Director, Finance and Administration

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 190 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. The IFRC is a membership organisation established by and comprised of its member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Along with National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” It works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The IFRC is headquartered in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The IFRC is led by a Secretary General. The Geneva headquarters provides support to governance mechanisms; setts norms and standards; provides guidance to field offices; ensures consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; facilitates knowledge sharing; promotes collaboration within and respect for the Movement; and expands engagement with partners. The headquarters is organized in three main divisions: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management. The Management Division comprises three departments: Human Resources, Information Technology, and Finance and Administration. Each is led by a Director. The Finance and Administration Department currently includes eight teams, with technical line management to teams in five regional offices. The Director serves as a member of the Management Division’s management team, and is a member of the global management team.

Job Purpose

Under the leadership of the Under Secretary General Management, the Director provides leadership, coherence, management and direction ensuring cost effective, high quality and critical corporate finance and administrative functions.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Director, Finance and Administration is accountable for translating the Plan and Budget priorities into strategic multi-year plans for his/her areas of responsibility, and for leading their implementation.

First Priority area: ensuring a strong IFRC that is effective, credible and accountable:

1. Under the overall lead of the Under Secretary General, Management, ensure that the financial planning and budgeting process is aligned to deliver and demonstrate value for money in achieving the IFRC’s business plan, and that financial processes and control procedures, including financial analysis, treasury and assets management, are streamlined, robust, and effective in delivering the agreed activities of the business units.

This includes:

• Monitoring and overseeing the IFRC’s administration & financial and accounting operations within headquarters and in regional and field offices to ensure consistent standards are applied throughout the organization, especially through internal control systems and transaction processing;
• Maintaining, updating and developing internal control mechanisms and written procedures that are designed to mitigate risks at every level of finance and administration management
• Leading the Finance and Administration department to develop and disseminate global policies, standards and procedures for an effective and efficient risk minimizing working environment.
• Reporting accurate financial results, maintaining a documented system of administrative, financial and accounting policies and procedures for the IFRC;
• Acting as substance lead for administrative and finance matters within the organization including issuance and quality control of financial information inclusive of timely, accurate and complete financial statements; preparing financial analyses as requested by management;
• Lead development of budget reporting based on result-based plan and budget and continuously provide budget variance analysis referring cases of “red flags” to respective USG and Regional Directors.
• Managing investments and treasury activities, and securing development of and 100 per cent compliance with, policies and procedures that impose an adequate level of control over treasury activities;
• Manage and supervise the global portfolio of insurances and manage relationship/s with broker/s
• Supervise the daily management of Headquarters buildings – interim office and building of new office
• Continuously monitor and mitigate financial risks related to foreign exchange positions; and maintain banking relationships.
• Refer cases of non-compliance and accountability failures to the USGM and Office of Internal Audit and Investigation (OIAI) in a timely manner;
• Ensure follow-up of the implementation of finance/administration related audit findings and recommendations; and
• Ensure robust and accurate financial systems (including CODA, APPLE, Business Objects, etc.) in coordination with the Information Technology department, including monitoring of access security procedures.
• Promote and facilitate staff mobility as a risk minimization measure for key financial positions and to support long-term career development for IFRC staff.
• Supervise the provision and maintenance of cost-effective office services that enhance productivity including premises, equipment and supplies, transportation, accommodation, translation, archiving, health and safety, security, visitor handling, administration of all insurances, and other ancillary services. This should include maintaining a documented system of administrative policies and procedures for the IFRC, and monitoring and oversight of administrative operations of field offices to ensure minimum and consistent standards are applied throughout the organization.
• Lead the adjustment process of the Finance and Administration teams reflecting the IFRC Plan and Budget 2016-2020 priorities and directions, under the overall responsibility of the USG Management.
• Act as secretary to the Finance Commission with the USGM representing the Senior Management.
• Lead the administrative organization of statutory meetings: The General Assembly, the Council of delegates, the International Conference, the Governing Board and the Advisory Bodies.
• Cooperate closely with Movement partners (ICRC and National Societies) and external parties, with a view to capitalizing on economies of scale, expertise and joint areas of cooperation.

Second priority area: provide direct and indirect support to strengthen National Society capacities in finance and administration.

1. In collaboration with the Organizational Development team and relevant regional offices support National Societies to become more accountable and sustainable organizations to ensure National Societies have the necessary legal, ethical and financial foundation, system and structures to plan and perform by promoting a culture of accountability and transparency and through the provision of support within the expertise of Finance & Administration.

Third priority area: supervise of delivery of high quality and timely finance and administrative support to the Programmes and Operations Division, the Partnership Division and Regional Offices.

1. Provide strategic Financial guidance, services and exercise due diligence within management areas in support of the USG Programmes and Operations, the USG Partnerships and Regional Directors.
2. Support the work of the Programmes and Operations division, the Partnership division and Regional Offices in a spirit of effective and efficient use of resources, ensuring necessary synergies and complementarities between and among divisions and regions.

Applicable to all staff:

1. Respect for Diversity - Treat all individuals and groups fairly and shows respect for all persons equally, without any distinction on the basis of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, political opinions, or any other grounds.
2. Integrity - Work in accordance with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Fundamental Principles and Values in a transparent and accountable manner.
3. Professionalism – Show pride in work and in achievements, demonstrates knowledge, professional competence, and technical mastery of relevant subjects. Display self-control, perseverance and resilience in the face of pressure or adversity. Promote, by personal example a culture of matrix cooperation across the organization.
4. Accountability - Honour commitments, and take responsibility for delivering high quality outcomes. Comply with IFRC policies and procedures among others the performance review process and financial management.

Education

Recognized professional qualification in accounting (Chartered accountant, CPA or equivalent).

Master in Business Administration or equivalent.

Experience

Required:

At least 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Minimum 6 years of experience in senior Finance and Administration management position.

Experience in preparation of financial statements under IFRS or equivalent.

Experience in treasury management.

Experience working in a multicultural environment.

Preferred:

Experience working with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Knowledge, skills and languages

All required:

Service minded, ability to lead, delegate and manage from distance.

Knowledge of complex financial systems and software including multi-currency management.

Results oriented and demand driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in transitional, unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.

Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to lead within a matrix management structure and utilise talent and experience of team members in a productive way.

Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.

Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation.

Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality, acting as a model of highest integrity in personal capacity and at team level.

High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels.

Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.

Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred:

Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian).

Competencies and values

Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability
Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision
Making, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativitiy & Innovation, Building Trust
Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development
Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others

Comments

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please apply on the organisation's website: http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-...