We are looking for a highly qualified Head of Finance and Administration with overall responsibility for supervision, management and quality implementation of all aspects of DRC financial and administrative operations in DR Congo.
The HOFA will be part of the senior management team and is expected to contribute to the future strategic development and professional dynamics of DRC in DR Congo.
The position as Head of Finance and Administration in DRC is a cornerstone in keeping up the high quality in DRC’s operations.
Who are we?
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an International Non-Governmental Organization that promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. With the vision that no displaced person must be in want of help to find protection and durable solutions, DRC provides assistance and protection to conflict-affected people in many of the major conflicts in Asia, Africa and Middle East. Assistance may consist of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and support to returning home, and the promotion of durable solutions.
DRC has operated in DR Congo since 2009. The overall strategic objectives of the programs are the saving of lives and to support, protect and promote durable solutions for conflict-affected populations. The country office is located in Goma. There is one sub-base in Beni (Northern North-Kivu).
DRC’s presence in North Kivu is based on the on-going humanitarian crisis in the area, the population’s urgent need for safety and stability and DRC’s ability to address some of the most pressing needs in a relevant way. DRC is also undertaking advocacy to bring attention to the crisis in North Kivu on a provincial, national and international level. Donors include the European Community, ECHO, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, as well as own funding.
Presently, the operation employs three expatriates (Country Director, Head of Finance, and a Programme Coordinator in Beni) and 25 national staff. They are supported by a Support Unit at DRC Headquarters in Copenhagen.
In 2013 and 2014, DRC expanded its activities to the Beni region where DRC supports children affected by conflict. Currently, DRC is implementing a 24 months project with the support of the European Community. This project aims at reinforcing the capacities of key stakeholders in terms of Child Protection and providing direct assistance to 1,500 children in 10 targeted communities. Due to recent killings which have occurred in Beni since October 2014, DRC has increased its activities in Child protection, notably for children directly affected by these mass killings and association with armed groups. The new programme has started in August 2015 for a duration of 12 months.
Responsibilities
You will be directly responsible for ensuring that DRC Programmes operate in accordance with DRC’s operational standards as expressed in the DRC Operations Handbook and other guidelines in the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system
The HoFA plays a significant part in qualifying and implementing initiatives coming from the global DRC organisational development initiative.
Internal relations
You will report to the Country Director but with daily coordination with the Programme Coordination in Beni. You will oversee the finance and administration staff located in Beni and will provide oversight to finance and administration for DRC’s office in Goma and will collaborate with the the HR manager for all administration related issues.
The HoFA is to ensure timely communication with Project Managers concerning all issues related to finance, administration operations and HR.
You will receive technical support from the Finance Department in DRC’s Headquarters in Copenhagen.
Duties and responsibilities:
Finance:
You will ensure that a financial and administrative related Management Information System which is accurate and timely exists is maintained. This includes an overall planning, budget and control of expenditures for shared operational costs, but also coordination of budgeting and expenditure related to programme implementation:
- Update and Share monthly the Budget follow-up and the allocation table
- Follow up the accounting and make sure the data are correctly integrated in the HQ software and that all supporting documents are correctly archived
- Supervise the relation with National Partners and check their financial report and the supporting documents
You will supervise, audit, control and implement corrective actions related to the DRC standards for operations. This includes supervision of all financial reporting and financial procedures, including the monthly schedule for financial reporting to HQ, donor reporting and audits, cash flow and liquidity management:
You will lead systems development and roll out of systems already developed in close cooperation and coordination with DRC’s headquarters. This includes tools for monitoring shared expenditures, donor co-funding and decentralised book keeping and grants management systems.
Human resources and administration:
You will check the monthly payroll prepared by your assistant before the editing of the pay slip
You will supervise legal framework and reporting relations to national authorities
You will ensure that all administrative and legal related systems are accurate and maintained. This includes ensuring that local human resources related procedures are in line with the local labour law, ensuring that the expatriates are well declared and registered at the immigration office, assisting in keeping the organization’s registration in country up to date with the local government
Others
You will ensure direct supervision and management of staff in the relevant areas of responsibility.
You will work in close coordination with the logistics / procurement team and provide relevant technical support to the latter.
You will work to build the capacity of finance and admin staff in the mission
You will be the focal point of the complaint mechanism and the code of conduct
During the assignment, it is expected that:
You will reinforce and sustain an overall plan for further capacity building needs of the Finance and Admin team. You will prepare a training plan for the logistic and program teams with the participation of their Managers.
You will strengthen, supervise and guide the Operations Department and set procedures, routines and standards for the office in Beni as well as other offices.
This includes the increase of quality in the paperwork and also a better reactivity from the support departments.
You will realize training and training needs assessments as part of improving compliance with DRC standards. This includes training on the Operations Handbook; on-the-job training, instructions and relevant follow up measures, as well as the design and conduct of more topic-bound training sessions.
You will deal with complex administrative agencies. The Congolese administrations are very creative and do not hesitate to harass the INGO. The good communication with the other administrators will have to be maintained and enhance.
About you
To be successful in this role you must have:
To be successful in this role you must have:
- An International NGO experience from similar positions, a minimum of 3 years of work experience at senior-management level with an international NGO,
- An Extensive practical experience working with all financial tools, Highly proficient with Excel such as using pivot table, developing macros, etc. Also
- Ability to motivate and guide staff working in a complex conflict environment, preferably experience from an African context. Previous experience from DR Congo is an advantage.
- Substantial experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies and networking and negotiating with authorities
- An excellent interpersonal skills (Good analytical, negotiation, advocacy and communication skills) and demonstrated ability to establish effective team and external relations
- An experience with capacity building of national staff.
- Ability to work under pressure in a rapidly changing and sometimes insecure environment
- Excellent French language skills both written and spoken are essential, fluent English language skills both written and spoken are essential, Swahili is a plus
- Experience with donors such as EU,UN, ECHO, SDC
Conditions
Availability: 15th October 2015
Duty station: Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo - Non Family Duty Station
Contract: Until 31 July 2016 (may be extended depending on funding availability).
Please note that this is a non-family duty station. DRC’s policy for rest and recuperation for international staff applies. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level A7.
Need further information?
You are welcome to contact DRC’s Coordinator for DR Congo at HQ, Anna Catherine de Laine, by email:anna.de.laine@drc.dk, or the Country Director Mervyn Joullie, cdm.rdc@drc.dk, for additional information about the position.
Please note that applications are not to be sent to Ms De Laine or M. Joullie.
Commitments
DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button or go to www.drc.dk and find Current Vacancies.
All applicants should send a cover letter and an updated CV no longer than four pages, both in the same language as the vacancy note. Your CV should also include contact details of three professional referees.
Applications close 24th of September 2015, with interviews expected to take place the following week
