Finance Director

POSITION TITLE:  Finance Director
COUNTRY PROGRAM: Sudan
RESPONSIBLE TO:  Country Director
STATUS:  Full Time
SUPERVISORY CAPACITY:  Finance Team
DATE: May 2015

DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION

The American Refugee Committee (ARC) Sudan Program started in 2004 in response to the emergency needs of some 500,000 conflict-affected IDPs and host populations in the Tulus and Gereida corridors in South Darfur. ARC currently works in El Salam, Tullus, Gereida, Bielel and Dismu Districts in South Darfur State including two large IDP camps (Kalma and Gereida Camps).  Although South Darfur remains the largest component of our country program, in 2014, ARC expanded its program in East Darfur State to include Adilla, Yassin, and Abu Karynka, Asalaya and El Ferdous localities, including El Neem IDP camp.  ARC works mainly in the sectors of Health, Nutrition, WASH with smaller project in emergency NFI distribution to IDPs, as well as more recovery programs in Peace Building and Food Security and Livelihoods.  The overall aim of the program continues to be:  to improve the well-being of the target populations by addressing their immediate humanitarian needs and contributing to long-term community stabilization.

Major donors include USAID (OFDA), CHF (pooled humanitarian funds), UN funding from UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, WFP and private funding.  ARC Sudan’s program has an annual budget of between $US 9-12million, with 12 expatriates and over 700+ national staff, some of whom are seconded from the line Ministries of the Sudan government.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Provide overall leadership, oversight and management support for all aspects of financial management in the Country Office (CO). This position is seen as a strategic partner, member of the Senior Management/Leadership Team of the CO, with a focus on ensuring accountability, stewardship, coordinating planning and budgeting processes, providing accurate financial data, analysis and advices, as well as developing financial strategy that best serves the CO strategic and program objectives. Responsible for the finance staff capacity strengthening, the development and implementation of good internal controls, risk management, and utilization and safe guarding of assets according to ARC approved policies and procedures.  This position is based in the capital Khartoum but requires periodic supervisory visits to the field offices in South and East Darfur.

MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES 

Leadership, Capacity Development and Strategic Partnering – 20%

• Provide strong and positive leadership to the finance department ensuring competent and motivated staff are hired and retained, providing efficient delivery of services.
• Serve as second ‘in charge’, under direction of Country Director.
• Ensure interdepartmental collaboration and contribution to cross cutting financial management issues and processes.
• Provide leadership in maintaining a culture of quality as regards the service ARC provides donors, government and beneficiaries – with an aim of continued program growth.
• Coordinate professional and personal development of finance staff through adequate orientation, on-the-job coaching, performance management, and identification of learning, training needs and opportunities (e.g. in accounting, grant management, risk management, leadership, etc.); and succession planning.
• Actively participate in the CO Senior Management/ Leadership team meetings.
• Attend and actively participate in strategic regional meetings.
• Facilitate Country Director (CD), Operations, Programs and other non-finance staff in understanding and interpretation of financial statements.
• Ensure finance policies and procedures are understood by Senior Management, Operations/Technical staff, Communities, and Local Partners, as appropriate.
• Develop strong networks internally (other Country Programs and HQ) and externally (other NGOs, banking entities, communities, etc.) through effective communication, relationships and twin citizenship.
• Promote shared resource networks within ARC.
• Adhere to ARC key policy documents – mission and core values.

Stewardship – 20%

• Ensure adequate cost efficiency and effectiveness measures are in place and are being followed through:
• Providing cost analysis, promoting benchmarks and making recommendations for determining effective resource utilization at all levels.
• Contributing to the development of appropriate policies and procedures for procurement of goods and services, in collaboration with the Operations team.
• Providing cost analysis, promoting benchmarks and making recommendations for determining effective resource utilization at all levels.

Financial Planning and Budgeting – 10%

• In collaboration with Program Development (PD) staff, advise the CD on strategic resource acquisition and allocation in line with the recommendations approved by the Regional Manager and the IP Director.
• Ensure effective management of Country Program core costs projections and coverage.
• Provide coordination and technical leadership in financial planning and budgeting processes, in accordance with global guidelines.
• Review alignment of budgets between Country Program, projects, and grants.
• Control of CO budget, cash flow and project funding, by providing timely and relevant information to budget managers, in collaboration with the CD.
• Contribute to the development of ARC Country Program strategic direction and priorities.

Fiscal Accounting, Compliance, Monitoring and Reporting – 30%

• Design and manage systems, policies and procedures that provide appropriate levels of security and control of ARC assets, resources and operations.
• Coordinate the submission of timely, accurate and complete relevant reporting to HQ and to internal users.
• Define and implement efficient and effective internal control systems.
• Adhere to ARC policies, procedures and guidelines as stipulated in the ARC Financial Manual and other documents, including – but not limited to: grant compliance, planning & budgeting, year-end closing, carry forward, accounting and reporting.
• Coordinate the timely and accurate entry of financial transactions and submission of financial reports in Serenic database.
• Review the reconciliation of Serenic to FFR monthly with action plan for addressing outstanding items.
• Provide regular analysis of Grant financial reports and timely feedback Grant Managers, SPM, CHD, CPM and CD for decision making.
• Ensure CO Finance staff visit Programs/Projects to monitor accountability issues, follow up on implementation of audit findings and provide support as needed.
• Work with in-country donors on responding to questions or providing information on finance related matters.  

Financial Risk Management and Controls – 20%

• Manage appropriate financial systems and controls and ensure they are in place to avoid significant finance audit risk ratings, both at the Country Program and project levels.
• Coordinate management responses to finance audits performed to the Country Program and projects; ensure that finance related audit recommendations are implemented timely at all levels.
• Coordinate adequate preparation for internal and external audits.
• Manage Financial Risk.

Implement anti-corruption and fraud strategies.                                                          

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Minimum 7-10 years experience in finance management positions with medium business/medium NGO/government agency. Prior experience working with INGOs is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration, or a related field.
• MBA in Finance, MSC in Finance/Accounting/Auditing preferred.
• ACCA, CIMA, CPA or equivalent preferred.
• Solid practical experience in applying accounting principles, financial systems, budget/cash flow monitoring and internal accounting controls.
• Ability to lead and manage a diverse team in a challenging programmatic context.

KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES

• Ability to solve complex problems and to exercise independent judgment.
• Good working knowledge of computerized accounting systems preferable Serenic.
• Must be computer literate in Microsoft Office programs.
• Knowledge of government grant regulations and financial reporting requirements. Experience with USAID(OFDA), UN agencies and private donors a plus.
• Knowledge of local accounting system.
• Written and spoken English is essential. Knowledge of Arabic a plus.
• Strong oral/written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Able to work on a cross-cultural environment with a multi-national staff.
• Ability/willingness to travel within country and internationally.
• Experience of treasury activities establishment and monitoring of budgets and an understanding of data processing concepts and systems.
• Experience with humanitarian aid in-country or similar context.

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