Regional Finance Manager- British Red Cross

The British Red Cross (BRC) helps millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, disasters and conflicts. Our volunteers and staff help people in crisis to live independently by providing support at home, mobility aids and transport. We also teach first aid skills. We are part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian network. We refuse to ignore people in crisis.

 The role sits within the International Directorate of BRC within the MENA and Mediterranean team. The BRC has been working in the MENA region since 2004 with partner national societies and opened a regional office in Beirut in 2013. The MENA & Mediterranean region work of the British Red Cross is implemented through and in close cooperation with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners in the region, currently mainly the IFRC, ICRC and the National Societies in each of the five priority countries. BRC are currently engaged with programming in, among others, capacity building, relief and logistics-related programmes both bilaterally and multilaterally. Strong financial and compliance support is required for both internal BRC programme managers and budget holders, as well as implementing partners is needed in order to provide appropriate financial management of BRC funds.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the role is to provide support to the International MENA Region on all aspects of financial management that relate to the region’s programmes, partners, offices and staff. The role is the finance business partner for the implementation and maintenance of all financial and administrative systems, processes and procedures that relate to the office’s programmes, partners and staff. The post holder is expected to deliver all office financial requirements in a timely manner, and ensure compliance to BRC and donor policies, procedures, agreed standards, statutory obligations and grant agreements. 
She/he will direct line manage the Finance, Admin and Procurement Officer role in Beirut and oversee all finance and admin related work. S/he will work with programme staff in BRC and partners (mainly NS finance teams, IFRC and ICRC relevant staff) to ensure that systems are in place to be able to provide full assurance of funds spent and transferred, and compliance with financial probity procedures. S/he will work to investigate instances of mismanagement of funds and implement audit recommendations when relevant. S/he will work with the Country Cluster Manager to ensure timely and accurate budget management including acquittals and reporting.

S/he will follow-up and check together with the programme team that financial processes and recommendations have been followed. The role will provide technical support to strengthen/establish financial mechanisms in the relevant national societies. In particular, it is envisaged that this post will contribute to:
• Building programme, country office and partners’ capacities in effective financial management.
• Capturing learning from programmes and using them to improve the interventions.
• Developing tighter accountability to donor mechanisms. 
• Ensure appropriate financial and admin systems are in place within Beirut Cluster office. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Finance Business Partner

• To attend regional management meetings to input on financial and business issues, present findings and make recommendations for action.
• To actively engage and participate on regional strategic projects to ensure financial systems, financial controls and risk management activities are implemented appropriately
• Carry out formal financial training for BRC staff and support financial training of partner staff to ensure successful implementation and reporting on BRC-funded projects.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• To be the finance contact for the region through planning, budgeting and forecasting
• To update the Planner forecasting tool monthly with known changes to forecast for general and restricted funds for the region 
• To ensure that monthly forecasts reconcile to the agreed regional financial framework allocations
• To analyse, interpret and report on the region's consolidated budgets, assessing the implications and recommending possible courses of action to the Head of Region 
• To ensure that the planning and budget process is completed within the agreed organisational timetable and in accordance with procedures
• To ensure that managers can contribute effectively to the process, understand their responsibilities and targets and have a good understanding of the financial performance of their team, contracts and projects
• To identify risks that may impact on the budget outcome and to mitigate such risks
• Check and verify monthly financial reports showing progress against budget for all BRC-supported programmes, highlighting any variances as relevant and ensuring correct supporting documentation is included.
• Finalise consolidated financial reports for BRC and the donor, based on the input and reports received from the programme teams. 
• Support the development of new plans and proposals, ensuring budgets are appropriate and clearly presented to meet both BRC and donor requirements
• Support BRC country cluster manager and programme managers to prepare project budgets and forecasts, coordinating any revisions to ensure that the programmes are correctly included in the BRC corporate budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Support BRC-wide institutional learning in all financial aspects of proposal writing, contract management and donor compliance. 

Financial Management and Systems

• To provide meaningful regional and team analysis on financial performance 
• To provide managers with knowledgeable, proactive advice and guidance on financial issues
• To ensure managers have a clear understanding of the financial framework and the delegations within the International Directorate
• To hold regular meetings to review financial performance with Country Cluster Manager and Programmes Managers, agree and document actions
• To maintain the integrity of the financial information in the BRC finance system for the region ensuring entries are correct and up-to-date, posting journals where required
• To ensure systems are in place within the region for general fund relieving and recovery management activities
• To review the work undertaken by the International Finance Officer with respect to processing grant agreements, grant transfers, international invoice payments and office cashflow requests for the region, challenging where necessary, and ensuring funds are sent within appropriate time frames
• To be responsible for identifying any risks associated with financial systems, to propose controls or actions to mitigate such risks, and to monitor such controls
• To provide financial support to emergency appeals in the region including attending ETFs (Emergency Task Force)
• To support BRC’s year end and interim external audit processes as required

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Financial management of BRC Beirut office

• Manage all financial processes in the BRC office including bank and cash reconciliations, monthly office cash flow requests, monthly financial reporting and variance analysis in line with BRC and donor requirements, IFRC bills and working advances.
• Ensure that all payments are made in an accurate and timely manner, and correctly coded.
• Ensure that all BRC corporate financial policies and procedures are followed and that the BRC office has an up-to-date office finance handbook in line with BRC corporate financial policies.
• Ensure that BRC procedures are in line with the Integration Agreement with IFRC and that BRC is complying with Lebanese legal requirements for tax/VAT, staff provisions, banking regulations and any other financial matters.
• Liaise with suppliers, vendors and contractors on support service agreements and contracts to ensure compliance, smooth running and delivery of service.
• Manage and maintain both electronic and physical document management systems for all financial, contractual and administrative information and records, translating paperwork e.g. invoices where necessary.  
• Supervise the Beirut bank accounts, and where situation requests, manages by him/herself the bank accounts and liaise with the bank managers for any issues.

