Senior Director of Finance, Europe

IRC BACKGROUND

Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee Europe is part of the IRC global network which has its headquarters in New York, London, and Berlin. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries providing emergency relief, relocating refugees, and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through over 20 regional offices in cities across the United States, we also help refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships, and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. We are a dedicated advocate for the most vulnerable and those displaced by conflict and natural disasters.

IRC IN EUROPE

Europe is one of our fastest-growing regions and currently consists of offices in the UK, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, Italy, and Serbia. The work across our external facing offices (such as Berlin, Brussels, London, etc) is led and coordinated by our Europe Senior Leadership Team (SLT) of which the Senior Director of Finance is a member.

THE ROLE

In the role of Senior Director of Finance, you will be the senior strategic finance leader responsible for driving financial results and transparency, supervising various finance functional areas, and helping shape IRC’s strategy and delivery in Europe together with the Europe SLT and Senior Vice President (SVP) of Europe.

You will report in partnership to the IRC CFO in New York and the SVP of Europe in Belgium. This will enable you to act as a nexus between IRC, the Global Function Leaders, the New York headquarters, the European Headquarters, other European offices, and Global Program locations as needed.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Working within a Finance matrix structure, you will be responsible for and oversee:

Financial Planning & Analysis: Responsible for IRC Europe’s financial planning and annual budgeting in collaboration with the Management team to support IRC Europe’s growth.

Controllership: Ensure compliance of donor funds across Europe with local and relevant international regulations, including tax, accounting standards, and reporting requirements.

Treasury & Risk Management: Identify and manage financial risks, including currency exchange. Provide insights into the financial health of IRC Europe.

Functional Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of finance professionals, fostering a high-performance culture of learning and best practices to ensure the function’s goals are met.

Stakeholder Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders:

Internal

• All members of the Europe SLT
• Other functional areas including but not limited to Operations, External Relations (ER) and Legal
• Finance leads across European IRC offices
• Finance counterparts in IRC’s New York HQ/Global Programs (CRRD/RAI)

External

• Hold IRC’s European entities’ (i.e., UK, DE, BE, SE, etc.) relationships with the auditors
• Support the IRC-UK Board
• Work with Boards and Supervisory Boards across Europe (in particular DE and Sweden)
• Audit and governance committees

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Liaison for European entity’s Boards and Board committees (UK, DE, SE)
• Board Treasurer as required by entities
• Budgeting, financial planning, investment analysis and monthly reporting
• Develop the European Finance teams into a highly effective and collaborative function, working closely with IRC New York and making structural recommendations where appropriate
• Escalate risks within Europe
• Deliver on financial targets aligned with global IRC goals and track its implementation across offices
• Strategically and operationally support the Europe Fundraising team by partnering on finance matters
• Lead, coordinate and represent Europe in key European projects
• Financial planning and annual budgeting in collaboration with the Management team
• Ensure management of financial operations and risks, including funding flows, FX risk, ERP systems, integration with IRC New York systems
• Work closely with the Award Management Unit on areas of strategic focus (e.g., cost recovery methodologies, new funding sources, changes in donor policy)
• Maintain and improve existing risk management processes and tools (e.g., ERM, Risk Register, Risk Management Group, reports to Audit and Governance Committee and Board of Trustees of IRC-UK)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Demonstrated experience working effectively in a senior Finance role
• Understanding of statutory donor financial compliance; experience in financial management of commercial contracts and competitive tenders
• A track-record of using financial analysis to drive growth strategies and performance excellence
• Experience of leading financial planning and analysis, managing significant budgets and a track record of sound financial management
• Experience in change management building highly effective teams, ideally in highly fluid and fast-growing organisations. Specific experience of re-engineering a finance function
• Adaptability, flexibility, and resilience. Remains calm in high pressured situations, accepts new assignments and challenges, and responds productively to change
• Ability to work well with others, manage a variety of stakeholders and in a cross-cultural team environment; collaborates effectively across groups and sets a tone of co-operation
• Effective communication skills

Desirable

• Experience working in a large international non-governmental organization (INGO) managing a $300-$500 million P&L
• Familiarity with UK, German and/or Swedish governance requirements
• Ability to speak German would be an advantage

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Gender Equality:

IRC is 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 supportive benefits and allowances.

Professional Standards:

The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.