Finance Operations Manager

Role & Responsibilities

Lead the team of Finance Partners (FP) at the Global Support Office (GSO) in charge of the financial management and support of Medair Programs. In charge of developing and strengthening FP’s professional skills to efficiently and effectively manage donor financial budgets and donor financial reporting preparation tasks. Contribute to the professional development of the Finance Department, strategy and annual plan preparation. Provide regular feedback to the Finance Director (FD) on financial performance and needs for Country Programmes.

Project Overview

GSO provides operational guidance for country programs, along with both technical and compassionate support for our relief workers. Within our global office, we are also responsible for promoting the work of Medair to the world, to raise and manage the funds to run our life-saving & sustaining programmes, and to recruit international and GSO staff.

Medair GSO Finance Department, is primarily focused on Medair financial and investment decisions, acts as a financial gatekeeper and strategic advisor in daily business operation and also mid to long-term strategic decisions of Medair, with streamlined and optimized key processes, via leveraging a fit-for-purpose system.

Workplace & Working Conditions

Medair Global Support Office (GSO), Lausanne, Switzerland, with regular field visits, up to four weeks a year. • Remote work possible with travel to GSO.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

May 2022. Full time, open-ended contract.

Key Activity Areas

Finance Management

• Driving changes to meet the overall Medair Finance function objectives, strategy and vision.
• Provide guidance on major donor (BHA, ECHO, DFID, SDC) guidelines and grant financial management cycle.
• Provide the FP team and other stakeholders with NICRA compliance and management update and trainings.
• Proven capability in managing multi-donors mix and elaborating strategies to reduce organizational risk.
• Assisting FD and Finance Management team in developing the strategy departmental plan and to apply it.
• Lead the planning of yearly Portfolio budgets in collaboration with International Programs (IP) Director, Heads of Country Programs, FPs and Country Directors.
• Partner with IP, Logistics and Engagement departments to bring out processes enhancement solutions to challenges and creatively find new ways to be ahead of the changing curve within the humanitarian sector.
• Coordinate the quarterly rolling re-forecast process by providing clear guidance to all the key stakeholders in this process and taking responsibility of consolidating and presenting re-forecasting figures.
• Establish key control to apply the four-eye-principle of deliverables from FP team to stakeholders.

Finance Partner Team Management

• Proactively managing the Finance Partner team for coaching on personal career development and training of required skills; performance management; balancing and prioritizing the tasks within the team members and empowering the team in close collaboration with the Finance Partner Coordinator.
• Lead the development of objectives and representing the Finance Partner team in key coordination meetings and as liaison with other departments.
• Develop roadmap for the FP role in the next three years by working in collaboration with IP department and other Finance Managers while coordinating any FP team improvement project and clearly delegate tasks.
• Define and implement key KPIs for FP performance and overall countries sustainable financial management.
• Responsible for providing or sourcing FP with key trainings, coaching and support so that every team member may be put in a condition to fulfil the role.

Innovation / Changes

• Involvement in Implementation of a new finance system when required by ERP Project Team.
• Streamline and optimize the key processes related to Budgeting, monitoring and reporting for a sound and sustainable Finance Management.
• Proactive approaches on tasks deliverables based on process enhancement, standardization and automation.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international programmes and GSO prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• University degree with major in finance or accounting.
• Professional qualification in finance, audit and accounting. CPA, CMA, or CFA will be preferred.
• Excellent working knowledge of English (speaking and writing). Working knowledge of French is desirable.

Experience

• 5 years working experience in accounting and finance with 3 years of people management experience.
• Field experience in the humanitarian or development sector desirable.
• Deep knowledge of BHA/USAID donor guidelines and NICRA compliance management.
• Experience of interaction with USAID concerning NICRA an asset.
• Proficient in Excel; deep knowledge in ERP and other grant management tools/systems as required.
• Strong knowledge of accounting, finance, internal control and risk management.
• Proven project financial management experience (to include budgeting, reporting and analysis and revenue recognition) preferably in a project-based organization.
• Excellent communication skills, including presentation skills. Strategic mind-set with mid-to-long term view.
• Excellent analytical ability with a good attention to detail with high capacity to draw intelligence from numbers.
• Good time management skills, ability to prioritize workload and ability to work to strict reporting deadlines.
• Business Acumen: holding strong Field of knowledge for the position, specify in regard to Humanitarian essentials, Sphere and CHS standards, other international humanitarian guidelines and protocols.
• Good track-record in leading a team of 4 to 6 people with servant-leadership attitude and demonstrated leadership and people management skills.
• Team-spirited. Mindset of continuous-improvement. Mindset of proactive approach and preventive controls.
• Flexible yet facts-driven. Persistent and persuasive. Attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and remotely with very limited supervision.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence others.
• Self-motivated, hard-working, committed and able to develop, coach and support other team members.