We are looking for an energetic and motivated Finance and Operations Manager to join our dynamic team in the Europe programme. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring sound financial, grant management, administrative and operational practices across the Europe programme (the Caucasus and Ukraine) and provide senior level financial, administrative and operational management. This will cover overseeing and improving all aspects of financial accounting and reporting, financial management of donor funding and partner relations, and country programmes’ operations and security management.
The successful candidate will have solid experience in financial systems management, donor compliance and grants management in an INGO and/or donor environment (e.g., EU, FCDO, GAC), as well as understanding of strategic financial and operational development.
The job holder will have demonstrated experience in security and risk management within a complex operational environment and be willing to lead on security planning and oversight.
Duties and Responsibilities
Ensure robust management in all aspects of programme finances and operations in collaboration with the Europe Director and team:
- Carry out the overall management and administration of partnership grants and contracts, including communications between Alert, donor and partners with regard to financial management
- Lead on the programme annual budgeting, forecasting and re-forecasting exercises in close coordination with relevant budget holders; keep the programme budget under continuous review and advise senior management and the Finance team of any impending gaps or other risks as well as solutions and opportunities
- Ensure and oversee partners assessment processes and support local partners’ capacity- building in finances, compliance and operations
- Review advances to local partners and project reports, based on authorised expenditure forecasts and internal procedures
- Ensure systems are in place and monitored for grants management and reporting to donors; salary and running cost allocation; co-financing; audits; timesheets; maintain the programme’s salary planner
- Design budgets for project proposals working closely with the management, project teams and relevant Global Teams (e.g. finance and fundraising);
- Produce high quality, timely and accurate donor and internal financial reports liaising with budget holders as needed
- Ensure understanding and compliance with requirements of donors, as well as Alert’s internal policies and procedures in a timely and efficient manner
- Ensuring that all Alert’s obligations (in respect, for example, of employment, insurances, property, and reporting) in UK law and laws of host countries, are fully met, and where not, advise how they can be met
- Act as a key point of contact for financial management, reporting procedures and overall due diligence/compliance within the Europe programme, liaising closely with Alert Finance and Operations teams
- Lead the operational consolidation and potentially establishment of new context programmes and monitor the sustainability of operational changes as the programme portfolio expands or contracts
- Lead on updating and implementing country and regional security and safeguarding plans, including monitoring and building of relevant focal point capacity; liaise with Alert’s security providers and COO on security and operational matters
Lead improvement and implementation of the Europe Programme’s financial and operational systems:
- Implement and monitor of Europe programme’s financial management, procurement and reporting procedures, liaising closely with project teams, as well as Alert Head of Finance to ensure compatibility and consistency
- Develop and monitor the programme financial plan, and advise on addressing potential risks to sustainability
- Support the effective and sustainable expansion of the Europe programme commercial contract portfolio
- Oversee the processes for the implementation of all Alert operating policies and procedures within the programme and propose working solutions to arising issues. This includes finance, security and procurement, as well as internal communications
- Oversee projects and offices specifically to identify risks of non-compliance and propose solutions. This includes, amongst others, risks relating to national employment legislation, adherence with Alert’s policy documents and local revisions (Staff Handbook, Finance Manual, IT Policy, Security Policy and so on), compliance with donor requirements, predicted under- and over-spending, and the integrity of project/office financial management systems
- Liaise between Alert’s COO, International Accountant and Financial Accountant, and Europe project teams as necessary, contributing to good working relationships throughout the organisation in the interests of smooth operations
- Manage internal and external audits of the Europe programme/projects, ensuring these are carried out in a timely and cost-effective method, and compile management responses if needed.
Participate in the management of the Europe programme:
- Participate in the core management of the programme, including fostering team cohesion and wellbeing
- Deputise for Europe Director when requested
- Line manage the finance and admin officers and assistants, and provide induction and coaching for all new staff to the programme
- Provide functional supervision of Security, Safety and Safeguarding Focal Points, if not managed directly
- Contribute to the regular update of the Europe programme strategy and lead on development and update of the programme’s finance, operations and security plans
- Develop a sound understanding and keep informed of programming work in the Europe programme.
Contribute to organisational development
- Support senior management in pursuing the organisational agenda on the establishment of country hubs and the strengthening of financial and operational management capacity in across programmes and Hubs
- Represent Alert externally as required and in consultation with Europe Director, e.g., to donors, peer international NGOs, security groups, lawyers, local governmental agencies, partners, and other actors, ensuring professionalism at all times
- Contribute to team-wide communications and knowledge management and participate in organisation-wide events and discussions on related topics/projects
- Be an active member of Alert Finance and Operation internal coordination groups
- Contribute as required by the Financial Accountant, International Accountant and COO to the development and implementation of Alert’s financial, operational and administrative systems and on issues of quality, collaboration and knowledge management
- Contribute proactively and constructively to the improvement of organisational policy and practice
Any other tasks as may be reasonably required
Travel requirements
The post holder may be required to travel to all Europe programme sites, as well as Brussels, the Hague and other places, on occasions to meet with donors and project partners, and to advise on / build capacity of project teams and / or partners on financial, operational and administrative issues.
Occasional travel to other Alert offices to attend meetings/workshops and/or carry out internal audit is expected.
Talent
A talent for working efficiently with complex financial and narrative information coming from a number of different sources and compiling this information into accessible and strategically sound management information and reports. The post holder will have highly developed communication skills and an ability to build the kind of relationships, both internally and externally, that will gain respect and cooperation. With a combination of authority and diplomacy, the post holder will ensure delivery of narrative and financial information and advice from stakeholders on time and to a high standard. Financial acumen is an essential requirement, as is a talent for communicating financial information, tools and concepts to non- finance staff.
Essential Requirements
A university degree in Finance management/accounting and/or equivalent level professional qualification combined with commensurate professional experience.
At least 5 years’ experience of grants management in an INGO and/or donor environment (e.g., EU, FCDO, USAID, GAC) including: preparing/working with complex budgets, compiling financial reports, building and sustaining relationships with donors/partners/stakeholders
Experience of financial systems management
Experience of managing donor compliance
Experience of line managing staff
Excellent understanding of financial, administrative and operations management, including extensive experience in UK relevant laws and policies (accounting, tax and other type of compliance requirements)
Demonstrated experience in security and risk management within an international or complex operational environment. While deep expertise is not required, the candidate must have a solid
understanding of security considerations relevant to working in fragile contexts and be willing to engage with security planning and oversight as part of their role
Highly computer literate with advanced knowledge of Excel
Ability to work in a dispersed, diverse and multi-cultural team
Ability to work under pressure, prioritise clearly and meet tight deadlines
Desirable Requirements
Financial qualification (ACCA or equivalent)
Experience working on development / peacebuilding projects
Knowledge of the region, particularly financial systems
Extensive experience in security management, including developing and implementing security
protocols, liaising with security providers, and conducting risk assessments in complex environments
How to apply
Please click “here” to submit your CV and cover letter in English.
The CV must not exceed 3 pages, and the cover letter will be one page. Applications that do not meet these requirements will be rejected. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The recruitment process will include written tests.
The closing date for all applications is the 31 July 2025 at 17:00hours, UK time.
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK
International Alert prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from underrepresented people including women, people from the Global South, disabled people, and other historically marginalised people.
While International Alert will endeavour to contact all candidates within a reasonable time, this may not always be possible due to limited resources. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, you can assume that your application has, on this occasion, been unsuccessful.