Finance & Controlling Manager

Mission of the position:

The Finance & Controlling Manager is responsible for:

• providing financial advice and support to the Board and National Management Team to enable them to make sound decisions
• areas of forecasting (long-term perspective), budgeting, liquidity management, engaging in key figure and cost optimization analysis and reviewing operational performance
• developing and monitoring risk management policies and procedures and ensuring that external control mechanisms are in place
• developing and implementing internal finance policies and guidelines regulating processes related to finance as well as internal control in line with the vision, mission, strategy, policies, and standards of the organisation
• leading and supervising the national finance department
• representing the organisation in the field of finance towards external stakeholders
• knowing the tax regulations in the country and following-up on all legal changes that might have financial implications

SOS Children’s Villages has zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation, harassment, abuse, fraud, and corruption, among other safeguarding aspects. We also provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or marital status. SOS Children’s Villages complies with all applicable laws related to non-discrimination in employment.

Key performance areas and main responsibilities:

Management and Strategic Planning & Budgeting

• Manages the association’s overall financial accounting, monitoring and reporting systems (incl. processes)
• Is responsible for the overall operations of the finance department, including the interaction and communication within and with other departments/ stakeholders as well as the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the association’s goals and objectives
• Contributes to the strategic leadership of the association as part of the National Management Team and helps to develop the national strategy and business plan
• Prepares long-term financial prognosis and income portfolio analyses to meet the MA long-term strategic objectives
• Defines the budgeting process for the whole association, ensures that the association’s budget is in accordance with the national strategic plan and SOS CVI requirements (i.e. planning letter parameters)
• Is responsible for the overall budget control

Accounting and Internal Control

• Develops and implements an up-to-date documented system of accounting policies, financial procedures and internal control guidelines (in compliance with local regulations and SOS CVI standards) within the entire association
• Keeps abreast of changes in financial regulations and legislation
• Performs regular internal audits in the locations/facilities

Financial Analysis and Reporting

• Defines a set of key financial parameters to assess and steer the current and future financial status of the association
• Engages in key figure and cost optimisation analyses and in benchmarking studies to establish areas of potential operational improvement in the association
• Provides accurate financial information and reports to specific deadlines as requested by different stakeholders
• Ensures that reports related to projects are submitted in due time (e.g. construction projects, projects financed by public grants etc.) and following existing SOS CVI standards and/or special donor requirements

Funds and Risk Management

• Monitors and analyses MA’s liquidity status (predicting future trends, checking plausibility of forecasted local income and proper reflection of public grants, exchange rate development etc.)
• Ensures that sufficient funds are available to meet on-going operational and investment requirements and informs the National Director in a timely manner on estimated liquidity shortfall proposing solutions
• Ensures counterbalanced income portfolio as well as efficient bank account structure/ conditions of the MA
• Develops and monitors risk management policies and procedures to ensure that programme and organisational risks are minimized

External Audit

• Selects (min. 3 offers) and is responsible for the contract with external auditor (to be approved by the board)
• Ensures the timely submission and is ultimately responsible for the quality and completeness of the consolidated Annual Financial Statements of the Member Association (embedded in an entire audit package according to both, national and SOS CVI standards)
• In case of qualified audit: approves Audit Progress Report (compiled by Chief Accountant) and is ultimately responsible for proper audit recommendations’ follow-up

Human Resources Development in Finance

• Establishes appropriate staffing patterns and ensures adequate staffing of the national finance department
• Supports recruitment and selection procedure of leading finance co-workers (i.e. national Chief Accountant, location chief accountants)
• Leads an effective and engaged finance team (incl. conducting PATs/ Feedback Talks), sets up and monitors execution of defined HRD measures

Child & Adult, Funds and Asset Safeguarding

• Comply with the Code of Conduct, Child and Youth Safeguarding Regulation and Policy, Misconduct Incident Management Regulation; The Sexual Misconduct regulation (Prevention and protection against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, PSHEA), Anti-Corruption Regulation and follows all reporting and responding procedures.
• Responsible within own area of work to raise awareness of the child & adult principles and to prevent and protect children from all forms of abuse, abandonment, exploitation, violence and discrimination,
• Responsible within own area of work to raise awareness of the funds and assets safeguarding to maintain the highest standards of integrity, ethical conduct and professionalism.
• Supports programmes/projects in preventing and mitigating child & adult safeguarding risks for children & adults and in planning and providing rehabilitation support in child & adult abuse incidents.
• Supports programmes/project in preventing and mitigation risks of corruption.
• Reports immediately any child & adult, funds & asset safeguarding suspicion, concern, allegation or incident following Misconduct Incident Management Regulation.

This position involves working with an NGO committed to children and human rights and is subject to strict safer recruitment checks. The successful candidate will be required to complete safer recruitment checks including criminal record and reference checks to help verify their suitability to work for SOS Children’s Villages. In addition to assessing candidates' ability to perform the duties of the post, in  the selection process will be also explored the motivation and approach of the candidate to safeguarding

Must criteria

• • University degree in the field of Finance and / or Accounting or Business Administration with specialization in Finance/ Controlling/ Accounting
  • Minimum 5 years working experience in the field of Finance
  • Very good command of English, written and spoken
  • Leadership experience (incl. recruitment, team-building, conducting performance appraisal talks, setting work objectives for/with team members, ensuring and monitoring efficient and effective use of resources)

• • Good knowledge of local accounting law and tax regulations
  • Readiness to travel

Competencies – knowledge, skills, abilities

• • Excellent communication skills
  • Strategic, analytical and process thinking abilities
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, tact and high degree of discretion and confidentiality
  • Ability to work in multicultural environment
  • Ability to develop concepts and capability of presenting information in clear and logical manner
  • Ability in the field of monitoring/controlling quality of processes
  • Organisational skills
  • Excellent MS Office skills, MS Excel in particular
  • Knowledge of IFRS/ IAS
  • Positive working attitude and ability to work under high pressure
  • Pro-active and self-motivated to learn and acquire additional competences needed for the job

Preferred additional criteria

• • Knowledge of/ experience in using Microsoft D365
  • Engaged, determined, innovative, “can do” and solution-oriented mentality
  • Experience in project management; and /or leading projects
  • Experience of working in an international organisation, preferably in the NGO sector
  • Work experience with Public Grants and State subsidies