Concern Worldwide – Finance & Systems Director.

About the role: This is a 2-year (with view to extension), new role with accompanied terms based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to the different programme areas in Somalia (30% of time).

Grade 5: €45,859 – €50,954.

You will report to the Cash Consortium Director – and will line-manage CMU Finance and Systems staff (3).

The post will involve working closely with Somali Cash Consortium Programme Coordinator and MEAL Manager and other Consortium Management Unit (CMU) staff. You will liaise regularly with Somali Cash Consortium finance and systems partner agencies staff and Somalia Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA). The post holder will liaise with relevant finance staff and the Desk Officer at HQ.

We would like you to start in April 2021.

Job Background:

The Somali Cash Consortium is led by Concern Worldwide. Since 2018, the Somali Cash Consortium has implemented large-scale ECHO funded humanitarian cash transfer programmes in the country. In December 2020 the Consortium signed an agreement with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) to pilot a €27 million, three-year Social Transfer programme. Consortium Members include ACTED, COOPI, Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council Save the Children and IMPACT Initiatives.

Job Purpose:

The Finance and Systems Director will contribute to the strategic thinking, planning, and overall coordination efforts of the Consortium.

They will be responsible for setting-up and leading the work of the Finance and Systems Technical working group (FTWG), and will ensure that quality and innovative practices are consistently applied across the Consortium programmes.

The Finance and Systems Director will supervise directly the Senior Finance Coordinator, Information Management Analyst and Communication Officer and will be responsible for strict respect of donors financial and procurement rules by Cash Consortium partner agencies and regular reporting to donors.

Key Responsibilities:

Compliance

• Ensure that agreed financial policies and procedures are developed and implemented across the consortium to: protect the assets and financial interests of Concern Worldwide and the consortium members; ensure accountability to the donor(s); promote compliance with donor requirements; and meet legal requirements
• Ensure that donor compliance is adhered to within the Consortium Management Unit and in all consortium member agencies; that all financial records and accounts are compiled in time and are kept accurately and in line with international accounting standards and donor regulations
• Manage relevant sections of the consortium risk register and review these on an on-going basis; developing and improving appropriate controls to mitigate risk as appropriate in compliance with donor policies and procedures
• Maintain an effective and efficient system of internal controls which comply with Concern’s financial guidelines to minimize the risk of fraud or misappropriation
• Ensure that sub-grant related processes and procedures are standardized and consistently implemented throughout the programmes, including pre-award compliance checks, agreements, disbursements, reporting, timelines and partner capacity-building
• Maintain accounting records and adequate filing system for all financial and accounting deliverables to ensure ease of access during internal/external audit
• Monitor fixed assets register of all assets acquired with consortium funding and ensure timely reporting, proper tracking and disposal procedure as per the grant agreement

Financial Management

• Review and monitor budgets of consortium members to support financial stability, on-going programme viability, efficient cost structures and value for money that meet the requirements of donors
• Developing and managing internal and donor-level Consortium reporting

Representation and coordination

• Key member of Consortium Management Unit (CMU)
• Coordinate and communicate with Cash Consortium partner agencies and Somali Government as needed
• Represent Cash Consortium at the Cash Working Group and other external coordination bodies as needed
• Represent the Cash Consortium at external events/workshops.
• Coordinate and communicate with donors as needed

Programme management

• Supporting coordination of implementation of the Social Transfer programme
• Supporting coordination of implementation of the Humanitarian Cash Transfer programme
• Leading Finance and Systems Technical Working Group (FTWG), charged with developing and monitoring financial tools and strategy
• Support capacity building of Cash Consortium members finance and systems staff
• Lead on systems procurement for Cash Consortium CMU – Identifying, assessing and negotiating the best value for money with existing/new products and suppliers
• Lead on Governance Agreement and Sub Grant Agreements drafting and updating
• Lead on improvements to the cash delivery systems, ensuring a harmonized approach and establish mechanisms to correct errors and anomalies

Advocacy, communication and visibility

• Leading the drafting and dissemination of position papers, statements, reports and releases on systems delivery, representing to external audiences when delegated by Consortium Director
• Develop a communication strategy for the programmes in coordination with Consortium Members, donor and government, and ensure the obligations are met
• Attend advocacy and communication meetings as appropriate, including Cash Working Group

HR Management

• Conduct Performance Development Reviews with line-managed staff, as per Concern guidelines
• Support capacity Development of Cash Consortium CMU staff

Data Protection

• Ensure that data protection rules are adhered to within the Consortium Management Unit and in all consortium member agencies
• Monitor relevant updates in Data Protection requirements and maintain Cash Consortium policy and practices in line with international standards and best practices

Other

• Frequent travel to programme locations across Somalia as required for trainings, monitoring and coordination
• Any other duties as assigned by your line manager

Skills and Experience Required:

Essential:

• Education and/or experience equivalent to a Master’s degree
• A recognised professional qualification in accountancy
• At least seven years’ experience in a finance/accounting role, at least 3 of which are post-qualification
• Experience working in finance/compliance in a lead agency consortium
• Experience of working on projects funded by major international donors such as ECHO, EU DEVCO and USAID
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of key EU and ECHO finance and procurement compliance rules
• Experience in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Programs
• Experience in risk management
• Experience of developing complex contracts and grants agreement
• Experience of financial and non-financial data cleaning and analysis using Excel and statistical software
• Working knowledge of GDPR/Data Protection minimum standards
• Commitment to the highest standards of Accountability; familiarity with the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS)
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, communication and organisation skills
• Strong coordination/negotiation skills specifically with the ability to effectively coordinate among consortium members
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal
• Experience working in complex and insecure environments
• Willing to travel to programme areas within Somalia
• Understanding of and commitment to security management SoPs

 

Desirable: 

• A systems background
• Completed training/s on ECHO and EU compliance
• Experience/interest in IT infrastructure
• Experience using human-centred design

 

All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net by closing date.

CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length. All candidates who are short-listed for a first round interview will be notified via email after the application deadline.

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

https://jobs.concern.net/jobs/international/vacancy/finance–systems-director-1208/1226/description/