Organizational Context
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs 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.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.
IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.
IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.
The Regional Finance and Administration Unit is responsible for the provision of quality financial services, quality control assurance, finance development, and technical advice. It is located in the Americas Regional Office based in Panama.
Job Purpose
To provide financial control and financial management support to the Federation Offices in Americas, including day to day support to finance officers in the region and highlighting of financial issues/Risks to Management in the region.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide effective technical support to Federation Offices (management, Programme staff) assigned on Federation Finance systems and Procedures.
- Fully understand the Federation’s Accounting Policies and Financial Management Procedures and ensure their compliance in the country delegation finances.
- Maintain in-depth level of knowledge of Federation Financial systems (ERP, Business Objects, CODA)
- Liaise closely with the Finance Personnel of the country delegations on a proactive basis, providing guidance, advice and support the finance staff regarding systems, policies and procedures.
- Reply to queries Federation offices in an efficient, speedy, and professional manner.
- Review and provide recommendations on internal controls in the zone office in line with Federation Procedures and best practice (emphasis segregation of Duties).
- Provide finance validation new funding proposals, agreements, cash pledges, contracts, project agreements, staff requests.
- Monitoring the Supplementary Services draft invoices prior to send to Geneva.
- Monitor the Project Financial Management Report by reviewing the actual incomes, income reallocations between process and others, closing of Pcodes and Mcodes.
2. Contribute to ensuring a timely monthly financial close in Federation office assigned including a quality check on accounting records as maintained by Federation Offices
- Ensure federation offices correctly bookings on a weekly basis.
- Oversee the month-end close process of delegations and offices in accordance with month-end closing timetable and checklists.
- Review the monthly financial returns and provide detailed and timely feedback to the country delegations regarding the accuracy and completeness of the returns.
- Ensure the validity and reconciliation of all Balance Sheet items.
- Before ARO Finance close, perform an analytical review to obtain a reasonable level of assurance on accuracy of accounts.
- Validate the cash request analysis and prepare the cash transfer request for submission to GVA
- Perform a sample document check or if situation requires a full document check in accordance with CODA checklist.
- Assist in audits upon request of GVA internal and external processes. Review the results of the audits and provide follow up on recommendations and action points.
3. Prepare and issue Monthly Financial Analysis information to the country delegations and assist the Heads of Delegation and finance staff in matters related to their financial and budgetary requirements.
- Review monthly all expenditures under the approved ceiling and identifying those not authorized, prevent and support to correct deficits, potential exposure, funding gaps, outstanding financial reports, and other financial management indicators in accordance with the financial analysis checklist.
- Follow-up together with finance staff in federation offices on outstanding matters as included in the Financial Analysis report as prepared by the ZFU manager.
4. Provide effective Support to the Appeal and Donor Reporting process in ensure quality of appeal and donor reports.
- Provide support for financial validation in new funding proposals.
- Provide financial validation on new DREF and Emergency Appeals as an advisor for all matters related to budgets for federation offices: guidelines, cost standards, preparation, donor reporting.
- Issue and validate Financial Appeal Reports to be published on the IFRC website together with program and operations updates.
- Validate Standard and Non Standard Pledge Based Financial statements prepared by Finance Officers using the donor reporting checklist.
- Monitor the opening and closing of Project codes.
5. Other tasks
- Identify areas of need relating to the training and development of finance and program staff in the offices assigned and as part of the ARO Finance team.
- Provide technical support in emergency operations.
- Provide assistance to delegations in case of long-term vacancies, absence or illness to ensure continuity of finance function.
- Carry out field missions country / offices to ensure that the finance and accounting units are performing in compliance with IFRC policies and procedures.
Education
- A university or professional school degree in a related field
- Advance qualifications or degree in Audit
Experience
- At least 5 years professional experience in finance in an international environment
- Experience working with accounting systems, analysing financial data, and preparing financial reports
- At least 2 years field experience in a humanitarian organisation, preferred
- Experience of managing and supporting staff, preferred
- Experience of working with Red Cross/Red Crescent, preferred
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
- Self-supported in computing systems
- Ability to work in a team, excellent communication skills
- Ability to work in a cross-functional environment
- Must be able to travel at all times and at short notice, and to work outside normal working hours as the situation requires and under stressful working condition
- Cultural sensitivity
- Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
- Results orientation and accountability
- Skills in training and developing staff, preferred
LANGUAGES:
- Fluent spoken and written English
- Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic), preferred
Competencies, Values and Comments
VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Pro-activity; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust
FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Building Alliances; Empowering Others
How to apply
Interested candidates should visit the link: https://www.ifrc.org/jobs/details.html?nPostingId=11765&nPostingTargetId=126687&id=PZ8FK026203F3VBQB79LO79OB&LG=UK&languageSelect=UK&mask=newtempconfig to view the full job description and to submit their application no later than November 6, 2023.