Finance Development Officer

The Norwegian Red Cross is a humanitarian organization whose work is driven by a desire to help others. It is committed to, and bound by, the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and acts as the guardian of the Geneva Conventions.

Our work is volunteer-based and organized to ensure that we can reach people in need quickly and efficiently. The Red Cross has local branches throughout Norway, while the Movement has a global reach through its network of volunteers.

Given the frequency with which wars break out and the ever-recurring famines, the need may seem overwhelming. Therefore, it is important to know that a lot of people are also working to make things better.

The purpose of the Country Offices (CO) is to ensure implementation of Norwegian Red Cross International Strategy at country level through programme support to the National Society partner, as articulated and established in the approved Country Framework. This means that the CO is responsible for ensuring results-based project management, risk management, and operational in-country Movement coordination. Furthermore, the CO is responsible for ensuring project implementation in support to NS partners, in line with established project agreements and project plans. The CO ensures sound technical quality of all country projects, in line with established technical standards and best practices. The CO ensures that Norwegian Red Cross programme support is based on regularly updated humanitarian needs analysis in line with established practices. The CO represents Norwegian Red Cross in-country with regards to external partnerships and relationships. The CO is responsible for in-country security management. 

Purpose:

• The purpose of the Finance Development Officer is to ensure specialized, targeted, deliverable-based assistance to the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society (ARCS). This includes both ongoing and upcoming FD projects in the area. Working directly/closely with ARCS, the mission of the Officer will be to support the NS in improving their financial management such that they may efficiently implement their humanitarian action and fulfil their humanitarian mandate. This shall be accomplished in close collaboration with Network partners under established and ad hoc agreements. Technical service delivery provided by the Officer should contribute to NS becoming more accountable, efficient, and effective. The assistance provided to NSs should be structured within international frameworks and standards e.g. (IFRS, IAS, McKenzie 7S, COSO Framework on Internal Controls and the COSO Framework on ERM).
• The Officer may also be requested to assist outside her/his region based on their specialization in coordination with respective line management.

Strategic Responsibilities:

• Ensures that the support provided is in conformity with the global service delivery model and is deliverable based, such that it is designed and implemented in line with established technical standards and project management methodologies and support the operationalization of those standards.
• Contribute to financial management in ARCS which is grounded in a due diligence/needs assessment, improved accountability, transparency & governance as well as improved efficiency and effectiveness of Internal Controls.
• Increased efficiency, reliability and relevance of financial reporting and departmental structure
• Contribute proactively with other technical personnel to Global FD Center global efforts to establish and operationalize technical approaches and standards in finance development.

Operational Responsibilities:

• Enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the ARCS finance department.
• Evaluate the Finance Department structure using the McKinsey 7S model and propose new structures for improved efficiency and effectiveness, including job description revisions and specialized trainings.
• Adopt a risk-based approach by focusing on hinderances to the Finance Dept not achieving its operational, reporting and compliance goals.
• Recommend new departmental structures focusing on efficiencies and renewed effectiveness. This includes revision and alignment of job descriptions and conducting specialized trainings in accounting, treasury, budgeting and grants plus compliance.
• Provides technical training to ARCS Finance Dept staff on established technical standards.
• Design and co-facilitate workshops for ARCS Finance Dept staff on objective settings, structural assessments etc.
• Improve internal control processes by compiling, mapping, and analyzing existing processes, evaluating inherent and control risks, and designing new processes and controls.
• Compile, map, and analyze processes within the Finance Department on an ‘As Is’ basis.
• Design new processes, internal controls while focusing on efficiencies and operation, reporting and compliance objectives. This includes preparing “should be” process maps.
• Supports the NSs in preparing or revising policies and procedures including Finance & Accounting manuals.
• Improved accountability, transparency & governance in ARCS
• Assist ARCS in conducting external and internal audits by developing frameworks and ToRs in accordance with IAS (international Auditing Standards)
• Analyse and recommend areas of improvement in financial oversight by governance.
• Focus on assisting ARCS in terms of improving financial reporting (internal and external) insofar that efficiency, effectiveness and relevance increases.
• Introducing capabilities in ARCS accounting software to ensure automated, customizable, transparent and reliable financial reports are produced.
• Develop deliverable based project documents including concept notes, proposals, specific objectives, budgets, PoAs, LFAs, Project risk assessment, ITTs and monitoring plans (as per applicable Core Process).
• If required, assist in designing and conduct evaluations of FD projects.
• Contribute to the global FD service delivery in various technical capacities.
• Ensure coordination and alignment between FD support and Global FD Center's global FD strategies.
• Consolidate regional inputs to inform planning, reporting, and learning.
• Up to 50% travel to support ARCS as requested.

Key Performance Indicators:

• ≥ 85% of deliverables achieved on the POA implementation
• ≥ 4.0/5 NS satisfaction rating Quality of NS-facing technical support

Collaboration:

• Fosters good relationship and works closely together with the host ARCS, PNSs, IFRC and ICRC.
• Work as a team within the region and globally, to assist ARCS in meeting their needs in FD.
• Liaises, as needed, with Colleagues in the Country, Regional and National Office.
• Works closely together and participates in technical networks (FD and NSD) with other colleagues within Global FD Centre at global, regional and country level.
• Helps colleagues to understand and make use of available technical tools and standards.
• Promotes harmonization across delegations’ structures, as well as at regional and country level with other Network partners, by promoting use of common standards and tools, also contributing to learning events and sharing of best practices.

Mission Specific Responsibilities:

• Conduct needs assessments of national societies in line with Global FD Center’s Due Diligence methodology
• Prepare deliverable-based Plan of actions that are targeted in meeting NS needs.

Qualifications:

• CPA/CA/Registered Auditor any accounting designation is a must; however, MBAs are also encouraged to apply.
• Members of an international professional accounting body are preferred.

Experience:

• Over 10 years’ experience in Financial Management (Accounting, Budgeting, Grants and Compliance and Treasury).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in developing implementing partner’s strength in financial management.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience of coaching, facilitating, managing and/or supporting staff.
• Experience of working for a humanitarian aid organisation preferably in a developing/conflict country/context.
• Good understanding of an ERP system.
• Strong organizational development background (e.g. change management, HR, leadership, strategy development and implementation).

Skills and knowledge:

• In-depth understanding of relevant technical financial standards and the operationalization of those standards in humanitarian projects.
• Operational understanding of IFRS, IAS, COSO Framework on Internal Controls and their Framework on Enterprise Risk Management.
• Proven experience from project management, including needs assessments project design, and reporting.
• High degree of competencies in strategic thinking and design, knowledge sharing, advising and facilitating, management of self; coaching; mentoring and facilitation. Training and facilitating experience in international/ multicultural environment are an asset.
• HR staff management skills and understanding of Global FD Centre’s leadership model
• Proficiency required in English and French (for position dedicated to Francophone Africa)
• Advanced understanding of the use of innovative tools and approaches in relevant technical discipline is an asset.
• Fully familiar with software applications- windows, spreadsheets, word processing, accounting packages.

Personal Qualifications:

• Ability to take initiative and accept responsibility
• Ability to work towards achieving objectives and results.
• Ability to cooperate in teams and share competency
• Ability to develop and coach others
• Commitment to RCRC Network principles and values

• Submission Email:
• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrq0fB7mPd5RIJFL1S_0iz_XzLuSk_VP37NRzVakWW51rQkg/viewform?usp=dialog
• Submission Guideline: to apply for the job, please follow the link and fill out the form and upload the required documents.