Introduction
The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and displaced people around the world: we provide emergency aid to these people, we fight for their rights and we strengthen their opportunities for a better future. We work in areas affected by conflict, as well as along displacement routes, and within the countries in which refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive to achieve responsible and sustainable solutions. We work for the successful integration of vulnerable communities and, where possible, the realization of their wish to return home.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown into an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 employees and 8,000 volunteers. Headquartered in Copenhagen, and present in 40 countries, the DRC is a non-governmental, non-profit, politically neutral and independent, non-denominational aid organization.
Our vision is a life with dignity for all displaced people around the world. All our efforts are based on our moral compass: humanity, respect, independence, neutrality, participation, honesty and transparency.
1 – Context
Present since 2006, DRC is one of the largest international NGOs in the Central African Republic, working in two regions (Ouham, Ouham-Pendé) with 3 bases (Paoua, Batangafo and Bocaranga) in addition to an office in the capital (Bangui) with a portfolio of projects covering different sectors. The program strategy is focused around the following three sectors: protection, economic recovery and livelihoods, and emergency response to immediate needs linked to population movements.
2 – Position objective
The Finance Manager whose role is focused on the country will be part of the DRC support team in the Central African Republic. He/She will work under the direction and supervision of the Head of Support Services as well as under the technical supervision of the Regional Finance Manager.
He/She will be responsible for the following missions:
- Ensure the general management of the finance department in the country and the existence of an effective and efficient Finance department;
- Implement and improve operational systems, processes and policies in accordance with DRC operational standards and procedures;
- Ensure compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines in the country in financial terms;
- Provide technical support and/or advice to base operations.
3 – Responsibilities
The main expectations for this position are as follows:
- Achieve DRC strategic goals and objectives within area of responsibility
- In consultation with the Head of Support Services and the Regional Finance Manager, it will be appropriate to participate:
- important decisions aimed at the smooth running of the department: its reason for being, its functions and its role;
- making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources;
- making sound decisions based on policies, standards and advice from DRC technical experts
- Manage and support all employees placed under his supervision, generally at least three employees. This includes:
- performance evaluation;
- strengthening staff capacities;
- daily performance management with support measures if necessary, etc.
The non-exhaustive responsibilities for this position are as follows:
1) Finance
- Ensure that financial regulations, procedures and documentation requirements are followed in operations in CAR;
- Provide overall financial planning and support to other managers, advise on spending and financial spending strategies, and regularly provide accurate financial outlooks to programs;
- Contribute to the development of the budget and provide guidance on overall financial management support to budget holders;
- Review financial and administrative reporting for accuracy and timeliness to external parties and central administration;
- Ensure compliance of mission procedures with DRC policies and donor contracts regarding financial aspects. This includes financial reports for DRC and its partners, financial reports to donors, cash and cash management, balance sheet reconciliations and monitoring of financial reports to the Central African authorities;
- Ensure that budget holders are supported in the preparation of accurate, complete and timely budgets, and coordinate with HQ for their validation and finalization;
- Support operational teams by providing them with budget monitoring and controlling budget monitoring for the mission support budget;
- Support the Head of Support Services in updating the Master Budget
- Supervise internal and external audits and control the implementation of corrective measures linked to DRC standards for support services.
- Ensure transparent and efficient interaction with banks and other financial institutions;
- Monitor and regulate the movement of cash, liquidity, bank operations and transfers, and relevant personnel;
- Ensure that all agreements, permits and licenses necessary for DRC operations (including VAT exemption) are in place and maintained in accordance with local rules and regulations;
- Ensure the honest, timely and quality delivery of administrative and financial operations and services at all levels of the organizational hierarchy, through strong internal controls and reporting, strong coordination between projects and staff and internal audits;
- Ensure proper digital and “hard” archiving of accounting documents.
2) Team management/Representation
- Train and develop financial staff with a view to nationalizing the position of finance manager in 2024;
- Organize the work of the Finance team under his responsibility in an efficient manner;
- Ensure that all department personnel know and comply with all DRC policies and procedures as well as safety regulations;
- Ensure that work within the Finance team is planned and organized to meet the needs of DRC in the most efficient manner possible.
3) Planning and Reporting
- Ensure periodic meetings to plan and review the activities of your department;
- Develop a weekly activity schedule for your department and adapt it according to changing priorities in conjunction with the Country Director;
- Write all weekly and/or monthly reports requested by the Head of Support Services;
- List the difficulties encountered in the field and propose solutions for their resolution;
- Be in contact with other base technical departments in the search for a better response and better use of available resources.
