Emergency Response Roster - Finance Director

Children’s lives can change in an instant in the wake of war, disasters and humanitarian emergencies. We see how vulnerable they are and how much they need our protection. Joining our Emergency Response Roster means you can be a part of our response, providing immediate support when disaster strikes. Applying to our roster is not for immediate employment. Acceptance to our Emergency Response Roster pre-qualifies you to work or deploy with us in future responses.

Job Purpose

As a Finance Director in a response, you will provide overall leadership, oversight and management support for all aspects of financial management in the Office. This position is part of the Senior Leadership Team of the Response with a focus on ensuring accountability, compliance and stewardship, coordinating financial planning and developing financial strategy that best serves the response strategic and program objectives. Responsible for the finance staff and partner capacity strengthening, development and implementation of good internal controls, compliance at all levels, and utilization and safeguarding of assets according to WV approved policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership, Capacity Development and Strategic Partnering: Provide strong and positive leadership to the finance department ensuring competent and motivated staff are hired and retained, providing efficient delivery of services. Coordinate professional and personal development of finance staff through adequate orientation, on-the-job coaching, identification of learning, training needs and opportunities (e.g., in accounting, SunSystems, grant management, risk management, leadership, etc.); and succession planning. Model Christ-centred servant leadership and support spiritual development of his/her team. Actively participate in the Senior Leadership team meetings. Attend and actively participate in strategic regional meetings. Facilitate Response Director, Operations and other non-finance staff in understanding and interpretation of financial statements. Ensure partnership finance policies and procedures are understood by Senior Management, Operations/Technical staff, Communities, Local Partners as appropriate. Develop strong networks internally (other NOs, SOs and GC entities) and externally (other NGOs, banking entities, communities, etc.) through effective communication, relationships and twin citizenship. Act as support services lead where/when required. Promote shared resource networks within the region, and the partnership. Adhere to WVI key policy documents – mission, core values, and covenant of partnership.
• Stewardship: 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. Exploring the most economic ways of addressing the response needs without compromising the ministry’s quality.
• Financial Planning and Budgeting: Advise the Response Director on strategic resource acquisition and allocation in line with recommendations approved by the Regional Leader. Lead the planning and budgeting process and provide technical support, to ensure global and regional guidelines are met. Review and follow up alignment of budgets between Response Office, projects, grants, MyPBAS and Support Offices. Ensure control of Response budget, cash flow and project funding, by providing timely information & advice to budget managers. Contribute to the development of Response strategic direction and priorities.
• Fiscal accounting, compliance, monitoring and reporting: Ensure adequate financial systems are established and maintained in order to provide appropriate levels of security and controls over the organization's resources and operations. Ensure compliance with the policies and standards in the WV Field Financial Manual. Coordinate the submission of timely, accurate and complete relevant reporting to the Partnership and to internal & external users. Define and implement efficient and effective internal control systems. Adhere to partnership policies, procedures and guidelines as stipulated in the WVI Financial Manual and other documents, including – but not limited to: grant compliance, year-end closing, carry forward, accounting and reporting. Provide regular financial analysis to the SLT to support decision making. Ensure field and partners monitoring as required.
• Financial Risk Management and Controls: Establish and manage appropriate financial systems and controls to reduce financial risks and avoid significant finance audit risk ratings at all response levels. Coordinate management responses to finance audits performed to the response projects; ensure they are sent on time to the Audit Department; and that finance related audit recommendations are implemented timely at all levels. Coordinate adequate preparation for GC and external audits. Perform site project financial checks. Take appropriate action to address audit findings and recommendations. Manage Financial Risk. Implement anti-corruption and fraud strategies.

Knowledge, Skill and Experience

Required Education, training, license, registration, and/or Certification: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance or Business Administration, or a related field.

Required Professional Experience: Minimum 7 years’ experience in senior finance position with medium business/medium NGO/government agency. Minimum 5 years’ experience in finance management position.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge and/or other Qualifications: MBA in Finance, MSC in Finance/Accounting/Auditing is preferred. ACCA, CIMA or CPA preferred. Experience of treasury activities, establishment and monitoring of budgets and an understanding of data processing concepts and systems is preferred. Experience with humanitarian aid in-country is a plus. Solid knowledge of accounting principles, financial systems, budget/cash flow monitoring and internal accounting controls. Ability to solve complex problems and to exercise independent judgment. Ability to lead and manage a team. Good working knowledge of computerized accounting systems must be computer literate in Microsoft Office programs. Knowledge of government grant regulations and financial reporting requirements preferred. Good oral/written and interpersonal skills. Ability to work on a cross-cultural environment with a multi-national staff. A full commitment to World Vision’s core values and mission statement. Full adherence to World Vision’s Child Protection, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies. Full adherence to security protocols.

Required travel and/or work environment accommodations: Ability to travel to/within domestically and internationally as required. Work hours are often in excess of 12 hours per day during difficult periods of the response. Responses are often mounted in insecure or natural disaster-prone contexts, which may disrupt normal work patterns and generate staff safety issues. Work and housing environments may at times be well below normal standards in terms of facilities, equipment, food availability and hygiene.

Required Language(s): Effective written and verbal communication in English. Other UN languages such as French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, preferred.