Finance Manager

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified individual to fill-in the vacancy of Finance Manager to work in Damascus under employment contract

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

About the job

Manage finance staff, ensure compliance with DRC and donors’ rules and requirements, represents DRC with external actors, donors, and partners

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to country operations while overseeing country activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

People Management

• Lead and manage the finance team (including people planning, performance, well-being and development)

• Support the development and implementation of financial management capacity building of staff

Financial Management

• In close cooperation with Managers in geographical area reinforce existing procedures and systems for financial management and control in compliance with guidelines of DRC’s Operations Handbook, internal guidelines and donor requirements

• Support timely delivery of quality financial reports to donors and internal reports to colleagues and HQ

• Ensure compliance with relevant country statutory and other financial obligations such as tax, levies and statutory returns

• Monthly financial briefings and reviews to relevant Manager

• Ensure thorough and effective budgetary control in the country programs

• Liaise with relevant Managers on key financial issues for all programs in the country, including co-funding, financial reporting, key variances and any remedial action

• Collecting cash forecasts from all Programme Managers and requesting funds in a timely manner

• Maintain a continuous overview of funding levels and pay particular attention to shared support costs, including staff salaries

• Ensure all required documentation for financial audits in cooperation with Coordination staff and HQ

• Ensure monthly meetings are held with project managers to discuss key variances, reasons for these, and any remedial action that is required

• Prepare for local audits

• Contribute to the development of proposals with regards to budgeting in cooperation with Managers

DRC Dynamics ERP system

• Ensure DRC Dynamics is used to its full capacity

• Ensure proper application of ERP finance processes in the country

• Apply reports and data analytics from ERP system to improve performance in the country

• Ensure that Country ERP support is in place (i.e. super users)

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility

• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.

• Accountable for people management of direct reports. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.

• Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC

External relations:

• Liaise with donors and partners on financial matters

• Ensure, with the Grants department, permanent and constructive communication with donors and partners

• Ensure the due diligence of partners and support the reinforcement of their capacities

• Represent DRC in meeting and other forums with partners, external actors and donors

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting or Business Administration
• Minimum three years' experience in a senior financial management position
• Minimum three years' experience with people management
• Working experience with relevant donors (e.g. UNHCR, ECHO, OFDA, DFID and/or BPRM guidelines)
• Proven experience in managing large budgets
• Proven leadership skills and a competence in people management
• Proven capacity to deal with a significant workload, under pressure and as a good team player
• Competence in providing technical guidance and training
• Advanced proficiency in Excel as well as experience working in a financial IT system, preferably Microsoft Dynamics
• Excellent command of both spoken & written English language.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in relevant field

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with our vision and values. 

We offer

Contract Length:  up to six months contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff.

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position, go to

https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=157102&DepartmentId=19001&MediaId=5

And click on "Apply for position".

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: the 22^nd of September 2019.