4) DRC Dynamics ERP System
- Ensure that DRC Dynamics is used to its full capacity;
- Ensure the proper application of ERP financial processes in the country;
- Apply ERP system reporting and data analysis to improve performance in the country;
- Ensure country ERP support is in place (i.e. super users).
5) Coordination and Representation
- Network with other INGOs on financial and administrative topics and ensure proactive communication with all relevant stakeholders;
- Ensure timely communication with Management, Regional Office and Headquarters, project managers and sector heads regarding all finance related matters;
- Share and coordinate, in accordance with the directives given by the Head of Support Services, information relating to finances with managers and other employees concerned, and attend any internal coordination meeting.
- Represent the organization before internal bodies, upon request and/or upon delegation.
6) Ethics and compliance
- Manage the resources (material and financial) made available for the department’s activities and provide supporting documents on time;
- Comply with and respect all procedures (administrative, HR, financial and logistical) in force and current conditions as stipulated in the DRC Code of Conduct and the internal regulations governing DRC personnel;
- Respect and enforce the procedures in force at DRC as well as the requirements of lessors;
- Conduct regular field visits to evaluate the systems and controls in place and identify necessary improvements.
4 – Qualifications required
- Academic level equivalent to a university Master’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, or any other similar discipline in a relevant field in relation to the sectors concerned;
- Minimum five (5) years of experience in a relevant area of financial and operational management, including demonstrated ability to implement operational management systems in a large program;
- Excellent knowledge of the preparation of reports from major international donors and the rules applicable to major donors;
- Training in team management and/or 1 year of experience in team management
- Proven and significant people management skills in a difficult and remote context;
- Strong accounting and analytical skills;
- Experience working with a financial IT system;
- Excellent level in French (read, spoken, written);
- Very good command of professional English.
5 – Skills and qualities required
- In this position, you must demonstrate the five essential qualities of the DRC, namely:
- Strive for excellence: you focus on achieving results while ensuring an efficient process. You strive to produce accurate, thorough and professional work with optimal use of time and effort;
- Collaborate: You cooperate with and involve relevant parties, actively seeking their opinions and sharing key information with them. You support and trust others, while encouraging feedback;
- Take the reins: You take responsibility and prioritize your work based on DRC’s overall vision and goals. You take the initiative when faced with a challenge or opportunity and you seek innovative solutions;
- Communicate: You write and speak effectively and honestly while adapting your style and tone to the situation. You actively listen to others and involve them in dialogue;
- Demonstrate integrity: You respect and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and code of conduct, including protection against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment .
- Ability to work in a multicultural and cosmopolitan environment;
- Proactivity, with a cooperative and collaborative approach;
- Excellent communication skills (including attentiveness and patience) are required;
- Good organizational skills are required;
- Exemplary sense of ethics;
- Ability to work in a team and good sense of humor.
6 – General regulations
- The Employee must comply with DRC requirements regarding security, confidentiality and ethics, including compliance with the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework;
- The Employee must not be engaged in another job during his employment contract with DRC without requesting prior authorization from his manager;
- The Employee must not engage in any activity that does not harm DRC or the implementation of its projects during his employment contract with DRC;
- The Employee must not give interviews to the media or share content related to projects without prior authorization;
- The Employee must return any DRC equipment or property to DRC at the end of his contract.
7 – Salary & contractual conditions
- Job title: Finance Manager
- Technical supervisor: Head of Support Services
- Line supervisor: Regional Finance Manager
- Duty station: Bangui – Central African Republic
- Duty station designation : Non-Family Duty Station – Unaccompanied position
- Area of operational intervention: Country
- Contract duration: 12 months
- Desired start date for this position: ASAP
- Type of contract (Expat/National/Trainee): Expatriate
- Salary conditions: Management F – Level 1
How to apply
8 – Application process
If you are interested, then apply online by going to this site: [** https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=170628&DepartmentId=19106&SkipAdvertisement=true**]( https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=170628&DepartmentId=19106&SkipAdvertisement=true)
Applications can only be made online, on the site indicated above. You must upload your CV (3 pages maximum) as well as a cover letter online. The CV and cover letter can be in French or English.
Applications made by post, by sending an email or by submitting a physical file will not be considered.
The DRC provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits any practice of discrimination based on race, sex, skin color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any disability situation. The DRC does not practice any discrimination in its recruitment processes.
However, candidates must take into consideration that, within the framework of an international employment contract (i.e. for an expatriate position), the DRC cannot employ a national of the country in which it/ he will have to work (in this case, the Central African Republic).
For more information about the Danish Refugee Council, please visit the organization’s website at drc.ngo.
Applications will close on April 9, 2024 at midnight GMT. However, it is possible for the DRC to begin, before the end of the publication of the offer, the recruitment process if an application meets the expectations and requirements of the position.