Deputy Director Finance Whole of Syria (WoS)

Background/IRC Summary:  

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director Finance provides financial leadership and management necessary 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 programs strategic and operational plans and be accountable for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the financial plans through targeted and comprehensive financial analytical review.  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 financial management policies, practices and systems that are compliant with local laws and US as well as adhering to 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, Regional staff as well as conforming to IRCs financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.

Based in Amman supporting hub locations across Syria and Turkiye, the Deputy Director Finance will have dual reporting to the Country Director and the MENA Regional Finance Director.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Analysis

•  Provides financial information which supports the Country Director and SMT 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
•  Contributes and provides feedback to the development of Country Programs 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 Finance Director prior to submission in line with IRC policy and standard procedures
•  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

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

Integra ERP implementation support

•  As required and assigned, support the country program in the roll-out and implementation of Integra, including effectively leading pre-deployment activities to ensure a seamless transition of systems.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

•  Establishes a finance department roles and responsibilities matrix; staff job descriptions are current; recruits and maintains qualified staff to perform finance functions
•  Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies
•  Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths the teams in Syria.
•  Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed annually; career planning and development plans are in place for all finance staff
•  Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
•  Oversees finance training and technical support to non-finance staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control
•  Ensure that all finance staff understand and apply IRC’s partnership principles, and that finance staff with significant partnership responsibilities are guided by IRC’s partnership skills and approaches.
•  Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
•  Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
•  Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
•  Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
•  As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
•  Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
•  Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
•  Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.