Deputy Director of Finances At International Rescue Committee

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been active in The Central African Republic (CAR) since 2006 and has been implementing emergency response programs since early 2013. The IRC has three field offices in the north – Bocaranga, Kaga Bandoro, Ndele and Zemio – in addition to a central office in Bangui. Since 2007, it has built close relationships with local communities, community leaders, local authorities, and other local and international actors. Today, the IRC is one of the leading humanitarian actors working in the prefectures Ouham Pende, Nana Gribizi, and Haut Mbomou, implementing programs in Health, Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD), and Early Recovery and Development (ERD). The IRC has demonstrated its ability to successfully implement health and protection programming, improving beneficiaries’ access to healthcare and providing survivors of violence with safe, confidential services to help them recover and reintegrate into their communities. The gained technical expertise, logistical abilities, and local knowledge and understanding has laid the foundation to expand and deepen these services to reach more people and respond to the emergency need at a greater scale as additional funding is secured.

SCOPE OF WORK:

As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, 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. Will supply 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.

The Deputy Director Finance 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 Central African Republic 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
Gives 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

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

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Position Reports to: Country Director and Regional Finance Director

Position directly supervises: Senior Internal Audit and Compliance manager and Finance manager

Other internal contacts: DDP, Grants and Compliance, MEAL, Finance, HR, Roving Field Coordinator, DDO

EXTERNAL: FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, MINISTRY OF FINANCES

The work environment:

The DDF will be based in Bangui, in CAR, and will travel throughout the country to field program locations (30%). The security situation in CAR is still unstable, although the signing of the Khartoum peace and reconciliation agreement in February 2019 is still seen as a source of hope for the country to return to peace. The security level remains at 3 (orange phase). The candidate must be prepared to work in insecure environments. This is an unaccompanied position.

Housing: Lodging in CAR and field offices is in shared IRC guesthouses. All IRC sites have electricity and internet although some interruptions can be experienced. Food and is the individual’s responsibility.

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 proven 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. 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 challenging 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

RETURNING NATIONAL CANDIDATES:

IRC strives to attract, motivate, and retain qualified national staff in our programs. We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the IRC has introduced an attractive remuneration package.

National applications as well as female applications are strongly encouraged.

CVs TO BE SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH OR FRENCH

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request more information.

Standards of Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Psea

IRC CAR is an active member of the PSEA Task force in country and have signed the CAR agreement in 2018. It is actively supporting a humanitarian assistance free from all forms of violence, harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.

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.

Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality

IRC acknowledges and honors 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 or disability. IRC is also 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.