Requisition ID: req47468

Job Title: Deputy Director Finance

Sector: Finance

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: Yes

Location: Bamako, Mali

Work Arrangement:In-person

Job Description

IRC opened the country program in Mali in 2012. Our programs range from humanitarian assistance to early recovery activities, focusing on child protection, education, economic well-being, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, and governance. We work in both northern, central, and southern Mali. Conflict and drought have displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Mali and neighboring countries. The security situation in the north remains fragile. Nevertheless, the needs of displaced people and host communities affected by the conflict are widespread and the issue of humanitarian access is an ongoing process. IRC works in northern and central Mali to provide essential EHA, education, economic well-being, protection, and health programs in the most remote areas. The position is designed to help improve the capacity and strengthen the resources of populations to prevent and mitigate crises, manage change, and build self-reliance and resilience.

Job overview

As a member of the Mali Country Program Management Team (SMT), the Deputy Finance Director provides leadership and management to ensure that the country program has the appropriate financial infrastructure and systems to support the organization's strategic vision and mission. He/she will contribute to the development of the country program's strategic and operational plans and will be responsible for ensuring and monitoring execution against financial plans through a focused and comprehensive financial analytical review. The Deputy Director of Finance is responsible for the overall policy and management of the country program's financial and accounting management. Emphasis will be placed on financial management practices and systems that comply with US and local laws, conform to donor requirements and are conducive to effective program implementation.

As Deputy Director of Finance, he/she will be responsible for all aspects of strategic and operational finance in the country program, acting as the main financial partner to the Managing Director and Country Director, as well as in accordance with IRC's financial control environment and the CFO's standards and objectives. He/she will work closely with the Deputy Directors of Programs and Operations to ensure acceptable levels of performance of operational policies and procedures, and to troubleshoot and collectively develop solutions. Based in Mali, the Deputy Finance Director will report to both the Country Director and the Regional Finance Director, including direct accountability to the CFO.

Main responsibilities

Strategic planning and analysis

• Provide financial information to assist the Country Director and SMT in making economic decisions in line with IRC, regional and country program strategies.

• Provide strategic analysis on the overall financial health of the country program to the CD and SMT.

• Contribute and provide input to the development of the country program's annual strategic plan.

Controller functions

• Ensure that all country practices comply with IRC and donor policies and procedures.

• Establish in-country funding procedures to complement IRC global policies as required.

• Monitor financial activities and advise the Country Director on office financial performance, internal controls or financial management issues.

• Ensure monthly balance sheet reconciliations are performed in a timely manner.

• Manage finance department activities and schedules to meet requirements and deadlines specified by trustees and donors.

• Identify requirements and develop reporting templates to facilitate management of office operations and grant expenditures.

• Lead the preparation and approve all donor financial reports with respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensure review of these reports by the Country Director and Regional Finance Director prior to submission.

• Ensure that internal control reviews of operations are regularly carried out in-country.

• Facilitate external, internal, donor or government audits.

• Oversee the protection of community program assets (cash, inventory, fixed assets) through the application of internal control policies and procedures.

• Keep abreast of local government financial requirements and comply with national requirements in Mali and other legal requirements.

• Act as the main liaison with IRC headquarters on all finance, accounting, grants budget management and cash management matters.

Staff training and management

• Establish a matrix of roles and responsibilities for the finance department.

• Ensure that staff job descriptions are up to date.

• Recruit and retain qualified personnel to perform finance functions.

• Ensure that comprehensive and constructive performance appraisals are carried out annually.

• Ensure that planning and professional development plans are in place for all finance staff.

• Develop and implement a training program for country finance staff.

• Oversee financial training and technical support for non-financial staff to improve skills in accounting, reporting, and internal control.

Compliance and financial risk management

• Identify potential financial risks.

• Analyze and quantify the severity of these risks for operations and programs.

• Develop and implement effective strategies to manage these risks.

• Monitor the success of strategies and take appropriate action to update them.

• Ensure timely implementation of internal and external audit recommendations related to the Finance Department.

• Contribute to the overall risk management of the country through the management team.

Treasury

• Oversee all country program banking relationships and bank account activities, including negotiation of fees, interest, and exchange rates.

• Oversee the review and approval of all monthly bank accounts and cash reconciliations.

• Maintain accurate forecasts of cash requirements to meet future expenses, including commitments that obligate IRC to future expenditures.

• Ensure that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation and that cash held at headquarters is drawn down regularly.

• Ensure the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the exposure of Coordination Program currencies to foreign exchange gains and losses.

• Oversee the collection of advances and other receivables.

Budgeting/forecasting

• Oversees the preparation and review of grant proposal budgets; supports programs by providing costing and input guidance in the creation of budgets for submission.

• Prepare and maintain the country program's annual operating budget; ensure coverage of in-country operating costs and regularly update the operating budget.

• Present and facilitate review of actual expenditures against budget with County Director and Program Managers.

Key working relationships

• Position reports to: Country Director

• Positions under direct supervision: Budget & Reporting Coordinator, Accounting Coordinator, Senior Audit Manager

• Indirect reporting: NA

• Internal: Audit, Program, Operations, Human Resources

• External: partners, international and local NGOs, UN agencies, local donors, audit firms

Job Requirements

Education:

• BAC+4/5 in Accounting, Finance or Controlling

• A recognized professional accounting certificate such as CPA, or master’s in accounting is preferred.

• An advanced professional accounting qualification will be an added advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a department of an international NGO, as senior Team Lead.

• Experience working with accounting ERP is required, Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred.

Skills and Abilities

Preferred:

• Ability to work with limited supervision, be flexible and comfortable in a multicultural work environment.

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational and time management skills with the ability to organize tasks simultaneously and prioritize work.

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel and Microsoft Outlook.

• Detail-oriented

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Honest, reliable, and trustworthy

• Fluency in spoken and written English and French

• Ability to work under pressure.

• Ability to maintain the highest degree of discretion and confidentiality.

• Willingness to adhere to and apply IRC rules.

• Ability to effectively manage a heavy workload.

• Extensive work experience in development or humanitarian intervention, including at least five years' experience living and working in the relevant field in developing and transitional countries.

• Minimum of five years' management experience in finance

• Requires extensive experience working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheets, and database programs (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics ERP, SUN System and Vision)

Mandatory:

• Committed to the mission and principles of the International Rescue Committee.

• Operational management - understands IRC policies and systems and applies them effectively.

• Applies effective use of resources.

• Program Management - Proficient in project planning, implementation, and monitoring.

• Ability to work in a team environment.

• Ability to work with all levels of staff.

• Ability to quickly identify issues, problems and opportunities and inform line manager.

• Results-oriented - ensures goals, objectives and deadlines are met.

• Respectful both within the organization and with external interactions.

• Self-management - Ability to adapt and learn, to accept constructive criticism and instructions from superiors.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing across all departments.

• Keeps commitments and works towards the organization's objectives, demonstrating consistency.

• Good written and verbal English skills

• Must be comfortable 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 managing competing priorities and pressures.

• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support.

• Must have excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, associate and thrive in a diverse environment.

• Committed to staff training and development and effective in facilitation.

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 characteristic.