Finance Lead

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

SCOPE OF WORK

The IRC is seeking a Finance Lead for an upcoming FCDO Strengthening Humanitarian Assistance and Response to Protection Risks in Ukraine Project (SHARP). This project aims strengthen the protection response for the most at risk such as survivors of violence, children, persons with disabilities, minority groups and older persons; strengthen legal protection including facilitating access to legal identity and civil documentation; enhance mental health and psychosocial services and improve the legal and policy environment for conflict affected individuals.

The Finance Lead will provide leadership and direction on the financial aspects of the project, working closely with the IRC grant, supply chain and administration teams and consortium partners’ finance focal points. The Finance Lead is responsible for ensuring compliance with FCDO and IRC requirements across all financial functions of the project. To ensure that the program management system is sufficiently robust to support the technical team in achieving program objectives, the Finance Lead will ensure the program complies with FCDO financial rules and regulations and the host country’s labor, tax, and other relevant laws. S/he will contribute to developing the project’s strategic and operational plans and will be responsible for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the agreed financial targets. S/he will have line management responsibilities to finance support staff and directly report to the Team Lead as part of the project Senior Management Team.

Please note that recruitment is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the selection of final applicants is subject to FCDO’s approval.

Responsibilities

• Establishes the project’s finance management and risk management policies, systems and procedures, and leads their development, documentation, and implementation.
• Works in collaboration with the program team to develop and agree on the fund operating procedures and standards of financial management within the overall framework of SHARP financial systems and procedures.
• Ensures consortium partners and other relevant stakeholders meet the procurement provisions of the FCDO’s rules and follow best practices, both externally and internally.
• Manages project finance activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by the SHARP technical integrated protection and emergency support team and FCDO.
• Prepares quarterly accrual reports, expenditure reporting, and burn rate projections.
• Provides project management and program staff with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and project fund analysis and facilitates review and discussion.
• Directs the preparation and approval of all FCDO financial reports regarding accounting, legal, and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Team Lead and relevant HQ teams prior to submission.
• Enforces internal control policies and procedures and identifies potential risks and develops mitigation strategies to ensure project success.
• Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to financial matters and ensures compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements.
• Manages the allocation of resources, including personnel, materials, and equipment, to optimize project performance.
• Develops, updates and implements project wide administrative systems to corporate and project standards, that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the SHARP project.
• Ensures the application of appropriate risks management measures.
• Ensures timely and effective program support services to facilitate efficient and effective program delivery.
• Possesses strong knowledge of Ukrainian local tax law and working with relevant governmental departments for reporting while ensuring IRC and donor compliance requirements are met.
• Work with country office finance team on project related finance functions and facilitate and engage in the audit requirements.
• Ensure project spending forecast/pipeline analysis will be developed as required.
  
  

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA, or a Master’s degree in Accounting.
• A minimum of 10 years in a similar financial, compliance, or operational role supporting FCDO -funded projects and other international donor projects in similar contexts.
• Experience of designing, implementing and managing financial and procurement management systems and controls.
• Experience with budgeting and financial reporting requirements on multi-million pound (GBP), multi-year, FCDO grants.
• Experience with financial management and reporting on projects with substantial sub-awards.
• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices, financial reporting standards, financial management processes and procedures.
• Extensive experience in working with ERP system, PBI or computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheets and database programs.
• Must have a proven track record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment.
• Experience in management of staff performance gaps and provision of additional training or managing a performance improvement plan.
• Knowledge and experience with Ukraine’s labor, tax, and other relevant laws.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and English required.
  
  

Please note that the job description is high level and indicative only at this stage and may be subject to change once the Terms of Reference for the SHARP project are released and as the opportunity develops. This position will be contingent on the outcome of the stage-1 process.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.