Finance Controller

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Background
Since the early 1980’s, Niger has consistently been ranked at the bottom of the UN’s Human Development Index. Over half the population suffers from chronic food insecurity and one in ten are extremely food insecure. Niger has a global acute malnutrition rate in children from 6-59 months of 14.8% nationwide. Niger is also a disaster prone country, regularly hit by food crises and vulnerable to flooding, cholera and locust swarms. Niger has the highest fertility rate in the world.

In addition to the vulnerability of a significant proportion of Nigeriens, Niger has and is being currently affected by conflicts in its neighboring countries. In 2011, due to the conflict in Libya, Niger was faced with the influx of approximately 83,000 returnees, many of them who have lived in Libya for 20 or 30 years and hardly have any links or families in Niger. Because of the conflict in Mali in 2012, Niger today plays host to over 50,000 Malian refugees, and due to the conflict in Nigeria in 2013, there has been an influx of an estimated figure of 8,000 Nigerians and Nigerien returnees.

As this brief overview presents, Niger faces many challenges and the needs of the different populations are alarming.

* IRC Niger’s vision
* IRC’s vision for Niger is that individuals, households and communities are resilient, self-reliant and able to thrive in a changing context
* IRC Niger’s current program
* IRC Niger is present in Tillabéri, Tahoua and Diffa Regions.

The IRC started activities in Niger since April 2013 and provides humanitarian support through programs in health (nutrition and reproductive health), Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD), Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) and Protection.

IRC Niger has carried out two quick emergency responses in 2013: one in Tillabéri Region to respond to a cholera outbreak and one in Tahoua Region to vaccinate refugees against measles.

 Health Program
 Nutrition:
IRC is supporting the health district to ensure efficient management of severe acute malnutrition by ensuring adequate levels of health staff, nutritional screenings and supplying therapeutic foods. IRC is also providing support for Outpatient Therapeutic Program activities in health centers, health posts and one hospital, supporting infant and young child feeding activities, and providing funding and training for health staff.
 

Reproductive Health:
IRC is partnering with two local NGOs to improve response to reports of sexual violence, and reduce HIV and STI transmission through provision of precautionary supplies. IRC is also working to improve the health of infants and mothers through the provision of midwife delivery and reproductive health kits, contraceptive supplies, and trainings on early detection and management of obstetric complications.

Child and Youth Protection and Development Program
 
Education:
IRC is working to increase access and quality of education for children, ensuring that the schools are equipped with the teaching and learning materials and equipment needed to support teachers’ and students’ regular attendance, while rebuilding classrooms in the camps. Programming also includes support for the development of school management committees, improved water and sanitation in schools, and teacher training in Healing Classrooms for teachers, which emphasizes psychosocial support for children affected by crisis with support for primary and secondary school students.
    
 Youth Development:
IRC is preparing Malian refugee youth for entrepreneurship by providing a package of support that includes foundational business and life skills trainings, support in developing sound business plans, strategies for saving, and start-up grants.  Equipped with new skills and knowledge from this comprehensive training, youth receive further support to develop market-relevant and viable business plans.
 
Economic Recovery and Development Program
IRC Niger is conducting a cash transfer project to help support households in Filingué for their immediate needs, which complements the nutrition program. This project targets female-headed households with children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Through unconditional cash transfers, IRC will above all help families to meet their survival needs, vary their diet and contribute to the prevention of acute malnutrition, as well as contribute to positive hygiene practices by allowing the purchase of hygienic materials like.

Protection
* In the Tahoua Region, IRC has relocated Malian refugees from small camps close to the border to a safer location and opened up a new refugee camp where IRC is in charge of the overall site management and protection. This includes supervision of interventions such as in Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods, Health, and Reproductive Health, in partnership with a local NGO that will benefit capacity-building from IRC.
* A protection project is being implemented in the Diffa Region bordering Nigeria. Partnering with a local Human Rights association, the project includes protection monitoring at the border and in the host community and protection mainstreaming in partners’ activities.

Scope of work
The Financial Controller has overall policy and management responsibility for the finance and accounting functions of the country program. The Finance Controller’s responsibilities include general controllership, treasury and budget functions as well as staff management and training. The position is based in Niamey, Niger, with travel to field sites.

Specific Duties
Controllership
* Ensures that all policies and procedures are in compliance with IRC and funding source policies, procedures, and requirements.
* As required, establishes finance and supporting function policies, systems and procedures, and directs or performs their development, documentation, and implementation.
* Manages the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by IRC Headquarters and donors.
* Develop reporting formats to aid in the management of country operations and grant expenditures.
* Closely monitors all financial activities, and keeps the Country Director (CD) advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance.
* Ensure that on a monthly basis balance sheet reconciliations are completed on a timely basis and that final reconciliation and trial balances are reviewed with the CD.
* Directs the preparation of, and approves all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the CD and Regional Controller prior to submission.
* Develops schedules and performs or supervises the completion of country internal control audits, and initiates actions necessary to correct internal control weaknesses.
* Facilitates and co-ordinates external, internal, donor or government audits
* Oversees the protection of the country’s assets (cash, inventory, NEP) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures.
* Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to financial matters and ensures compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements.

Training & Staff Management
* Develops and implements a training program for the IRC Niger Finance staff to ensure staff development and minimize IRC’s exposure when staff are absent or depart.
* Maintains current job descriptions for all positions within the finance group
* Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed on a timely basis and facilitates discussion of performance and career options with all country finance staff.
* Oversees training and technical support to country program, logistics and administrative staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control.

Treasury
* Supervises all country office bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates.
*  In compliance with IRC policy establishes country policies regarding cash holding limits, cash movements and foreign currency holdings.
*  Oversees the timely preparation, review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliation’s
*  Designs, implements, and monitors systems, procedures and reporting necessary to maintain on current basis accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments entered into and which obligate IRC to future spending.
*  Supervises the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests to IRC Head Quarters and ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation.
* Supervises the collection of contractual and other receivables.
* Ensures the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the country’s foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses.

Job Requirements/Experience Required
* Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA/CA or a Masters Degree in Business or Accounting.
* Minimum five years of managerial experience in the financial area of an international non-profit organization with demonstrated track record of meeting donor requirements. Knowledge of US Government, United Nations and ECHO regulations preferred.
* Requires extensive experience working with computerized accounting systems preferably in SUN, standard spreadsheet and database programs.
* Comfortable in being a proactive member of the top-management team. Must seek to identify and communicate potential problems and propose solutions to the appropriate level of management.
* Previous experience supervising staff in an international setting.
* Experience in Africa will be a plus
* Ability to function effectively in a complex work environment, deal effectively with competing priorities and proactively support Country Office management.
* Excellent interpersonal, supervisory, organizational, reporting and time management skills.
* Fluency in French required; English preferred.
* Strong sense of personal integrity.
* Possesses leadership qualities and is willing to exercise initiative.

Work environment
* The position will be based in Niamey, Niger.
* This is an unaccompanied position.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2ltbC44NjUwMi40ODEwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20