Deputy Director, Finance

  • Contractor
  • Sierra Leone
  • TBD USD / Year
  • International Rescue Committee profile




  • Job applications may no longer being accepted for this opportunity.


International Rescue Committee

Background

The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies, provides relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict reconstruction support to victims of natural disaster, oppression and violent conflict in 42 countries. The IRC has worked in Sierra Leone since 1999. The IRC currently programs across three core sectors: 1) Health 2) Women and Girls’ Protection and Empowerment (WGPE), and 3) Education. The IRC is committed to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone in the strengthening of the country. We seek to build upon our programming experience and introduce new programs that are adaptive, collaborative and evidence-driven, leading to a more educated, safe, healthy and empowered Sierra Leone.

Job Overview

As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director Finance provides financial leadership and management vital to ensure that the country program has the appropriate financial infrastructure and systems in place to support the strategic vision and mission of the organization. S/he will contribute to the development of the country programs strategic and operational plans and be accountable for ensuring and supervising delivery against the financial plans through targeted and comprehensive financial analytical review. The Deputy Director Finance is responsible for the overall policy and management for the financial and accounting management of the Country Program. Emphasis will be placed on financial management policies, practices and systems that are aligned with local laws and US as well as adhering to donor requirements but are also conducive to effective implementation of country programs.

As Deputy Director Finance, s/he will have responsibility for all aspects of strategic and operational finance in the country program, acting as the principal finance business partner to the Senior Management team and Country Director, Regional staff as well as conforming to IRCs financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.

Based in, the Deputy Director Finance will have dual reporting to the Country Director and the Regional Finance Director, including straight line accountability to the CFO.

Main responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Analysis

  • Provides financial information which supports the Country Director and SMT in making business decisions in line with IRC, Regional & Country Program strategies
  • Provides strategic analysis on the overall financial health of the country program to the CD and SMT
  • Contributes and provides feedback to the development of Country Programs Strategic Annual Plan

Controllership

  • Ensures that all in-country practices are in compliance with IRC and donor policies and procedures
  • Establishes in-country finance procedures to supplement global policies as needed
  • Closely supervises financial activities and advises the Country Director on financial performance of the office, issues with internal controls or financial management
  • Ensures monthly balance sheet reconciliations are completed on a timely basis
  • Ensures monthly closing is completed on a timely in Integra with all ledgers reconciled
  • Manages the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by headquarters and donors
  • Identifies requirements for and develops reporting formats to aid in the management of country operations and grant expenditures
  • Advises the preparation of and approves all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Country Director and Regional Finance Director prior to submission
  • Ensures in-country internal control reviews of operations are regularly undertaken.
  • Facilitates external, internal, donor or government audits
  • Is responsible for the protection of the country’s assets (cash, inventory, fixed assets) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures
  • Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to finance and align with tax and other legal requirements
  • Is the principal liaison with IRC HQ on all finance, accounting, grant budget management, and cash management?

Training & Staff Management

  • Establishes a finance department roles and responsibilities matrix; staff job descriptions are current; recruits and maintains qualified staff to perform finance functions
  • Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed annually; career planning and development plans are in place for all finance staff
  • Develops and implements a training program for the country’s finance staff for all finance and non-finance staff in Integra and policies and procedures.
  • Be responsible for finance training and technical support to non-finance staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, Integra, reporting and internal control.

Treasury

  • Supervises all country program bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest, and currency exchange rates
  • Supervises the review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations
  • Maintain on current basis accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments which obligate IRC to future spending
  • Ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation and cash held in headquarters in drawn regularly
  • Ensures the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the country’s foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses
  • Supervises the collection of contractual and other receivables

Budget/Forecast

  • Coordinates the preparation and revision of grant proposal budgets; supports programs with guidance on costing and inputs in crafting budgets for submission
  • Assists the country management team with the design and development of new budget proposals fit for use in Integra.
  • Prepares and maintains the country’s annual operating budget; ensures cost coverage for in-country operating costs and updates the operating budget regularly
  • Presents and facilitates the review of actual to budget expenditures with the Country Director and program managers
  • Coordinate with programs and operations to develop spending plans: To help foresee over/underspending for appropriate actions.
  • Develop analytical reports for response team decision making.

Key relationships:

The position works primarily in an office setting but may travel to remote sites.

Key working relationships include Country Director and Country Management Colleagues, Local and HQ Finance teams.

Job Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance required; recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA, or a Master’s degree in accounting preferred
  • Extensive experience working in development or humanitarian response, including proven experience living and working in the relevant field in developing and transitioning countries
  • Minimum of five years of managerial experience in finance
  • Requires extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet.
  • Previous work experience with a major general ledger software package – experience with MS D365 and ERP system (Integra) preferred.
  • Good written and verbal skills in the English language
  • Must be comfortable in being a proactive member of the senior management team. Must have a proven track-record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions
  • Ability to function effectively in a sophisticated work environment, setting appropriate priorities and manage competing priorities and pressure
  • Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support
  • Must have excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment
  • Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation
  • Qualified female & Nationals with the required profile and experience are encouraged to apply.

Working Environment: The position is based in Freetown. The security situation in Sierra Leone is generally calm.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality: IRC acknowledges and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is also committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other encouraging benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

How to apply

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/30180?c=rescue


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