Finance Director

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited, and the forgotten?

If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering.

The Finance Director exercises oversight over the Finance, Administrative, and Human Resource function of World Relief Sudan. The FD should be prepared to manage a financial portfolio worth approximately $20 million / per year in a complex and fast-changing humanitarian environment. The FD will develop a strategy for long-term financial sustainability in coordination with the Country Director and the Home Office. The FD plays a critical role in coordinating among the support functions under their supervision, as well as liaising between the various stakeholders within the Home Office and the Country Office. The FD should be an excellent analyst, capable of identifying important trends from financial data and then generating actionable recommendations for senior leadership. The FD must also place a high priority on supervising the activity and growth of the support functions, making meaningful contributions to their teams, and building the capacity of the managers of those functions.

*This is an unaccompanied post located in Khartoum, Sudan, with some expected travel to field locations.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Accounting
• Develop cost allocation processes for shared costs that comply with donor regulations on allowable costs.
• Supervise all balance sheet account reconciliations on a timely basis
• Oversee the execution and timely posting of all financial transactions.
• Provide oversight and backup of the Finance Manager.
• Make sure the monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting cycles and all attendant activities needed to maintain the financial health of the country office related to the attention needed to payables, receivables, and all other detailed balance sheet schedules are completed correctly and on schedule in accordance with the financial system procedures.

Administrative Management
• Ensure the IT is able to support the needed connectivity and security for working online and using cloud-based ERP and digital communication and information accessibility tools
• Make sure IT Support is appropriately implementing all policies, procedures, and controls set out in WR’s worldwide IT policies and procedures to assure adequate protection of data and continuity of system availability.
• Manage staff leave and Hardship Leave for international staff.
• Participate in the recruitment of senior staff to the World Relief Sudan office.

Audits & Due Diligence
• Support the Compliance Manager and Finance Manager by coordinating the scheduling and allocation of resources for annual and project audits, assessments, due diligence exercises, and spot checks
• Review, revise, and approve recommendations and follow-up plans developed by the Compliance Manager based on audit findings. Ensure that these plans are implemented in a timely manner.

Budgets
• Work closely with project staff to develop budgets and activity schedules for proposals that meet donor requirements and follow World Relief guidelines.
• Review all proposed project budgets to ensure that they fit within the guidelines and priorities of the country office’s financial strategy.
• Prepare monthly management reports analyzing the use of unrestricted funding versus approved grant expenditure.
• Review donor-approved grant budgets in the financial software system
• Make sure budgets are set up, managed, and updated in the financial software system as required by the system to enable accurate automated monthly reporting set up in the system for all grants and projects.

Cash Management
• Liaise with bank officials to resolve problems and facilitate improved service
• In coordination with the Home Office, ensure adequate liquidity at the country office without subjecting the organization to unnecessary risk by holding a surplus of cash in the country.
• Prepare cash forecasts for the country program. Manage funds disbursed at the Home Office through the use of the Program Cash Planning tool.
• Ensure that WR receivables to Home Office, partners, and donors are carefully documented and monitored.

Contract Management
• Review reports on committed funds, expected expenditure timelines, and contracts prepared by the Operation Manager
• Perform spot checks on the records of contractors and contract payables

External Representation
• Assist the Country Director with representation to the government, securing and maintaining the necessary approvals to operate, ensuring coordination and constructive working relations.
• As necessary, represent World Relief in meetings with donors, auditors, government, and other stakeholders

Financial Management
• Prepare and maintain the country’s Operating Budget on a timely basis.
• Develop annual country office budget for unrestricted funds
• Ensure that the financial accounting environment complies with the policies, procedures, regulations, and legal requirements of donors, the government of Sudan, and World Relief.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual analyses of the project’s trial balance and financial reports.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a robust local financial system and process.
• Oversee the execution and timely posting of all financial transactions.
• Stay abreast of changes in the financial operating environment and promote policies and processes to ensure the project adapts to these changes.
• Make sure the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial management cycles and all attendant activities needed to maintain the financial health of the country office are completed correctly and on schedule in accordance with the financial system procedures.

Grant Management
• Oversee the preparation and review of all interim and final financial statements/reports to donors through the financial system ensuring that all reports are generated from the financial system.
• Develop systems to verify that all expenditures are classified to the appropriate grant and reported.
• Oversee all grant close-out processes, including staff planning, asset management, sub-award, and sub-contract finalization, and that all of these processes are appropriately completed in the financial system as intended.
• Ensure that grant documentation is stored in the cloud and reviewed in conjunction with the Home Office Grants Management team and that all reports are generated from the financial system and completely in accord with the financial system.

