Finance Controller for International Operation - Danish Red Cross

Finance Controller will be responsible for overseeing countries within a geographical area. The role involves proactively providing guidance, assistance and quality assurance of budgeting, financial reporting, preparation of financial statements for audit and ongoing review and revision of financial procedures, to ensure a reliable, standardised and transparent financial management of DRC’s international programmes / projects.

Finance Controller will work closely with Country Office finance officers as well as relevant staff in the international department to ensure at all times an overview of financial activities within the specific geographical area.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Finance Controller Responsibilities on Projects Financial Management:

Project Initiation:

Provide quality assurance support to Country Finance, Technical Delegate and Regional / Country Office on project budget development and agreements with National Societies (NS) and consortium partners in accordance with DRC and donor guidelines.

Open new grant and project in DRC finance system.

Execute request to donor for pre-financing / grant funds.

Project Implementation:

Review project cash requests and process transfers to NS / partner bank accounts.

Review / process project payments for DRC procurements.

Monitor project quarterly reporting including expenditure variance analysis.

Prepare / quality assurance of interim finance report for donor (EU / ECHO / Novo / MFA).

Monitor performance of annual local project audit / Expenditure Verification Report.

Project Completion and closure:

Consolidate / quality assurance of final project finance report

Monitor performance of end project local audit / Expenditure Verification Report and facilitate the consolidated audit at HQ level.

Prepare / process final payment reconciliation with donor and partners (including return of unused funds and closure of bank account).

Review and ensure completion of final project transactions on DRC software including reconciliation and clearance of funds balances.

Prepare financial statements and documentation for consolidated audit.

Monitor and ensure transfer / disposal of project assets / equipment.

Monitor and ensure archiving of project documents by Regional / Country office and National Society in accordance with DRC and donor requirement

Regional / Country office Financial Management

Maintain a financial overview of projects for countries under responsibilities and ensure Country Manager / Head of Region is informed with such overview.

Provide technical support and advice to the Country Office Finance officer, including software functionalities.

Provide technical support and advice HNS on DRC finance management requirements

Keep updated on major donor (EU, ECHO, Novo, MFA etc) financial guidelines and requirements, support and advise Country Office to ensure their understanding and compliance.

Provide financial support and advice to Country Managers, Technical Delegates and Head of Regions.

funds management procedures including bank, petty cash and delegate/debtor/creditor accounts.

monthly Country Office procedures covering accounting and month / year end reporting to HQ finance and performance of annual office external audit.

preparation of project budgets and finance reports in accordance with DRC SOPs and donor guidelines.

audits of Country Office and DRC supported programmes in compliance with DRC and donor requirements.

Assess and ensure adequate finance services /support is provided to delegates.

Conduct regular visits to countries, including visits to partners Financial Departments, to monitor finance management practices /standards and to identify and facilitate improvements to financial structures, systems and procedures.

Ensure that Country Office maintain financial and administrative procedures including filing / archiving of project financial documents / records in accordance with DRC SOPs and donor requirements.

Finance Support to HQ International Department units

Global Partnership

Acquire and maintain knowledge on specific donor / subject area (EU/DEVCO, ECHO, Danida, UN, trust funds) standards and requirements for the whole project life / funding cycle.

Participate and provide relevant input in relevant matrix cores (i.e., Danida, EU/DEVCO, ECHO) and pop-up groups (ie, SOP updates).

Conduct trainings on grant management together with relevant P&C focal point.

Actively provide finance input and support to new EU DEVCO / ECHO, Danida, UN proposals (in collaboration with relevant Regional / Country Finance Delegate / Officer).

Ensuring and developing formats and systems together with P&C that must be used.

Global Operation

Drive and act as focal point for support and provide relevant international financial overview / information to Portfolio team and matrices.

Disaster and Crisis Response

Acquire and maintain knowledge on Humanitarian SOPs / Emergency Finance Guidelines.

Actively participate in emergency response activities including driving establishment of financial set-up and processes to facilitate timely funds flow to response locations (DRC delegation / National Society) and proper expenditure tracking.

Other Tasks

Provide field finance input to the International financial meetings and groups

Be available to assist with ad-hoc and emergency tasks related to the global operation, including temporary country finance management responsibilities and finance surge missions

Willingness to and interest in travelling to DRC field locations.

Act as International Finance Manager whenever requested

Reviewing and quality assuring of annual reports (financial / expenditure data).

Assisting and facilitating Regional & Country Finance Officers in promoting understanding of and compliance with the DRC anti-corruption policy.

Contribute to development of relevant training materials and training of Finance delegates / managers / officers in partner countries.

Support to Country Managers in recruitment and training of finance staff for Country Offices.

Education

University degree or equivalent qualification in accounting / finance / business administration / auditing or relevant field - Required

Professional membership qualifications such as CPA, CMA, CIA - Preferred

Experience

9 years plus, of relevant experience in the financial management aspects of humanitarian/development programming and project cycle and oversight of large program budgets with focus on controlling and advise on different processes - Required

Experience with EU/ECHO/Novo/ MFA Denmark funded projects, - Required

Extensive experience in developing project Budget, implementation, Budget modifications and financial reporting. - Required

Strong technical knowledge and experience in controlling, facilitating, supporting, monitoring and supervising activity plans, budgets and financial tasks - Required

Proven staff management and leadership experience including mentoring and facilitation of finance professionals - Preferred 

Knowledge, Skills and Language

Recognized accounting/finance/business management qualification and training - Required

Full proficiency in an Enterprise Resource Planning / electronic Accounting system - Required

Full proficiency in Microsoft Office functions including Advance excel - Required

Excellent analytical skills, particularly concerning complex financial documents -Required

Excellent communication, planning, coordination and facilitation skills - Required

Fluently spoken and written English - Required

Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) - Preferred

Competencies and Values

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability 

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust

Comments

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.