Finance-partnerships specialist At Danish Refugee Council

Context

DRC operations in Niger began in 2014, with Armed Violence Reduction programs in Liptako Gourma (Tillabéry region) led by the technical teams of DRC’s Danish Demining Group (DDG), which was renamed “Disarmament Humanitarian and Peacebuilding” (DHCP) from 2020.

In 2016, DRC intervened in the Diffa region, in the east of the country, to provide emergency aid to refugees from Nigeria and displaced people from the Lake Chad area, fleeing incursions by Boko Haram. From 2018, the deterioration of the security situation in the Tillabéry region and its consequences on the protection situation of communities as well as on humanitarian access led DRC to strengthen its involvement in the region, and to open a coordination in Niamey to support the expansion of its programs in Niger. Finally, since 2019, in response to the Nigerian refugee crisis, DRC has been operating in the Maradi region.

In 2023, DRC operates in 11 departments of the country, spread across 3 regions where residents are among the most vulnerable and at risk of protection. DRC supports individuals, households, communities and authorities in the sectors of Protection, Shelter and Non-Food Goods, Food Security and Economic Recovery, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding.

DRC provides a multi-sectoral emergency and recovery response while supporting the search for lasting solutions for the populations, and the operationalization of the Nexus in close collaboration with humanitarian and State partners. DRC favors an integrated approach for all of its interventions which promotes the centrality of protection, accountability towards its partners and the populations concerned and their participation through a community approach.

The position and its role

Under the direct supervision of the Finance Manager, the Partnership Finance Specialist is responsible for supporting all implementation partners of projects financed by DRC in the implementation of financial procedures/policies in order to guarantee compliance with DRC and donor requirements. He/She provides coaching/learning to the implementing partner NGO teams on financial procedures based on the challenges encountered throughout the implementation of the project. He/She summarizes the conclusions of the control exercises and monitors the implementation of recommendations so that the conduct of operations of DRC and its implementing partners in Niger comply with the DRC operational manual and the grant contract concluded with the partners.

He/she provides on-site support by conducting periodic spot checks, reviews and audits of partner operations through the review of financial systems and other policies and procedures to determine the level of compliance and assess the reliability of control systems as a whole to help determine the measures necessary to ensure that the systems operate at the desired levels of effectiveness and efficiency.

Your main responsibilities and tasks will be as follows:

Budgeting, Financial Reporting and Budget Monitoring

• Support partners in developing their budgets and financial reports
• Verify the financial reports, expenses and accounting of all partners working with DRC.
• Ensure follow-up in partner reporting as well as a compilation of the various reports for external deadlines.
• Ensure compliance with global, regional and localized finance and accounting procedures
• In collaboration with project managers, monitor the budgetary consumption of partner projects

Verification and compliance with procedures

• Actively participate in the monthly coordination accounting close to integrate partner reports on time
• Audit supporting documents from DRC partners while ensuring that they comply with DRC and donor procedures.
• Support the preparation and audit exercises (internal, external, institutional, governmental, etc.) and the coordination/implementation of action plans that may result following the conclusions of the audit reports.
• Report to the appropriate manager and following DRC procedures all potential or actual violations of the DRC Code of Conduct – this is a mandatory duty for all staff
• Alert in the event of suspicion of misappropriation, abuse or corruption

Flow monitoring

• Support the finance coordination team in closing and monitoring DRC’s financial flows as part of the monthly and annual accounting closings
• With the support of the partnership specialist, carry out monthly monitoring of partner balances in agreement

Treasury

• Ensure that payments and reimbursements from donors and partners are made, in close collaboration with the Partnership Specialist, the Grants Specialist or equivalent.

Partner monitoring and capacity building

• Ensure that all documentation related to partnerships is compliant, up to date, grouped and accessible (physical and digital archiving)
• Support in carrying out partner evaluations (vetting) when necessary using internal tools in collaboration with the program department.
• Organize and coordinate meetings with partners when necessary.
• Carry out field visits to partners to audit expenses
• Participate in the regular updating of the partner toolbox when necessary
• Provide training, capacity building and support to DRC partner staff in order to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of DRC policies and procedures and ensure their proper application and use of the clauses of signed grant contracts

About you

Skills and qualities required

• University degree in management or Accounting/Finance, Minimum Bac + 3 or License.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience in supporting partners in implementing projects in the field with educational and learning approaches.
• Good knowledge of IT tools (Excel, Word, Power Point)
• A good analytical mind
• Ability to independently plan and coordinate tasks, and work under pressure.
• Good working knowledge of computerized accounting systems.
• Experience working with institutional funders is an advantage.
• Knowledge of an ERP system would be an asset
• Professional mastery of French

Wish

• Professional command of English preferred.

In this position, you must demonstrate the five DRC essential skills:

• Strive for excellence: you focus on achieving results while ensuring an efficient process. You strive to produce accurate, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort.
• Collaborate: You cooperate with and involve relevant parties, actively seeking their opinions and sharing key information with them. You support and trust others, while encouraging feedback.
• Take the reins: You take responsibility and prioritize your work based on DRC’s overall vision and goals. You take the initiative when faced with a challenge or opportunity and you seek innovative solutions.
• Communicate: You write and speak effectively and honestly while adapting your style and tone to the situation. You actively listen to others and involve them in dialogue.
• Demonstrate integrity: You respect and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values ​​and code of conduct, including protection against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment .

General regulations

• The employee must follow DRC’s security, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework
• The employee must not engage in any other paid activity during the term of their contract with the DRC without receiving prior authorization to do so.
• The employee must not engage in any activity that could harm the DRC or the implementation of any project during the term of the contract with the DRC
• The employee must not give media interviews or publish photos or other materials related to the project without prior authorization
• The employee must return all equipment borrowed for the project to the DRC after the end of the contract period or upon request