Finance and Operations Director

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IRC - The International Rescue Committee

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Job Description

The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 80 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.

The IRC began working in Niger in 2013, responding to the Malian refugee crisis in the Tahoua region. Since then, the IRC has expanded its programs to address the evolving needs of vulnerable populations affected by conflicts and natural disasters, including in Tillabery, Diffa, and Agadez regions. The IRC’s programming started in the Protection, Environmental Health, Health and Nutrition, and Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) sectors, before expanding into Education, Rapid Response Mechanisms (RRM) and assistance to returning migrants.

Scope of work

The IRC seeks a Finance and Operations Director for an anticipated five-year USAID Non-formal Education activity in Niger. This $20-25 million activity will target out-of-school adolescents and youth, particularly young women, girls, and those affected by conflict and crisis, who do not have access to safe, equitable and contextually relevant learning opportunities needed to strengthen their resilience and contribute to their communities. The project will strengthen foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, social emotional learning (SEL)/soft skills, build resilience capacities and assets, and strengthen pathways between non-formal to formal education by working closely with parents, caregivers, and community leaders.

The Finance and Operations Director will have responsibility for all aspects of strategic and operational finance, acting as the principal finance business partner to the Chief of Party and other Senior Management team, as well as conforming to IRC’s financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.

Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project, and selection of final applicant is subject to USAID approval.

Job responsibilities

· Provide oversight of Operations teams, including Procurement, Finance, Grants, Logistics, HR, Security, and Administrative support staff.

· Establish project’s finance and supporting function policies, systems and procedures, and directs or performs their development, documentation, and implementation.

· Ensure that all policies and procedures are in compliance with USAID and the IRC policies, procedures, and requirements.

· Manage project finance activities and schedule to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by USAID and the IRC HQ.

· Prepare quarterly accrual reports, expenditure reporting, and burn rate projections.

· Provide project management and program staff with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis for project funds and facilitate the review and discussion.

· Ensure balance sheet reconciliations are completed monthly and on a timely basis and review final reconciliations and trial balances with the Chief of Party.

· Closely monitor all financial activities and keep the Chief of Party and Country Senior Management Team advised of all situations which may have a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance.

· Work closely with IRC Niger Deputy Director for Finance and ensure timely dissemination of program finance information.

· Direct the preparation and approval of all USAID financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Chief of Party and IRC HQ prior to submission.

· Enforce internal control policies and procedures.

· Maintain current knowledge of local Government requirements related to financial matters and ensure compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements.

· Establish project finance roles and responsibilities matrix; ensure job descriptions are updated; recruit and maintain qualified staff to perform finance functions.

· Develop and deliver training for the project’s finance staff when needed.

· Ensure constructive performance reviews are completed on a timely basis and facilitate discussion on performance and career options with project finance staff.

· Supervise all project office bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates.

· In compliance with IRC policy, establish procedures regarding cash holding limits, cash movements and foreign currency holdings for the project.

· Oversee the timely preparation, review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations.

· Design, implement, and monitor systems, procedures and reporting necessary to maintain updated accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments entered into and which obligate IRC to future spending.

· Supervise the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests to IRC HQ and ensure that appropriate cash balances are maintained to facilitate project implementation.

· Assist with the preparation and revision of project budgets.

· Prepare the annual and monthly cash budgets based on approved funding.

· Support consortium partners with finance, accounting and administrative matters, maintain collaborative partner relations, and ensure effective delivery of project support when needed.

· Oversee all sub-grantees/sub-contractors adherence to USAID, IRC, and host country policies.

· Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors and the IRC Finance team and Senior Management Team, supervise implementation of audit recommendations when necessary.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA, or a Master’s degree in Accounting.

• Minimum of eight years of experience including five in similar Finance, Compliance, or Operations role supporting USAID and international donor projects in similar contexts.

• Experience with budgeting and financial reporting requirements on multimillion-dollar USAID-funded projects.

• Experience with financial management and reporting on projects with subawards.

• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices, financial reporting standards, financial management processes and procedures.

• In-depth knowledge of US Government financial management processes, rules and regulations required

• Extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs.

• Significant previous experience working in crisis-affected contexts, preferably in West Africa and/or Niger.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders.

• Experience working to incorporate issues of Government accountability, transparency, and equity in formal and non-formal education programs, including gender, ethnicity, and disability inclusion.

• Experience managing USAID cooperative agreement and overseeing international and local sub-recipients and grantees.

• Capacity to work well under pressure, and the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively cross‐culturally is critical.

• The candidate must be fluent in English and French.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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Qualifications

Added 1 year ago - Updated 9 months ago - Source: rescue.org