Deputy Director Finance Vacancy-Job Ref:JKBIIRC/1312/202052

Deputy Director Finance Vacancy-Job Ref:JKBIIRC/1312/202052

Deputy Director Finance

Bujumbura, Burundi

Job Title: Deputy Director Finance

Sector: Finance

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Bujumbura, Burundi

Job Description

BACKGROUND: 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 30 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.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

SCOPE OF WORK: As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director Finance provides financial 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. S/he will contribute to the development of the country programs 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 policies, practices and systems that are compliant with local laws and US as well as adhering to donor requirements but are also conducive to effective implementation of country 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, Regional staff as well as conforming to IRCs financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.

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

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Strategic Planning & Analysis

Provides financial information which supports 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 Programs 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’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
Is 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; 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

Tags cash management development plans financial management financial reporting humanitarian response interpersonal communication local government local laws reconciliation refugees
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
Maintain 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’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’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
Minimum Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance 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 (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
WORK ENVIRONMENT/KEY RELATIONSHIPS: The position works primarily in an office setting but may travel to remote sites.

Key working relationships include: Country Director and Country Management Colleagues, Local and HQ Finance teams.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.