Finance Officer (80%) At Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance

DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance is dedicated to improving the security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and gender equality. Since its founding in 2000, DCAF has contributed to making peace and development more sustainable by assisting partner states, and international actors supporting these states, to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms. It creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, provides legal and policy advice and supports capacity‐building of both state and non‐state security sector stakeholders.

DCAF’s Foundation Council members represent over 50 countries and the Canton of Geneva. Active in over 70 countries, DCAF is internationally recognized as one of the world’s leading centres of excellence for security sector governance (SSG) and security sector reform (SSR). DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality. For more information visit www.dcaf.ch and follow us on Twitter @DCAF_Geneva.

DCAF’s Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Unit supports governments, parliaments, security providers and civil society in the LAC region by developing capacities and promoting norms and good practices to contribute to a more effective, efficient and transparent security sector that is properly overseen by the relevant authorities, responsive and accountable to the people they serve.

The People, Resources and Organization (PRO) department supports the three operational departments (Policy and Research, Operations, International Security Sector Advisory Team / ISSAT) that deliver the DCAF mandate. Its mission is to transform business expertise into value for colleagues to focus on their respective activities. The PRO department is service and compliance oriented and promotes a culture of collaboration with other departments. It provides advice to make day-to-day processes smooth and predictable, while constantly strengthening the credibility of the organization (risk management, best practices). The PRO department plays an important role in change management to move DCAF even further.

For our PRO department, we are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented individual to be our next: Financial Control Officer

• Location: Geneva
• Starting date: as soon as possible
• Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension
• Work Rate: 80-100%

The role

The Finance Officer will be seated within the PRO Team (Corporate Finance) and will report to the Head of Finance, while having a functional reporting line to the Principal Programme Manager of the LAC Unit. This role is pivotal in ensuring the smooth functioning of financial operations within both the LAC unit and Corporate Finance.

Key areas of operation:

• Oversee prompt processing of financial transactions for entity and project-related activities.
• Act as the financial point of contact for partners and donors, providing comprehensive financial updates and supporting budgeting/forecasting.
• Monitor project budgets; notify management of any issues requiring attention.
• Foster relationships with Admin Assistants and Financial Control Officers across DCAF entities and field offices.
• Collaborate on grant applications, budgets, and grant management processes.
• Ensure compliance with DCAF financial policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Lead and manage audits related to the unit.
• Assist in creating budgets for new and ongoing projects.
• Liaise with field-based colleagues and senior management throughout the organization.
• Work with colleagues across DCAF on finance-related topics (e.g., IS Coordinator, HR).
• Strengthen field office accounting processes in Navision.
• Review partners’ financial reports and ensure compliance with DCAF policies.
• Support donor disbursements, payments, and procurement requests of implementing partners.
• Manage finance-related approval processes and maintain staff training database.
• Provide financial and administrative support for meetings, events, and missions.
• Handle travel logistics, including visa support, tracking, and reporting on travel data.

Your experience and skills

• Degree in accounting, CFC, or other equivalent qualifications or experience deemed equivalent..
• 3-5 years of experience in accounting and finance, preferably in the field of international development.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, French an asset.
• Proficiency in MS Excel, including for modeling purposes.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to coordinate effectively across entities.
• Experience in grant management, internal control, budgeting, and forecasting within non-profit organizations is an asset
• Proficiency in MS Dynamics Navision is an asset.
• Ability to work with a wide range of profiles and under pressure.
• Swiss or EU citizenship or a valid work permit for Switzerland at the time of application is a pre-requisite.

We offer

• A rewarding, dynamic and challenging work experience.
• The chance to be part of a multicultural team of supportive, hardworking and values-driven people.
• The chance to contribute to improving security of states and their people within a framework of democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.