Emergency Finance Officer (m/f/x)

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 70 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

CONTEXT

The Operations Department of MSF OCB (Operational Centre Brussels) consists of 8 managerial and technical teams called Cells or Regional Support Teams (RST), each in charge of a portfolio of countries and 1 Emergency Unit (E-Pool) for the management of intense emergency interventions. These teams directly supervise and support the interventions implementation.

The main responsibility of the E-Pool is to intervene with medical activities, directly and quickly in crisis situations like conflicts, epidemics, and natural disasters, while guaranteeing the quality of interventions. As such, we are responsible anywhere, anytime for monitoring, identification, and implementation of operations in any crisis that may arise.

The E-Pool includes 4 Emergency Coordinators (Emco) based in Brussels. Emergency Coordinators oversee the implementation and monitoring of the response to emergencies. Each Coordinator may manage 1 or 2 emergencies simultaneously, depending on the volume and complexity of the responses. Emergency Coordinators are seconded by a team of specialists in supply chain, logistics, administration, human resources, and finance.

Within the E-pool, you are 2 Emergency Finance Officers, and are working under the responsibility of the Emergency Unit Coordinator and under the technical supervision of the Operational Finance Coordinator. You are accountable for the finance of the countries of interventions and their projects in your portfolio. controlling, supporting, and coaching their Finance coordinators (Finco) and Finance managers. You ensure that financial planning, management, Control & Risk resources management are performed as soon as possible on emergency projects to ensure a regular follow-up and the quality of financial activities. And you ensure that standards and procedures for emergencies are in place.

The related workload can vary significantly, as a re-shuffling of the portfolio may occur before the end of the contract.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare, validate, and ensure daily, weekly or monthly cash-flow according to the operational needs
• Ensure that necessary funds are available at project level
• Ensure thatthe means of payment used are secure and their management is under control
• Ensure the accountability of uses of resources by proper follow up and documentation of expenses
• Ensure correct and adequate financial & accounting set-up with regards to the field finance team and essential financial processes in the countries of interventions
• Ensure that the financial means, policies, and guidelines are relevant, appropriate and well managed in the countries of interventions and their projects
• In collaboration with HQ team members, coordinate, centralize, and support the budget process in the countries of interventions, ensures budget consistency with an action plan
• Train, support, guide and coach the FinCos or Finance Managers on a daily basis with regards to technical approach and management of their responsibilities
• When possible, guide and challenge the countries of interventions and their projects in the preparation and analysis of the monthly forecast. If not possible ensures the monthly forecast, its correct validation according to guidelines and communicate to the Operational Finance Referent
• Guide the financial coordinators and supports the Emergency Unit Coordinator on the risk resources analysis and mitigation measures
• Provide the needed information to Accountancy and Funding referents
• Collaborate and support the development of tools, ad hoc dossiers and actively participates in other activities (trainings, FinCo week)
• Ensure that the Emergency Unit team receives the necessary induction, briefing, material and support on all financial issues
• Ensure a good communication and information flow within the team, the finance department and the countries of interventions of your portfolio on all financial and other related issues
• Carry out FinCo’s performance evaluation along with the line manager
• Carry out visits in the countries of interventions and projects when necessary especially at the beginning and handover of emergencies intervention.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• University or bachelor’s degree in management, business administration or finance or equivalent working experience
• Minimum 2 years of international field experience with MSF in Finance Coordination positions
• Working experience in emergency settings is an asset

Competencies

• Strong knowledge of financial tools and finance management
• Solution oriented, autonomous, flexible and shows initiative
• Teamwork and collaborative attitude – good team spirit
• Comprehensive knowledge of humanitarian interventions
• Good mentoring and pedagogical skills
• Planning and Organizing
• Cross-cultural awareness

Other

• Available to go to any context at short notice, sometimes under difficult conditions

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English
• French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: 01/02/2024
• Location: Brussels (Belgium)
• Contract type: Open-ended contract – Full-time
• Salary according to MSF-OCB HQ grid
• Meal Vouchers – Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust, and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 01/01/24