Senior Officer, Finance

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.  
 
The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.  
 
The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. 
 
The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. 
 
In February 2022, a new phase in the armed conflict in Ukraine started. The intensification and spread of hostilities have affected all of Ukraine, causing massive humanitarian needs across all sectors and destroying essential civilian infrastructure. Millions of people are displaced in Ukraine, more than 5 million people have fled to other countries. 
 
IFRC has launched a major Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and Impacted Countries that is coordinated on European regional level – with numerous country level operations ongoing. ICRC, IFRC and numerous Partner National Societies are integrating their capacities to provide coordinated crisis response in Ukraine and impacted countries. The operational structure will be fully integrated into existing structures at Country / Country Cluster and Regional Office level to ensure full synergies with the overall regional work.

Under the supervision of the Finance Manager, the incumbent is responsible for providing high level support to the Ukraine Country Office on financial management issues to ensure efficient and effective running of day-to-day operations.

Audit and Compliance
•    Receive the National Society monthly financial reports; check the returns for proper coding, accuracy, documentation and compliance with IFRC Financial Management Procedures and contractual obligations
•    Check working advance journals for accuracy, coding and proper documentation, and input into CODA.
•    Registration of contracts in internal IFRC system and checking available pledge balance for financing.
•    Assist Finance & Admin Delegate in keeping track of income on all projects, maintain and reviewing a record of all Pledge Management Notes and correspondence with donors.
•    Assist Finance Manager in preparing the transfer request to be executed through money facilitator and payment of the same upon confirmation of receipt of funds by the branches, execute the transfer directly through the bank.
 
Internal Control and Risk Management
•    Receive supplier invoices, check for proper documentation, coding and accuracy of information and approve the request of payments for further processing timely payments to the suppliers. 
•    Ensure adequate cash flow for the program through timely preparation of monthly cash forecast and cash request for Delegation.
•    Monitor the budget performance and alert the Country Representative and the Program team of any deviation and variances for corrective action.

Financial Reporting
•    Responsible for updating and maintaining the CODA database. 
•    Prepare appeal and other budgets for Delegation in FedBudget or other required formats in collaboration with the budget holders, Program team and Country Representative.
•    Prepare Budget reviews in consultation with the Country Representative, budget holders and the Program team on a regular basis.
•    Prepare financial reconciliation reports on a quarterly basis and communicate them to the NS to adjust/reconcile or confirm their balances.

Reconciliation
•    Perform month end closure of accounts. Ensure the “month end checklist” is followed, all the corrections done in the in-tray, clearance of Swiss Francs (CHF) differences and reconciliation of all the balance sheet accounts.
•    Prepare monthly bank reconciliations for delegation accounts and maintain a cheque register to track the cheques issued and trace the bank transactions.

Duties applicable to all staff:
1.    Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals 
2.    Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3.    Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

• University degree in Accounting, Business Administration with CPA qualifications
• 4-5 years’ experience in a related position (financial management, accounting, audit and risk management) 
• Previous experience working for the Federation and/or National Society is an asset 

• Experience in financial management and accounting
• Effective communication and training / coaching skills is preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience and proven competence in writing narrative and financial reports
• Excellent practical computer skills (including strong competence in Windows, word processing, spreadsheets, internet/email, accounting software
• Experience in training finance and non-finance staff on financial matters 
• Experience in problem identification and solution 
• Experience in writing narrative and financial reports is preferred

• Strong written and verbal communication and inter-personal skills, including working with other cultures and nationalities
• Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing, e-mail)
• Self-Motivated, proactive with good judgement and initiative
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and work under pressure
• Sensitive to diversity
• Fluently spoken and written English & Ukrainian

Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Society and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust;

Special considerations
The job involves dealing in confidential matters and requires discretion always.