Finance Development Delegate

Purpose:

The purpose of the Norcross Finance Development Delegate (herein after referred to as “Delegate”) is to ensure specialized, targeted, deliverable-based assistance to a Ukraine Red Cross Society (herein after referred to as “NS” or “URCS”). Working directly/closely with the NS, the mission of the Delegate will be to support the NS in improving their financial management such that they may efficiently implement their humanitarian action and fulfil their humanitarian mandate. This shall be accomplished in close collaboration with the ICRC and under established agreements. Technical service delivery provided by the delegate should ensure in NS becoming accountable, efficient, and effective. The assistance provided to NSs should be structured within international frameworks and standards e.g. (IFRS, IAS, McKenzie 7S, COSO Framework on Internal Controls and the COSO Framework on ERM).

The Delegate may also be requested to assist NSs’ outside her/his region based on their specialization in coordination with respective line management.

Strategic Responsibilities:

• Ensures that the support provided is in conformity with the global service delivery model and is deliverable based such that it is designed and implemented in line with established technical standards and project management methodologies and support the operationalization of those standards.
• Improved financial management in URCS which is grounded in a due diligence/needs assessment.
• Improved accountability, transparency & governance.
• Improve efficiency and effectiveness of Internal Controls.
• Increased efficiency, reliability and relevance of financial reporting and departmental structure
• Contributes proactively with other technical personnel to NorCross global efforts to establish and operationalize technical approaches and standards in finance development.

Operational Responsibilities:

• Improve efficiency and effectiveness of NS finance dept
• Adopt a risk-based approach by focusing on hinderances to the Finance Dept not achieving its operational, reporting and compliance goals.
• Evaluate the structure of the Finance Department relative to the systems in place, shared values, strategy of the NS, skills, staffing and style.
• Recommend new departmental structures focusing on efficiencies and renewed effectiveness. This includes revision and alignment of job descriptions and conducting specialized trainings on accounting, treasury, budgeting and grants plus compliance.
• Provides technical trainings to NS Finance Dept staff on established technical standards.
• Design and co-facilitate workshops for NS Finance Dept staff on objective settings, structural assessments and etc.
• Improve efficiency and effectiveness of Internal Control processes
• Compile, map, and analyze processes within the Finance Department on an ‘As Is’ basis.
• Evaluate inherent and control risk on an as is basis while reviewing internal control coverages at a process level.
• Design new processes (should be), internal controls while focusing on efficiencies and operation, reporting and compliance objectives. This includes preparing “should be” process maps.
• Using the COSO Framework on internal controls, evaluate the internal controls and provide recommendations on improving different components in the Finance Department.
• Supports the NSs in preparing or revising policies and procedures including Finance & Accounting manuals.
• Improved accountability, transparency & governance in select NSs’
• Assist NS’s in conducting external and internal audits by developing frameworks and ToRs in accordance with IAS (international Auditing Standards)
• Assist in preparing/revising Fraud and corruption policies, procedures and mechanisms.
• Set up, Analyse and recommend areas of improvement in financial oversight by governance
• Increased efficiency, reliability and relevance of financial reporting
• Focus on assisting NSs’ in terms of improving financial reporting (internal and external) insofar that efficiency, effectiveness and relevance increases.
• Introduce capabilities in NS accounting software to ensure automated, customizable, transparent and reliable financial reports are produced
• In coordination with internal and external stakeholders, work on developing standardized NS financial reports
• Project Management
• Develop deliverable based project documents including concept notes, proposals, specific objectives, budgets, PoAs, LFAs, Project risk assessment, ITTs and monitoring plans (as per applicable Core Process).
• Provide oversight on implementation of NS FD Plans of Actions through tertial progress reports.
• If required, assist on designing and conduct evaluations of FD projects.
• Contribute towards the global FD service delivery in various technical capacities.

Collaboration:

• Fosters good relationship and works closely together with the Ukraine Red Cross Society, PNSs, IFRC and ICRC.
• Work as a team within the region and globally, to assist NS’s in meeting their needs in FD.
• Liaises, as needed, with Colleagues in the Country, Regional and National Office.
• Works closely together and participates in technical networks (FD and NSD) with other colleagues within NorCross and ICRC at global, regional and country level.
• Helps colleagues to understand and make use of available technical tools and standards.
• Promotes harmonization across delegations’ structures, as well as at regional and country level with other Movement partners, by promoting use of common standards and tools, also contributing to learning events and sharing of best practices.

Mission Specific Responsibilities:

• Technically assist URCS in Implementing a Plan of Action in coordination with ICRC.

Qualifications:

Education:

• CPA/CA/Registered Auditor or any accounting designation is a must, however, MBAs are also encouraged to apply.
• Members of IPAR, or any international professional accounting body are preferred.

Experience:

• Over 10 years’ experience in Financial Management (Accounting, Budgeting, Grants and Compliance and Treasury).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in consultancy or developing an implementing partner’s strength in financial management.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience of coaching, facilitating, managing and/or supporting staff.
• Experience of working for a humanitarian aid organisation preferably in a developing/conflict country/context.
• Good understanding of an ERP system
• Strong organizational development background (e.g. change management, HR, leadership, strategy development and implementation).

Skills and knowledge:

• In-depth understanding of relevant technical financial standards and the operationalization of those standards in humanitarian projects.
• Operational understanding of IFRS, IAS, COSO Framework on Internal Controls and their Framework on Enterprise Risk Management.
• Proven experience from project management, including needs assessments project design, and reporting.
• High degree of competencies in strategic thinking and design, knowledge sharing, advising and facilitating, management of self; coaching; mentoring and facilitation. Training and facilitating experience in international/ multicultural environment is an asset.
• Proficiency required in English and either Ukrainian or Russian.
• Advanced understanding of the use of innovative tools and approaches in relevant technical discipline, is an asset
• Fully familiar with software applications- windows, spreadsheets, word processing, accounting packages.