensure capacity of grantees/partners to administer and implement grant; Collaborated with programme team and external donor finance functions to align financial and technical reporting to ensure integrity of programme;
• Trained employees in company and regulatory compliance requirements to promote conformance.
• Oversaw office inventory activities by ordering and requisitions and stocking and shipment receiving.
• Established workflow processes, monitored daily productivity, and implemented modifications to improve overall performance of personnel.
• Interviewed, recruited and onboarded new staff for high-performing administration teams.

Management and Audit:

• Provides budget management support to project’s internal and external stakeholders and partners through monthly project budget reviews;
• Manged risk management process, in line with organizational risk management policies and procedures; and Provided oversight to programme audit.
• Prepared bi-weekly payroll for 30 employees and maintained all associated files
• Analyzed budgets, forecasts and current trends to support overall financial operations
• Identified and corrected miscalculations and financial discrepancies to support quality assurance
• Updated daily transaction records to assist with payroll and billing administration
• Utilized financial software to prepare consolidated financial statements
• Implemented and regularly reviewed financial controls to generate accurate and reliable financial data
• Established internal audit procedures to validate and improve accuracy of financial reporting
• Complied with established internal controls and policies
• Analyzed business processes to identify cost savings and operational efficiencies
• Established and checked coding procedures, monitored reports and updated internal files

Reporting Regional Director, Africa & West Asia Program (AWA) with dotted line to Executive Division, HQ, provided complete programme finance and operational support and supervision to both the project managers and Country offices (Kenya, Ethiopia, Tunis, Egypt, Mozambique, Ghana and south Africa), acting as focal point for project managers for grants, budgets, procurement , financial reporting and most senior liaison point on between project budget expenditure and operational administrative support in programme delivery.

Grant Management:

• Provided sound expert financial and risk support to AWA Programme internal and external partners in all matters related to grant management and ensured capacity of sub grantees through conducting, financial and fiduciary due diligence to administer Grants. Ensured efficient administration of financial and contractual requirements in line with International IDEA and donor financial and procurement procedures and policies; and monitored adherence of financial and contractual requirements with special focus on timelines for reporting, invoicing, and disbursement; coordinated and reviewed grant agreements and annexes, arranged and supervised grant audits, and followed up on audit findings as well as on audit recommendations.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.

Budget and Financial Reporting;

• Planned, coordinated, managed and execute annual work plans and budgets. Reviewed budgets as well as related financial deliverable, ensuring reliability, relevance and quality of information. Negotiated cost efficient budgets, monitored ongoing validity of financial assumptions supporting project plans and performance frameworks.
• Supervised and ensured all financial commitments and transactions executed timely and in line with established procedures. Prepared and reviewed project financial reports, including budget/actual variance analyses, and ensuring reliability, quality and relevance of reported financial information.
• Acted as team leader in group projects, delegating tasks and providing feedback.

Supervision and Support;

• Supervised finance and administrative personnel in county offices through demonstrated leadership qualities and personnel and team management skills in administrative, and human resources.
• Contributed to development and enhancement of International IDEA internal policies and procedures and provided support to Management decisions. Established Office in Mozambique, Tunisia, South Sudan, Sudan, South Africa and Ghana

Provided complete project financial management support – both financial and contractual to project managers and programme directors for Electoral process unit at HQ, Wide Africa (Addis Abba, Ghana, Pretoria Offices, South Sudan, Tunis, Egypt) and Asia & the Pacific Programme (Canberra, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan Offices)

Grant management;

• Provided expert knowledge and support to project managers in all matters related to grants. Ensured project proposals and funding requests are prepared in conformity with International IDEA internal policies as well as client application requirements.
• Negotiated client agreements to ensure efficient administration of financial and contractual requirements, monitored adherence to agreement requirements and prepared financial expenditure reports in conformity to grant agreements including arranging and managing external audits, and ensuring implementation of measures to compliance with internal and donor policies and regulations and protection organizational assets and resources.

Budget Management;

• Assumed ownership of accounting, forecasting and strategic supply planning.
• Provided support and guidance to project managers on project finances, prepared budgets, tracked and analysing financial progress and provides managers with analysis reports. In addition, engaged with stakeholders in Resource planning and mobilization, budget development, human resource, programs and overall management of country's operations.