HO Liaison
• Lead the reconciliation of the Home Office and Country Office accounting and cash management system for all closed grants
• Function as the principal liaison with World Relief Headquarters on all matters under the oversight of the position, including Finance, Operations, HR, and Administration.

Human Resources
• Provide direct supervision of the Human Resources Manager.
• Support the Human Resources Manager to develop systems and procedures that ensure World Relief’s compliance with international standards and the Core Humanitarian Standards
• Ensure that funds are accrued for severance and benefit payments, and such funds are accessible within 2 weeks of a request by the HR Manager.
• Lead the preparation and revision of the salary scale to maintain competitive wages and remain compliant with the regulatory environment of Sudan

Operations
• Provide direct supervision of the Operations Manager.
• Support the Operations Manager to develop systems and procedures that ensure World Relief’s compliance with international standards for logistics, procurement, asset, facility, and contract management
• Oversee the management of World Relief Sudan’s assets and facilities
• Support the Operations Manager in notifying the proper authorities of critical finance issues, and working toward their resolution

Organizational Development
• Under the leadership of the Country Director, support the creation of a risk-aware, anti-fraud, and collaborative working culture.
• Undertake a semi-annual country office risk review in line with tools provided by WR’s Home Office for this purpose.

Partner Management
• Provide oversight on all agreements, disbursements, and reports submitted for national and international partner organizations
• Ensure that assessments of financial and legal compliance of all potential partners are conducted. Update risk assessments based on gaps in capacity.
• Oversee the closeout processes for all sub-awards

Policy and Internal Controls
• Regularly review World Relief Finance Manual, Logistics and procurement manual, and Human resource manuals ensuring that national policies are aligned with WR’s global policy framework.
• Lead the development and/or review of policies as and when necessary
• Monitor procedures to prevent and mitigate against fraud as per the Fraud Prevention and Response Plan.

Leadership Support
• Lead the process of review, analysis, and interpretation of financial reports to ensure that accurate financial data is provided to Country Office Leadership for decision-making.
• Ensure the timely preparation and communication of meaningful and appropriate monthly financial reports for Country Office Leadership. This should include both actual expenditures and committed funds, as well as identifying the reasons for significant variances against budget.
• Provide regular recommendations for corrective actions to ensure expenditure is on track without exceeding available funds.
• Report to Country Director, International Controller, and Program Officers on applicable financial information to assist them in their responsibilities.

Team Management
• Actively provide strong leadership to the support team in all aspects of its oversight and operations, assigning and delegating tasks where required. Lead and manage direct reports, ensuring clarity over plans and priorities, providing supervision, guidance, and mentoring, encouraging effective teamwork and inclusiveness, and building a team spirit through regular meetings and events.
• Provide coordination for the HR, Operations, Finance, and Administrative functions.
• Assess the capacity of direct reports and provide constructive feedback and offer opportunities for training
• Conduct occasional trips to field offices (minimum 2x/year) to review the performance of the support team in the field and provide additional support

REQUIREMENTS:

• University Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field. Master’s degree preferred. Business management and leadership experience is highly valued.
  • A minimum of five years of experience in international relief and development work with progressive leadership responsibilities and proven resource development skills, or a minimum of ten years of experience in business management and leadership with progressive increasing responsibilities.
  • A high level of proficiency in the use of basic IT Tools such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  • Strong experience with accounting and financial management packages and ability to rapidly learn and master systems to increase organizational productivity and quality control.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations
• The ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-15 pounds.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment, and read application information.
• The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• General office setting
• Great lengths of time working on a computer, reading from a computer screen, entering information, standing at a copier or fax machine, and some time on the phone or in skype meetings may be required.
• Year-end archiving activities involve repeated lifting and bending.
• Physical, emotional, and intellectual demands
• Equipment used: Employee computer (desktop or laptop), printer, and copier.
• All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and is always under review.

International Benefits

World Relief contributes to monthly premiums:
• Medical
• Dental

Additional Benefits:
• Paid Holidays
• Offer Paid Sick and Vacation Leave
• Maternity & Paternity Leave-Based on the country’s rules

• Paid Home Leave Housing accommodations
• Food per diems

•Generous R&R schedule

World Relief pays 100% for eligible employees:
• Group Term Life (employee)
• Long Term – US Expats only
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
•WR emergency evacuation insurance

World Relief – Retirement:
• 401K & Roth (US Expats Only)- WR matches up to 4%, then an additional quarter percent up to 10%
•4% retirement plan match for all other employees