Haiti: Finance Director

CONTRACT TYPE:National Contract CONTRACT LENGTH:Permanent

****CHILD SAFEGUARDING:****

Level 2: either the role holder will have access to personal data about children and/or young people as part of their work; or they will be working in a ‘regulated’ position (accountant, barrister, solicitor, legal executive); therefore a police check will be required (at ‘standard’ level in the UK or equivalent in other countries).

****ROLE PURPOSE:****

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Haiti the Director of Finance shares in the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office (CO). His/her capacity will be accountable to the Country Director for overseeing the Finance Unit in both emergencies and development programming contexts ensuring the Quality Framework Essential Standards (17) are adhered to.

****SCOPE OF ROLE:****

****Reports to:****Country Director, Haiti

****Staff directly reporting to this post:****Cost & Allocation Accountant, Accounting Coordinator, Payroll Officer, Accounting Assistant, Jacmel Accountant

****KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:****

Planning and Budgeting:

• Oversee the finance function in the Haiti Country and Field Offices including Master Budget process planning and budget phasing, cost allocation, effort reporting, financial accounting, financial control, financial systems, and timely reporting.
• Assist the Country Director (CD) in the management /administration of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices including (a) the formulation of country work program and resource allocation, (b) providing effective support and guidance to the Senior Management Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises; (c) monitoring implementation of donor agreements and resource utilization. Highlight variances, provide analyses and recommend resolution or reallocation of resources including the coordination of corrective journals.
• Identify and effectively manage all key risks, especially financial, related to delivering the Country Office program. Develop mitigation plans at proposal stage
• Manage financial aspects of budget development for new proposals in collaboration with members or develop in CO in collaboration with programming and support.
• Ensure that finance staff is aware of the latest developments of the mission, vision and principles of the organization.
• Ensure correct level of budget authority exists within Country Office, update SOD, ensure distribution and safeguard the hardcopies of SOD file
• Work along with the Director of Program Operations and the Director of Program Development and Quality in developing plans to meet funding and programming needs. This includes diversification of funding resources.
• Work with the HR Director to establish equitable staff compensation and domestic per diem policies and practices within the approved budget and donor requirements
• Develop meaningful performance objectives for the finance staff and follow performance management, recruitment, development and retention policies / guidelines as outlined in SCI policies.
• Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency finance and grants procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale up

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control

• Ensure all financial reporting requirements for internal (RO, Center) and external (Members, Donors, GOH) stakeholders are fulfilled
• Ensure that effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control including:
• Project expenditures as per approved budgets
• Annual accounts and tax statement preparation;
• Accounting and management information systems;
• Cash and cash flow management and control in particular gain/losses on currency exchange;
• Financial procedures during emergency responses, including meeting all relevant responsibilities in the Rules and Principles for Emergency Response;
• Expenditure procedures, especially around procurement;
• Documentation of all controls and procedures;
• Finance training for staff in the field and partners as necessary;
• Availability of funds for sub-offices and the Country Office
• Lead and participate in the development of finance policies and procedures to be able to maintain a well-financially controlled environment in both development and emergency contexts
• Ensure budget holders understand their responsibilities
• Ensure CO and FO’s maintain an adequate filing system allowing recuperation of support documents and safeguarding
• Ensure sub-offices receive adequate support to operate efficient accounting systems, including timely receipt of monthly budget variance analysis by budget holders, timely answers to queries and scheduling tasks and deadlines to resolve action points decided on through the MGRM (Monthly Grant Management Meeting)
• Coordinate / lead the audit visits and assist CD during any internal or external audits
• Execute regular verification of financial activities for fraud, mismanagement or inefficiencies detection and solution in collaboration with the Award and Compliance Manager.
• Ensure proper accounting and closing of books and projects upon receipt of completed reports and documents from various sub-offices
• Develop sub-grantees financial management through training and capacity building
• Ensure regular visits between and from CO, FO and partner finance staff.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development

• Ensure appropriate staffing within finance teams
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency
• Manage finance teams; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process. Establish result based system and follow up.
• Ensure adequate segregation of finance, administration and logistics duties within Country Office Manage the performance of all staff in the finance work area through:
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ work plans.

****SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)****

****Accountability:**** · Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.

· Holds the LAC Communications team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
· Creates a managerial environment to lead, enable and maintain our culture of child safeguarding.

****Ambition:****
· Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
· Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

****Collaboration:****
· Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to;
· Builds and maintains effective relationships with colleagues, member countries and external partners and supporters.
· Values diversity and different people’s perspectives, able to work cross-culturally.

****Creativity:****
· Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions

****Integrity:****
· Honest, encourages openness and transparency, builds trust and confidence
· displays consistent excellent judgement

****QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE****

· University Degree in Finance
· CPA or equivalent degree (CA, ACMA, ACCA)
· Minimum of 5 years management experience in NGO environment, of which 3 at a management level within the finance department of an international organization
· Excellent understanding of business and financial planning including strategic modelling
· Excellent analytical skills – the ability to analyze complex financial data and design and produce effective management information
· Excellent experience of budgeting and budget management
· Excellent understanding of financial systems and procedures
· Strong business acumen and the ability to contribute to strategic decisions
· Excellent experience of computerized accounts packages, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
· Experience of general administration work
· Strong communication and interpersonal skills
· Ability to manage a complex and diverse workload and to work to tight deadlines
· Ability to build a small, proactive team, motivating staff and working collaboratively with colleagues and providing support and advice as necessary
· Fluency in English and French is essential
Commitment to Save the Children values

****Equal Opportunities****

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

****Health and Safety****

The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

****Additional job responsibilities****

The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the Post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Interested candidates must send their CVs and cover letter to recruitmenthaiti@savethechildren.org before September 16 2015. Please mention in your email the title of the position to which you are applying.