Contract and Agreement;

• Led financial planning and analysis by managing key metrics, analysing data and providing support and insight for strategic planning.
• Established budgetary benchmarks and formulated financial management strategies by researching operating and historical financial records.
• Advised on use of various contract templates, trained staff on public tendering, reviewed partnership and consultant/supplier contracts and provided guides on matters related to intellectual property. Contributed to Building and expand national office's portfolio through development of networks and initiatives that further organization's reach and impact.
• Policy and Systems Development; Contributes to development and enhancement of internal policies/ procedures and templates relating to budgets, contracts and grants, contributed to customization and enhancement of ERP system, through gap and workflow analysis and trained staff in its use
• Established budgetary benchmarks and formulated financial management strategies by researching operating and historical financial records
• Led financial planning and analysis by managing key metrics, analyzing data and providing support and insight for strategic planning
• Drafted reports for leadership for use in strategic planning and decision making
• Analyzed budgets, financial reports and projections for accurate reporting of financial standing

Provided support to the long -Term Technical Assistance regarding the Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for IGAD Secretariat

Administration;

• Acted as administrative link between projects, EU delegation. TRANSTEC and IGAD Secretariat in all project related matters, ensured proper function of project office, archived documents, and made logistical arrangements for official and work travels of long Term Technical Assistant and IGAD staff
• Ensured smooth and optimized working and enabling environment across various departments that enabled excellent team work and contributions for high team performance

Procurement, accounting and financial reporting;

• Contributed to preparation and implementation of tenders for service and supplies, acted as impress Admin/ accountant for programme funds, ensured correct financial accounting and planning of programme funds and programme estimates by Executing budgetary control functions, through enforcement of budget policies, availability controls, analysis of budget and its reconciliation
• Prepared EU expenditure reports; in charge of EU external financial Audit, created manageable audit findings by informing management of compliance risks, developing strategies for corrective actions, and reviewing field office financial / grant management reports at least quarterly.
• Reconciled accounts and reviewed expense data, net worth, and assets.
• Completed daily cash functions like account tracking, payroll and wage allocations, budgeting, donating, and cash, and banking reconciliations.
• Partnered with auditors to track errors and add contributions to maintain accuracy.
• Participated on special projects requiring accounting expertise, conducted ad-hoc analyses and provided solution options
• Supported internal audit, external audit or other regulatory bodies
• Evaluated and improved processes, workflows and procedures to manage accounts and resolve issues
• Reviewed and verified accuracy of account balances and classifications
• Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings
• Trained new employees on accounting principles and company procedures
• Reviewed accounts, resolved coding areas, and tracked recurring expenses for accrual entry

Provided financial and management support to programme offices in Lindi and Mtwara region of southern -Tanzania;

Administration and Human resource function;

• Spearheaded setting up of programme finance and administrative functions and facilitated office administration Systems (Coordinating staff travels, Meeting, Logistics, Assets, Contracts/Leases, Insurance, HR, Security, IT) ensuring accurate filing system of all documentation, supervised, coached, developed and regularly appraised local Admin staff, maintained programme assets including vehicle/motorcycle fleet.

Accounting, Procurement and Finance function;

• Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
• Tracked funds, prepared deposits and reconciled accounts.
• Cooperated with senior leaders to create operating budgets and initiate financial planning.
• Trained new employees on accounting principles and company procedures.
• Leveraged finance knowledge to strengthen controls and improve transparency.
• Gathered financial information, prepared documents, and closed books.
• Partnered with auditors to track errors and add contributions to maintain accuracy.
• Handled day-to-day accounting processes to drive financial accuracy.

Policies and Procedures;

• Reviewed accounts, resolved coding areas, and tracked recurring expenses for accrual entry.
• Maintained integrity of general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Documented cash, credit, fixed assets, accrued expenses, and line of credit transactions.
• Ensured financial compliance with AKF EA policies and procedures manual, compliance to tax and legal requirements including making statutory payments and submission of returns on time, coordinated and facilitating Internal and External Audits.
• Completed daily cash functions like account tracking, payroll and wage allocations, budgeting, donating, and cash, and banking reconciliations.
• Reconciled accounts and reviewed expense data, net worth, and assets.

Managing and providing coordination leadership of civil society capacity building Programme, Hosted Projects and direct funded projects for network in Uganda;

Fund Management;

• Fund managed five-year Civil Society Capacity Building Programme (CPB) ensuring objectives and milestones are achieved, Prepared Memorandum of Understanding with implementing member Organizations, coordinated preparation regional annual work plans, budgets, consolidation, disbursement of funds, monitoring and financial reporting.
• Managed restricted funds for WATSAN projects (Domestic Rain Water Harvesting, Self-Supply and Software, National Hand Washing Campaign (NHWC) and Hygiene Improvement Project) in line with grant agreements and timely donor reporting

Annual work plans and budgets;

• Participated and coordinated in preparation of five-year UWASNET strategic plan, annual work plans, budgets, submission to relevant organization, monitored funds transfers and coordinated preparation of progress report to Government, DANIDA, UNICEF and other development partner’s agency.

Finance and accounting;

• Controlled Bank accounts, prepared reconciliations, funds request, reviewed expenditure report member NGOs/CBOs, prepared final accounts for projects, arranged and provided support for both internal and external auditors and review teams

Administration and procurement;

• Handled administrative requirements, maintained records and submitted operational reports.
• Monitored employee activities, confirming compliance with security regulations.