The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
IRC has been present in Bangladesh since 2017 and obtained registration with the NGOAB in March 2018. Since IRC obtained registration in March 2018, it has moved quickly to expand its integrated emergency health and protection response through both direct and partner-based programming focused on primary healthcare, women’s protection and empowerment, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and child protection. Through 2018, the IRC’s response strategy will primarily target Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, while meeting the significant needs of both refugee and host populations, as already existing vulnerabilities are compounded by cyclical monsoon and cyclone seasons that impose additional threats to the lives and protection of those refugees as well as vulnerable host populations. IRC is expanding its programming to cover education and livelihoods/DRR, as well as its geographic footprint in the host community and in other parts of the country.
Purpose of the Role
As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team (SMT), the Deputy Director Finance provides financial leadership and management necessary to ensure that the country program has the appropriate financial infrastructure and systems in place to support the strategic vision and mission of the organization. S/He will contribute to the development of the country program’s strategic and operational plans and be accountable for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the financial plans through targeted and comprehensive financial analytical review. The Deputy Director Finance is responsible for the overall policy and management for the financial and accounting management of the Country Program. Emphasis will be placed on financial management policies, practices and systems that are aligned with local laws and US as well as adhering to donor requirements but are also conducive to effective implementation of country programs.
As Deputy Director Finance, s/he will have responsibility for all aspects of strategic and operational finance in the country program, acting as the principal finance business partner to the Senior Management team and Country Director, Regional staff as well as conforming to IRCs financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives.
Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh Country Program, the Deputy Director Finance will have dual reporting to the Country Director and the Regional Finance Director-Asia, including straight-line accountability to the CFO.
Highlights of Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Analysis:
• Provides financial information which supports the Country Director and SMT in making business decisions in line with IRC, Regional & Country Program strategies.
• Provides strategic analysis on the overall financial health of the country program to the CD and SMT.
• Contributes and provides feedback to the development/updating of Country Programs Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and SAP Implementation Plan.
• Co-lead migration / updating country finance management system following IRC’s global requirement ensuring minimum disruptions e.g., Roll out/implement of Integra.
• Lead implementation of Finance Score Card in Bangladesh Country Programme through strategic and operational collaboration within Finance team and with other functional heads.
• Lead IRC’s finance department, working towards a motivated and high-performing finance team through skills enhancement, team building, delegation and empowerment.
• Ensure Finance department extends full support in rolling out and meeting the requirement of PCM in Bangladesh Program.
Controllership:
• Ensures that all in-country practices are in compliance with IRC and donor policies and procedures.
• Establishes in-country finance procedures to supplement global policies as needed.
• Closely monitors financial activities and advises the Country Director on financial performance of the office, issues with internal controls or financial management.
• Ensures monthly balance sheet reconciliations are completed on a timely basis.
• Manages the Finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by headquarters and donors.
• Identifies requirements for and develops reporting formats to aid in the management of country operations and grant expenditures.
• In close collaboration with Grants team, directs the preparation of and approves all donor financial reports with respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Country Director and regional finance director prior to submission.
• Ensures in-country internal control reviews of operations are regularly undertaken.
• Lead and facilitates external, internal, donor and/or government audits.
• In close collaboration with DDO, oversees the protection of the country’s assets (cash, inventory, fixed assets) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures.
• Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to finance and stays in sync with tax and other legal requirements.
• In close collaboration with DDP and DDO, ensure all FD budgets and reports are prepared in a timely and quality manner.
• Maintains principal liaison with IRC HQ on all finance, accounting, grant budget management, and cash management.
Training & Staff Management:
• Establishes a finance department roles and responsibilities matrix; staff job descriptions are current; recruits and maintains qualified staff to perform finance functions to fully meet the business needs.
• Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed annually; career planning and development plans are in place for all finance staff.
• Develops and implements capacity development initiatives for the country’s finance team based on regular capacity need assessment.
• Oversees finance training and technical support to non-finance staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, budgeting, reporting and internal control.
• Cross-department collaboration both through championing it by him/herself and encouraging other members of Finance team.
Treasury:
• Supervises all country program bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates.
• Ensure IRC’s fund flow (in and out) is in line with NGO Affairs Bureau and be proactive to avoid potential financial crises in terms of funds flow in IRC’s bank account.
• Oversees the review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliations.
• Maintain on current basis accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments that obligate IRC to future spending.
• Ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation and cash held in headquarters is drawn regularly.
• Ensures the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the country’s foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses.
• Supervises the collection of contractual and other receivables.
Budget/Forecast:
• In close collaboration with Grants team, lead preparation and revision of grant proposal budgets; supports programs with guidance on costing and inputs in creating budgets for submission.
• In close collaboration with DDP and DDO, lead in the development of the country’s annual operating budget; ensures cost coverage for in-country operating costs and updates the operating budget regularly.
• Presents and facilitates the review of actual to budget expenditures with the Country Director and Country Management Team (CMT).
Partnership Management:
• Assign focal person(s) from Finance department to closely work with partnership department to perform finance-specific IRC requirements including contributing to partnership assessments, support plans and joint monitoring visits.
• Lead capacity development of partners based on the findings from an initial financial assessment of partners as well as regular capacity need assessments/finance monitoring visits.
• Ensure timely disbursement and liquidation of funds to IRC partners after a thorough review of finance reports and donor & legal compliances.
• Be proactive to flag potential concerns/risks to CD and other internal stakeholders with regard to partners’ finance management.
Experience
• Extensive experience working in development or humanitarian response with international NGOs and/or UN organizations
• At least 10 years of relevant experience with a minimum of five years of managerial experience in Finance
• Requires extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs (ERP, SUN System and Vision)
• Requires having familiarity and experience in dealing with financial compliances of UN and non-UN grants (e.g., ECHO, UK, Canada, US, etc.)
• Solid understanding and experience of relevant GoB compliances for INGOs in Bangladesh including but not limited to FD6, FD7, VAT, taxes, etc.
Competencies: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Sound leadership skills and ability to demonstrate and promote cross-function collaboration
• Requires to be comfortable in being a proactive member of the senior management team
• Requires having a proven track record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions
• Demonstrated skills and experience in strategic and analytical thinking and solution-oriented
• Required to be able to function effectively in a complex work environment, setting appropriate priorities and managing competing priorities and pressure
• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support
• Requires to have excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment
• Committed to empowering team members through capacity development, motivation and delegation,
• Committed to IRC’s core values of Integrity, Equality, Accountability and Service
• Candidates with international work experience will be highly preferred (IRC has a special remuneration package for those Bangladeshi who are currently working abroad and would like to return to their home country)
Language Preference
• Good written and verbal skills in the English and Bangla language.
Specific Educational Qualification
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/ Business Administration/ Commerce/Finance required.
• Master’s degree in Accounting preferred.
Professional Degree/ Certification
• Recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA/ ACCA/ ACA preferred.
**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.
How to apply
https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req49803/Deputy-Director-Finance