Switzerland: Senior Financial Accountant

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 Federation is served by a Secretariat based in Geneva, with regional and country offices throughout the world. The Secretariat is led by the IFRC Secretary General and provides the central capacity of the International Federation to serve, connect, and represent National Societies. The Secretariat’s focus includes providing support to the IFRC governance mechanisms; setting norms and standards; directing and coordinating international relief operations, resource mobilization, technical support including providing guidance; ensuring consistency, coordination, and accountability for performance; knowledge sharing; promoting collaboration within and respect for the RCRC Movement; and expanding engagement with partners. The Secretariat’s headquarters is organized in three main business groups: (i) Partnerships, including Movement and Membership; (ii) Programmes and Operations; and (iii) Management. The purpose of the Management business group is to provide general management support for the delivery of the Secretary General and other business groups' objectives through services, expertise and administration of an internal control environment and the provision of advice for National Society capacity building in areas of competency, including Administration, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology. The Finance Department is responsible for managing the overall budgeting, accounting, treasury, assets, financial reporting and financial services operations of the Secretariat including managing internal controls, preparing statutory accounts in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, safeguarding the assets of the IFRC to minimize risk of financial loss; and developing and maintaining costing systems and reporting tools to provide high-quality financial information and analysis that supports management decision-making. The Finance Department’s role includes providing advice and support on financial matters including financial policies and procedures to other business units at the Secretariat Headquarters in Geneva and to Regional and Country offices strategically located around the world. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and with technical reporting lines to the Manager, Financial Services or Manager, Budget and Analysis Unit, depending on the task, the Senior Financial Accountant is a member of the Finance Department and Global Financial Management team, which includes Regional Financial Controllers and Finance Management Team in Geneva. The Senior Financial Accountant may be requested – as part of the global team - to undertake support at field level in form of short missions.

Job Purpose

This is a technical position focusing on global financial management and reporting imperatives. Specifically, the Senior Financial Accountant will support in the following areas:
• Financial reporting;
• Risk management and internal controls;
• Financial Management and Controllership;
• Communications; and
• National Society Development in close cooperation with Regions and Policy, Strategy and Knowledge.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Financial reporting
• Work with Manager, Financial Services Unit, in order to provide high level technical support in the year-end closing process including first draft extended trial balance figures, consolidation adjustments in-line with IFRS, review and follow up on expenditure and income cut-off issues as necessary, draft financial statement notes and figures;
• Serve as a focal point for year-end audit queries and follow up, as appropriate;
• Prepare appeal, project and contribution financial statements for external audit in accordance with relevant accounting standards;
• Support in the monitoring of the IFRC’s ability to remain IFRS compliant, in particular, with regard to changes in both the IFRC business model and the requirements of IFRS, ensuring that IFRC has adequate accounting policies, processes and systems in place to maintain compliance; and
• Support the preparation of Management’s response the independent external auditors Performance Improvement Observations.
Risk management and internal controls
• Manage the IFRC financial policies and procedures roadmap;
• Support the revision and improvement of IFRC finance policies, processes, and procedures.

• Work with the global finance team to agree and communicate priorities, timelines, roles and responsibilities and co-ordinate procedure reviews to ensure buy-in and understanding from all key stakeholders;
• Where assigned the lead for review of specific procedures, analyse, consult and draft procedures and ensure roll out in a suitable manner including preparation of training materials and / or workshops, etc.; and
• Review Finance Fednet pages, clean-up and re-organise to ensure ease of use and access to financial information for users.

Financial Management and controllership
• Provide expertise, advice, technical support and briefing to management on an ad hoc basis as required on financial accounting and financial management matters
• As applicable provide technical support to Regional Financial Controllers;
• Establish internal controls, financial systems and processes if deployed to an Emergency Operation; and
• Lead and participate in the co-ordination of the Global Finance Management Team Meeting.

Communications
• Support, as necessary, the Chief Financial Officer in the preparation and presentation of financial information to members, donors and other key stakeholders.
National Society Development
• Support, as necessary, in the provision of analysis and advice and support on matters related to financial sustainability, policy, accountability, transparency and governance vis a vis National Societies on an as requested basis in close cooperation with Regions and Policy, Strategy and Knowledge.

Education

Relevant university degree
Professional qualification in accounting or equivalent
Relevant professional training courses (Red Cross/Red Crescent related, humanitarian and development sector, management, etc.)

Experience

Minimum of 7 years work experience in financial role at international level
Minimum of 2 years work experience with an International Organisation, international non-governmental organization, NGO and/or government development agency – field work experience (preferred)
Volunteering or working within the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement (preferred)
People management experience (preferred)
Developing budgets, plans and financial analysis
Management of an accounting services function
Communicating financial results to managers
Preparation for, conduct of and/or support to external financial audit
Writing policies, procedures and processes

Knowledge, skills and languages

Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural context
Highly organised/time management
Effective team management, often from a distance
Advanced skills in computer productivity applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
Advanced knowledge of accounting concepts
Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards or equivalent
Advanced knowledge of financial management and reporting applications (e.g. CODA and Business Objects )
Understanding of treasury management concepts
Financial management skills
Advanced understanding of cost accounting concepts
Fluently spoken and written English
Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is preferred

Competencies and values

Accountability
Professionalism
National Society Relations
Teamwork
Communication
Judgment-Decision-Making
Managing Performance
Influencing
Innovation

Comments

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application via the following link:

http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=2545