Responsable Finance At Danish Refugee Council

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council ( Danish Refugee Council – DRC ) helps refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide: we provide emergency aid, we are fighting for their rights and increasing their chances of a better future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement roads and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive to find responsible and lasting solutions. We are working for successful integration and, as far as possible, for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

DRC was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 employees and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen ( Denmark ) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced people. All our efforts are based on the following values: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, honesty and transparency.

Background

DRC operations in Niger began in 2014, with programs to reduce Armed Violence in Liptako Gourma ( Tillabéri region ) led by the technical teams of Danish Demining Group ( DDG ) DRC, which has been renamed « Humanitarian Disarmament 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 persons in the Lake Chad area, fleeing Boko Haram’s incursions. From 2018, the deterioration of the security situation in the Tillabéri region and its consequences on the situation of protection of the communities as well as on humanitarian access have led DRC to strengthen its involvement in the region, and to open a coordination office in Niamey to support the expansion of its programs in Niger. Finally since 2019, in response to the Nigeria refugee crisis, DRC has intervened in the Maradi region.

In 2023, DRC intervened in 11 departments of the country, distributed in 3 regions where the inhabitants were among the most vulnerable and at risk of protection. DRC supports individuals, households, communities and authorities in the areas of Protection, Abris and Non-Food Goods, Food Security and Economic Relaunch, and Humanitarian Disarmament and the Consolidation of Peace.

DRC provides a multisectoral emergency and recovery response while supporting the search for sustainable solutions for the populations, and the operationalization of the Nexus in close collaboration with humanitarian and state partners. DRC promotes an integrated approach for all of its interventions which promotes the centrality of protection, accountability to its partners and the populations concerned and their participation through a community approach.

The position and its role

Finance Manager, you ensure the efficient management of all the financial functions of DRC Niger. The Finance Officer plays a strategic role in helping decision-making by analyzing and communicating all financial data while ensuring sound financial management.

You ensure compliance with the mission’s obligations in terms of financial reporting, budgetary monitoring, cost control management and monitoring of financial commitments. You ensure compliance with donor regulations as well as internal DRC policies and procedures and, if necessary, provide support to program management teams.

Your main responsibilities and tasks will be as follows :

Budgeting, financial management and control

• Ensure budgeting and control of expenditure for direct and shared operational costs, as well as coordination of budgeting and expenditure related to the implementation of programs.
• Implement relevant financial control tools within the country program.
• Develop budgets for new proposals and amendments, in collaboration with Area Managers and Program Managers.
• Ensure the configuration or revisions of projects in the Dynamic DRC system.
• Update the DRC Niger Master Budget, in collaboration with the Zone Managers and the Country Direction.

Reports

• Prepare quality financial reports and ensure their timely submission to headquarters for verification, in accordance with the donor guidelines and instructions.
• Update monthly budget monitoring reports which include expenditure per project, sub-beneficiary or partner reports.
• Ensure compliance of partners’ financial reports, and provide them with the necessary technical assistance.

Accounting and Cash

• Supervise and coordinate daily accounting and financial functions, including timely recording of transactions, cash management, banking, payroll, receivables, debts.
• Check and validate payment files to ensure their rectitude and completeness ( amounts, codes, bundles, validities, etc. )
• Ensure compliance with the deadlines for closing the accounts, including monthly reconciliation.
• Create and maintain transparent and effective interaction with banks, financial institutions and other actors.
• Ensure adequate planning and management of cash flows to meet program requirements.

Administration

• Ensure that the mission follows the Nigerien legal framework, in particular for questions of payment of taxes, requests for exemptions, annual financial reports and annual certification of the state of finances.
• Ensure compliance with DRC and donor financial procedures.
• Constantly check the integrity and robustness of financial procedures, identify the risks of mismanagement and suggest corrective actions to minimize the financial risk.

Team management

• Recruit the employees of the Niamey Finance team, ensure their integration, manage daily monitoring, ensure capacity building and training, disciplinary management as well as regular evaluation of their performance.
• Prepare the schedules of the teams under his responsibility.
• Provide technical support to the Finance team of other bases and to other program staff as required as « technical focal point » for the Finance department.
• Plan and organize regular training in finance with the participants concerned ( finance, logistics, human resources and program ) in order to guarantee the implementation of approved and uniform systems.

Others

• In the event of an audit, collect the requested financial documents, prepare a risk analysis report, supervise the audit and prepare the responses to the audit report.
• Support the Support Services Manager in identifying potential financial risks and gaps in financial policies in order to develop adequate policies and procedures.

The responsibilities listed in this post sheet are not exhaustive and can be readjusted according to operational needs, remaining in accordance with the general objective of the role.

About you

Skills and qualities required

• Minimum 5 years of accounting experience from NGOs or other international agencies, with at least 2 years of experience in a similar role.
• Master 1 in Accounting, Finance, Economics or in an equivalent field.
• Work experience in the management of grants, contracts and knowledge agreements under the guidelines of major donors.
• Excellent time management, planning and prioritization capabilities.
• Proven skills in team management.
• Strong skills in accounting and analysis.
• Mastery of IT, especially Microsoft Excel.
• Work experience in an ERP financial IT system. Work experience in Microsoft Dynamics will be an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, working with different groups and nationalities.

Desired

• Master of Written and Spoken English.
• Ability to provide training to financial and non-financial staff.
• Strong initiative and personal motivation, with a strong commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principles.
• Ability to meet competing demands within tight deadlines.

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

• Aim for excellence: you focus on achieving results while ensuring an effective process. You strive to produce precise, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort.
• Collaborate: you cooperate with and involve the parties concerned, actively seeking their opinion and sharing key information with them. You support and trust others, while encouraging comments.
• Take the reins: You take responsibility and give priority to your work according to the general vision and objectives of DRC. You take the initiative in the face of a challenge or an opportunity and you are looking for 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 the dialogue.
• Be honest: You meet and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to the values and code of conduct of DRC, including protection against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

General regulations

• Employee must follow DRC instructions on security, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Liability Framework
• The employee must not exercise any other remunerated activity during the duration of his contract with the DRC without receiving the 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
• Employees should not give media interviews or publish photos or other project-related documents without prior authorization
• The employee must return all the equipment borrowed for the project to the DRC after the end of the contract period or on request