The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-political, non-profit, non-religious humanitarian organization that provides assistance to refugees and the vulnerable worldwide. IRC implements programs to promote durable solutions for displaced persons, refugees and host populations through health/nutrition, safety, education, economic recovery, and power projects. IRC has been working with refugees since 1933 and is present in 40 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United States through a resettlement support program. IRC is an organization committed to freedom, human dignity, and self-reliance. This commitment translates into quality resettlement assistance, comprehensive emergency assistance, rehabilitation and advocacy for refugees and vulnerable households.
IRC began operations in Burkina Faso in 2019 to respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the influx of internally displaced populations due to the security situation. The organization has a main office in Ouagadougou, bases in Ouahigouya (North Region), Dori (Sahel), Fada (East) and sub-bases in Djibo (Sahel) in Séguénega (North) and Kaya (North Center).
In 2015, IRC developed a new global-level strategy that began in 2020. This strategy redefined IRC’s mission and defined specific operational and organizational objectives to strengthen its mandate in humanitarian emergencies and post-conflict situations. To this end, IRC at the global level aims to build infrastructure in communications, funding, human capital, systems, and technology.
Job overview
As a member of the Burkina Faso Country Program Senior Management Team (SMT), the Deputy Director Finance provides the leadership and management necessary 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. The DDF 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 compliant with US and local laws, adhere to donor requirements, and are conducive to effective implementation of programs.
As Deputy Director Finance, the position holder 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 (SMT) and Country Director, as well as conforming to IRC’s financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives. The DDF will collaborate closely with the Deputy Directors of Programs and Operations to ensure acceptable levels of performance of cross departmental business policies and procedures and collectively troubleshoot and develop solutions.
Based in Burkina Faso, the Deputy Director Finance will have dual reporting to the Country Director and the Regional Finance Director, including straight line accountability to the CFO.
Major responsibilities
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 in compliance with 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
• Manages 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
• Oversees 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 complies 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
• Oversees finance training and technical support to non-finance staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control
Compliance & Financial Risk Management
• Identify potential financial risks
• Analyze and quantify the severity of these risks to operations and programs
• Develop and implement effective strategies to manage these risks.
• Monitor the success of the strategies and take appropriate action to update them
• Ensure timely implementation of internal and external audit recommendations related to the Finance Department.
• Contribute to the overall risk management of the country through the management team.
Treasury
• Supervises all country program bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates
• Oversees 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
• Oversees 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
Job requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce, Finance or equivalent required; recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA, or a Master’s degree in Accounting preferred
• Extensive experience working in development or humanitarian response, including at least five years of experience living and working in the relevant field in developing and transitioning countries
• Minimum of five years of managerial experience in finance
• Requires extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs (e.g. ERP Microsoft Dynamics , SUN System and Vision)
• Good written and verbal skills in the English language
• Must be comfortable in being a proactive member of the senior management team. Must have a proven 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 manage 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
At IRC – we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment.
We acknowledge and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other human demographic.