Deputy Director, Finance

IRC had a brief presence in south-west Côte d'Ivoire in the late 1990s to respond to the needs of Liberian refugees.  It then re-opened its office in Abidjan in 2003 to respond to the humanitarian needs of IDPs brought about by the civil conflict, as well as to address a new wave of Liberian refugees. Currently, IRC conducts programming in the main field sites of Man, Korhogo and Yamoussoukro, as well as in its Abidjan HQ office in the following Sectors: Women Protection and Empowerment, Health, Child & Youth Protection & Development, Economic Recovery and Development; reaching approximately 2 million beneficiaries.

The goal of IRC Côte d’Ivoire is to consolidate its post conflict development program through increased partnerships and advocacy aiming to achieve quality, impact and sustainability.

SCOPE OF WORK:

As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director Finance provides leadership and management to ensure that the country program has the appropriate financial infrastructure and systems in place to support the strategic vision and mission of the organization. S/he will contribute to the development of the country program’s strategic and operational plans and be accountable for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the financial plans through targeted and comprehensive financial analytical reviews.  The Deputy Director Finance is responsible for the overall policy and management for the financial and accounting management of the Country Program. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining financial management practices and systems that are compliant with US and local laws as well as donor requirements but are also conducive to effective implementation of country programs.

As Deputy Director Finance, s/he will have responsibility for all aspects of strategic and operational finance in the country program, acting as the principal finance business partner to the Senior Management team and Country Director, as well as conforming to IRC’s financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.

Based in Cote d’Ivoire, the Deputy Director Finance will have dual reporting to the Country Director and the Regional Controller, including straight line accountability to the CFO.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Provides financial information which supports the Country Director in making business decisions in line with IRC, Regional & Country Program strategies

• Provides strategic analysis on the overall financial health of the country program to the CD and SMT; particularly on identified strategic budgets

• Contributes and provides feedback to the development of Country Program Strategic Annual Plan

Controllership

• Ensures that all in-country practices are in compliance with IRC and donor policies and procedures

• Establishes in-country finance procedures to supplement global policies as needed

• Closely monitors financial activities and advises the Country Director on financial performance of the office, issues with internal controls or financial management

• Ensures monthly balance sheet reconciliations are completed on a timely basis

• Manages the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by headquarters and donors

• Identifies requirements for and develops reporting formats to aid in the management of country operations and grant expenditures

• Directs the preparation of and approves all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Country Director and Regional Controller prior to submission

• Ensures in-country internal control reviews of operations are regularly undertaken.

• Facilitates external, internal, donor or government audits

• Oversees the protection of the country’s assets (cash, inventory, fixed assets) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures

• Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to finance and complies with tax and other legal requirements

• Is the principal liaison with IRC HQ on all finance, accounting, grant budget management, and cash management

Training & Staff Management

• Establishes or update finance department roles and responsibilities matrix; staff job descriptions; and recruits and maintains qualified staff to perform finance functions

• Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed annually; career planning and development plans are in place for all finance staff

• Ensures supervisor and supervisee one on one meetings are taking place regularly and documented

• Develops and implements a training program for the country’s finance staff

• Oversees finance training and technical support to non-finance staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control

  Treasury

• Supervises all country program bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates

• Oversees the review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations

• Maintain on current basis accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments which obligate IRC to future spending

• Ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation and cash held in headquarters in drawn regularly

• Ensures the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the country’s foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses

• Supervises the collection of contractual and other receivables

  Budget/Forecast

• Oversees the preparation and revision of grant proposal budgets; supports programs with guidance on costing and inputs in creating budgets for submission

• Prepares and maintains the country’s annual operating budget; ensures cost coverage for in-country operating costs and updates the operating budget regularly

• Presents and facilitates the review of actual to budget expenditures with the Country Director and program managers

• Ensures that finance related action points from BVA’s review meetings are effectively implemented by relevant finance staff in a timely and professional manner.

• Good written and verbal skills in the English language

• Must be comfortable in 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 manage competing priorities and pressure

• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support

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

• Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation

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