Finance Manager – Humanitarian Surge Team (HST)

ROLE PURPOSE:

This HST Finance Manager will provide financial management inputs into Save the Children International (SCI) emergency responses and ongoing support to develop best practice emergency financial management procedures and processes when deployed to SCI Country Programmes.  

 The main responsibilities of the post will vary according to the terms of reference for each assignment. These may include: being finance focal person as part of an emergency response team; working with other emergency departments in country to ensure that there is a co-ordinated response in line with best practices; assist in transition and work with existing country finance teams to ensure that best practices are adopted after emergency activity is completed; providing short term interim financial management and/or capacity building support to ongoing emergencies, Fragile States and/or country/regional/member programmes.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3:  the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Strategic financial information and monitoring: 

- Provide a high standard of financial accounting in emergency programmes, ensuring compliance to local statutory law and SCI accounting policies; 

- Ensure accounting systems, policies, internal controls and procedures are quickly established and regularly updated for the collection of accurate, complete and timely financial data (e.g.: budgets, forecasts, expenditure, commitments, payroll, and delegation of authority in place and adhered to);  

- Develop effective relationships with existing regional or member finance staff; 

- Ensure that Save the Children’s commitment to improving quality and accountability in humanitarian work is upheld, through reference to the Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards, the NGO Code of Conduct, and other relevant tools. 

Cost recovery and budgeting: 

- Support budget holders to produce quality budgeting information including advice/training on budget management and phasing; 

- Ensure all relevant stakeholders are involved in the budgeting process;  

- Prepare management reports for budget holders to monitor budgets on a regular and timely basis;   

- Ensure all donor requirements (financial and reporting) are complied with and that quality proposals and financial reports are prepared and submitted on time; 

- Advise on how to best to utilise a programme’s funding portfolio;  

- Build and maintain relationships with the local finance representatives of partner organisations. 

Control & Supervision:  

- Work in collaboration with the Response Lead/Finance Lead to identify and/or share recommendations on the existing and desired reporting assurance mechanism between Finance, Awards, Procurement, Logistics, M&E that will ensure accountable reporting to donors on all humanitarian inputs; 

- Take appropriate steps to minimise the risk of fraud or theft;  

- Ensure the security of all cash and assets (e.g.: regular cash and bank reconciliation, fixed asset and inventory physical checks); 

- Monitor coding of emergency expenditures and ensure timely adjustments are made after activation of new awards with relevant audit trail; 

- Support Cash Transfer Manager in designing programming activities whilst ensuring accountability and adequate controls

- Recruit, train and manage finance staff and/or work closely with existing finance staff to ensure (when relevant) a good handover at end of mission; 

- Carry out inductions and staff trainings for finance procedures, donor financial requirements, etc.  

Cash flow: 

- Manage the cash flow to ensure timely and secure transfer of funds to meet programme needs, liaising with local bankers as required and provide the necessary checks and balances to ensure that money is spent effectively, efficiently and in line with donor requirements. 

Additional:   

- Contribute to ongoing finance policy revisions, support and enhance the ongoing development of the Save the Children emergencies finance toolkit; 

- Provide interim support to a country or regional programme which lacks finance resources;  

- Work with internal and external auditors as necessary.  

 General: 

- Deliver high quality results in line with the agreed ToR; 

- Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

- Experience of and well developed skills in staff management, supervision and capacity building

- Proven track record of supporting a senior management team, and providing strategic support across multiple sectors and/or regions

- Knowledge of the requirements of the major emergency donors and experience in budgeting and reporting to donors.

- Good attention to detail and analytical skills

- Computer literate (i.e. WORD, advanced Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, financial systems).

- Cultural awareness and ability to build relationships quickly with a wide variety of people

- Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive and communicate clearly and effectively under pressure

- Excellent planning, management and coordination skills, with the ability to organise a workload comprised of varying and changing tasks and responsibilities

- Strong communication (written and spoken), and interpersonal skills in English, with experience in managing multicultural teams

- Fluent in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic or Swahili

Desirable

- Experience with any Save the Children financial systems and overseas accounting software (including SUN, PSF, Agresso)

- Significant experience with NGOs in an international emergency environment

- Qualified Accountant (CCAB) or equivalent experience.