Deputy Director, Finance At International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 25 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Scope of work

As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director Finance provides the leadership and management vital to ensure that the country program has the appropriate financial infrastructure and systems in place to support the strategic vision and mission of the organization. S/he will contribute to the development of the Country Program’s strategic and operational plans and be accountable for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the financial plans through targeted and comprehensive financial analytical review. The Deputy Director Finance is responsible for the overall policy and management for the financial and accounting management of the Country Program. Emphasis will be placed on financial management practices and systems that are aligned with US and local laws, adhere to donor requirements, and are conducive to effective implementation of programs.

As Deputy Director Finance, s/he will have responsibility for all aspects of strategic and operational finance in the Country Program, acting as the principal finance business partner to the Senior Management Team and Country Director, as well as conforming to IRC’s financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.

Based in Juba, South Sudan, the Deputy Director Finance will have dual reporting to the Country Director and the Regional Finance Director, including straight line accountability to the CFO.

Key areas of accountability

Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Provides financial information to support the Country Director and SMT in making business decisions in line with IRC, Regional & Country Program strategies

• Provides strategic analysis on the overall financial health of the Country Program to the CD and SMT

• Contributes and provides feedback to the development of Country Program’s Strategic Annual Plan

Controllership

• Ensures that all in-country practices are following IRC and donor policies and procedures

• Establishes in-country finance procedures to supplement global policies as needed

• Closely monitors financial activities and advises the Country Director on financial performance of the office, issues with internal controls or financial management

• Ensures monthly balance sheet reconciliations are completed on a timely basis

• Leads the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by headquarters and donors

• Identifies requirements for and develops reporting formats to aid in the management of country operations and grant expenditures

• Directs the preparation of and approves all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Country Director and Regional Controller prior to submission

• Ensures in-country internal control reviews of operations are regularly undertaken.

• Facilitates external, internal, donor or government audits

• Coordinates the protection of the Country Program’s assets (cash, inventory, fixed assets) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures

• Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to finance and align with tax and other legal requirements

• Serves as the principal liaison with IRC HQ on all finance, accounting, grant budget management, and cash management

Training & Staff Management

• Establishes a finance department roles and responsibilities matrix; ensures staff job descriptions are current; recruits and maintains qualified staff to perform finance functions

• Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed annually; career planning and development plans are in place for all finance staff

• Develops and implements a training program for the country’s finance staff

• Coordinates finance training and technical support to non-finance staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control

Treasury

• Supervises all country program bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest, and currency exchange rates

• Coordinates the review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations

• Maintains on current basis accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments which obligate IRC to future spending

• Ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation and cash held in headquarters in drawn regularly

• Ensures the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the Country Program’s foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses

• Supervises the collection of contractual and other receivables

Budget/Forecast

• Coordinates the preparation and revision of grant proposal budgets; supports programs with guidance on costing and inputs in creating budgets for submission

• Prepares and maintains the Country Program’s annual operating budget; ensures cost coverage for in-country operating costs and updates the operating budget regularly

• Presents and facilitates the review of actual to budget expenditures with the Country Director and program managers

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce, Finance or equivalent required; recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA.

• Good understanding and working knowledge of USG (USAID/OFDA/BPRM), European (ECHO, EU, SIDA), DFID, UN (UNHCR/UNFPA/UNDP/OCHA/WFP/FAO) and other donor rules and regulations

• Minimum of five years of managerial experience in finance.

• Experience working in development or humanitarian response, including demonstrated ability in living and working in the relevant field in developing and transitioning countries

• Requires extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs (e.g. SUN System and Vision)

• Good written and verbal skills in the English language

Key Competencies:

• Must be comfortable in being a proactive member of the senior management team. Must have a validated track-record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions.

• Must be able to function effectively in a complex work environment, setting appropriate priorities and handle competing priorities and pressure

• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support

• Must have excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment

• Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation

• Be responsive to needs expressed by finance, operations and program staff as well as by implementing partners

Working environment:

Security level: Yellow. The situation in the country is generally calm but can be tense and unpredictable; concerns include criminality, presence of armed troops, and looting.

The position is based in Juba. Lodging is a private bedroom in a shared IRC guest house – with electricity, internet and cable TV. Food is the individual’s responsibility. Field office housing is more basic, i.e. in traditional huts or tents with separate shared latrines and showers.

The IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Equality, Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In adherence to these values, the IRC implements and policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Safeguarding, Harassment Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation, among others.

All IRC Staff are expected to behave respectfully at all times, and to be able to work with a diverse workforce without discriminating anyone on the basis of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, origin, religion or beliefs and other aspects of identity.

IRC is an equal opportunity employer. all forms of lobbying will lead to immediate disqualification. female candidates are encouraged to apply.