Head of Finance and Administration [Filled by Roster]

[This position is expected to be filled by Roster – see more below]

We are looking for a highly qualified Head of Finance and Administration with overall responsibility for supervision, management and quality implementation of all aspects of DRC financial and administrative operations in DR Congo.

The HOFA will be part of the senior management team and is expected to contribute to the future strategic development and professional dynamics of DRC in DR Congo. 
The position as Head of Finance and Administration in DRC is a cornerstone in keeping up the high quality in DRC’s operations.

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an International Non-Governmental Organization that promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world. With the vision that no displaced person must be in want of help to find protection and durable solutions, DRC provides assistance and protection to conflict-affected people in many of the major conflicts in Asia, Africa and Middle East. The assistance can consist of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and support to returning home, and the promotion of durable solutions. 
DRC is operates in DR Congo since 2009. The overall strategic objectives of the programs are the saving of lives and to support, protect and promote durable solutions for conflict-affected populations. Since 2013 DRC has moved from its former base in Province Orientale to Nord Kivu where it assessed more important needs. The country office is located in Goma. There are two sub-bases in Beni (North North-Kivu) and Kitchanga which is the field office of the project.

Responsibilities

• You will be directly responsible for ensuring that DRC Programmes operate in accordance with DRC’s operational standards as expressed in the DRC Operations Handbook and other guidelines in the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system

• The HoFA plays a significant part in qualifying and implementing initiatives coming from the global DRC organisational development initiative.

Internal relations

• You will report to the Country Director. You will oversee the finance and administration staff located in Goma (3-member team).

• The HoFA is to ensure timely communication with Project Managers concerning all issues related to finance, administration operations and HR.

• You will receive technical support from the Finance Department in DRC’s Headquarters in Copenhagen.

Duties and responsibilities:

• You will ensure that a financial and administrative related Management Information System which is accurate and timely exists and is maintained. This includes an overall planning, budget and control of expenditures for shared operational costs, but also coordination of budgeting and expenditure related to programme implementation.

• You will supervise, audit, control and implement corrective actions related to the DRC standards for operations. This includes; supervision of all financial reporting and financial procedures, including the monthly schedule for financial reporting to HQ, donor reporting and audits, cash flow and liquidity management, legal framework and reporting relations to national authorities.

• You will lead systems development and roll out of systems already developed in close cooperation and coordination with DRC’s headquarters. This includes tools for monitoring shared expenditures, donor co-funding and decentralised book keeping and grants management systems.

• You will ensure that all administrative and legal related systems are accurate and maintained. This includes ensuring that local human resources related procedures are in line with the local labour law, ensuring that the expatriates are well declared and registered at the immigration office, assisting in keeping the organization’s registration in country up to date with the local government

• You will ensure direct supervision and management of staff in the relevant areas of responsibility.

• You will work in close coordination with the logistics / procurement team and provide relevant technical support to the latter.

• You will work to build the capacity of finance and admin staff in the mission

• You will be the focal point of the complaint mechanism and the code of conduct

During the assignment, it is expected that:

• You will reinforce and sustain an overall plan for further capacity building needs of the Finance and Admin team.

• You will strengthen, supervise and guide the Operations Department and set procedures, routines and standards for the office in Goma as well as field offices. This includes the increase of quality in the paperwork and also a better reactivity from the support departments.

• You will realize training and training needs assessments as part of improving compliance with DRC standards. This includes training on the Operations Handbook; on-the-job training, instructions and relevant follow up measures, as well as the design and conduct of more topic-bound training sessions.

• You will deal with complex administrative agencies. The Congolese administrations are very creative and do not hesitate to harass the INGO. The good communication with the other administrators will have to be maintained and enhance.

About you

To be successful in this role you must have an International NGO experience from similar positions, a minimum of 5 years of work experience at senior-management level with an international NGO, an Extensive practical experience working with all financial tools, Highly proficient with Excel such as using pivot table, developing macros, etc. Also we expect substantial experience working with International NGO’s, UN agencies and an excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and team and external relations

Ideally you will also have an experience with capacity building of national staff. 

Excellent French language skills both written and spoken are essential, fluent English language skills both written and spoken are essential, Swahili is a plus

We offer

An interesting job in one of the best NGO’s in the world. DRC will offer the successful applicant a 1-year contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. The availability date is the first week of November 2014 and the duty station is in Goma with frequent trips to the field bases.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer towww.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level A7.
 
Need further information?

You are welcome to contact the Coordinateur Programme et Operations Jr for DR Congo, Adrien Bory, by email: adrien.bory@drc.dk, for additional information about the position. 
Please note that applications are not to be sent to M. Bory. 

Commitments

DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).

Application process
Filled by Roster: This position is open to all candidates, but will initially be sought filled from the DRC HoFA Roster. Only in exceptional circumstances will your application be selected for further review. 

To apply for this position, click on the apply button or go to www.drc.dk and find Current Vacancies.  All applicants should send a cover letter and an updated CV no longer than four pages, both in English. Your CV should also include contact details of three professional references.

Deadline for applications close on 25th of September 2014. The interviews are expected to take place before mid-October.