Programme Financial Risk Management

• To carry out financial due diligence reviews of Partner National Societies and programmes in the region in collaboration with any non-UK based BRC finance staff, ensuring that key financial risks are identified, and clear recommendations given on how to deal with areas of weaknesses identified. To ensure that the recommendations are implemented appropriately.
• To support financial capacity building of Partner National Societies in the region, including through short term trips to countries in the region. 
• To ensure a risk register for all programmes is developed, reviewed and updated
• To ensure all Internal Audit actions are appropriately followed up and reported back to Internal Audit
• Ensure that all programme expenditure, record keeping and reporting are compliant with BRC and donor policies and procedures, Grant Agreement Documents and donor requirements, and that all reports are appropriately reviewed and fed back on.
• Carry out regular sampling checks, monitoring and compliance visits to partners to ensure financial documentation and policies are in line with BRC agreements.
• Oversee counter-terrorism compliance requirements, including completing supplier checks and overseeing CT reporting processes with the country cluster manager. 
• Maintain the Beirut office risk register and facilitate monthly reviews of the register with the country cluster manager and UK office. 
• In collaboration with International Finance, facilitate and support internal and external audits and assist the BRC’s organisational year-end and interim external audits, as required.

Restricted Funds

• To ensure that the financial elements of International Directorate restricted fund applications in the region are prepared, reviewed and supported
• To ensure that financial reports for International Directorate restricted fund projects in the region are prepared, reviewed, supported and submitted in a timely manner
• To ensure that audits on International Directorate restricted fund projects in the region are arranged and carried out in line with the donor’s requirements
• To ensure that all necessary financial support is given to all International Directorate restricted fund projects in the region during the close out phase

Management and Training

• To support the recruitment, training and induction of all overseas based finance delegates, finance managers and finance officers in the region
• To task manage and provide technical advice to all overseas based finance delegates, finance managers and finance officers in the region
• To deliver financial training and financial inductions to staff in the region as required
•  To support the delivery of ERU (Emergency Response Unit) financial training as required

Team Member

• Actively participates in all team meetings
• Supports other team members
• Works and behaves in accordance with all BRC policies and procedures
• Upholds the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and acts with integrity, in accordance with the Society’s values (inclusive, compassionate, courageous and dynamic).
• Be available and willing to carry out short missions to crisis affected countries in the region to assure quality programming, conduct reviews and train nation staff and volunteers. 
• Be willing to work in situations of political insecurity.

Team Leadership

• Direct reports have clear objectives that support the appropriate strategies and plans
• Supervise and provide overall advice and direction to the BRC Administration and Finance and Procurement Officer.
• Progress is monitored effectively and action agreed to address problems that arise
• Issues and team ideas and comments escalated when necessary
• The personal effectiveness of direct reports improves
• All the resources are managed effectively using BRC processes (budgets, appraisal, H&S, etc.)

Experience

Relevant professional experience in financial and grant management - Required

Experience working with and reporting to major institutional donors - Required

Experience in humanitarian operations - Required

Experience in RC/RC movement - Preferred

Experience developing and documenting financial, contracting and administrative systems, processes and procedures - Required

Experience in budget and forecast preparation using different accounting systems - Required

Experience of effective financial and compliance partner capacity building and training staff (including remote training) - Required

Experience with audits, either completing or facilitating their implementation, and ensuring audit recommendations are actioned - Required

EDUCATION

Qualified accountant or with relevant experience - Required

Knowledge, Skills and Language

Strong communication skills, including ability to prepare and present concise oral and written reports, briefings, updates and other documentation to both finance and non-finance stakeholders - Required

Strong quantitative data analysis skills and ability to understand complex information quickly and accurately - Required

Strong audit and internal controls knowledge with the ability to highlight weaknesses and make appropriate recommendations - Required

Strong planning and analytical skills, with proven problem-solving experience - Required

Self-sufficient in computers (particularly Excel) and computerized accounts systems - Required

Ability to establish priorities, plan, coordinate, implement and monitor work plans - Required

Excellent relationship-building skills and willingness to work in a team - Required

Strong organisational skills including accuracy, consistency and attention to detail - Required

Teamwork: commitment to the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement; integrity & personal conduct; sensitivity to diversity; flexibility & adaptability; interpersonal skills; resilient; friendly. Have a positive attitude, proactive, resourceful, hardworking, trustworthy, mature and able to maintain confidentiality at all times - Required

Ability to develop and maintain effective remote working relationships with counterparts in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity - Required

Ability to work independently and under pressure - Required

LANGUAGES

Fluency in English and Arabic - Required

Competencies and Values

Professionalism 

Communications

Diversity

Accountability

Teamwork

Integrity

Comments

IFRC ensures equal employment opportunities.