Senior Finance Partnership Officer

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 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver 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.

The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Since establishing its presence in the Southern of Yemen, in the Red Sea Coastal city of Aden, the organization has grown from just an implementing small projects to handling large scale emergency and relief operations. Following the war which broke out in Yemen in March of 2015 and the humanitarian disaster, IRC launched an emergency response program in the southern governorates of Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Shabwah and Aldalea.  Currently IRC Yemen is operating in Six governorates in Yemen through direct programming and through local partnership, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, Gender and Women Protection and Empowerment.

JOB SUMMARY:The purpose of this position is to have an individual with specialized, trained to dedicate the majority of time to support the functions of program development, grant management. This versatile individual should also be able to get involved in other accounting tasks, as necessary and as time permits. Comprehensive accounting skills and experience combined with managerial and supervisory abilities will also be required. Flexible approach to ad hoc tasks as they emerge will be paramount.

Senior Officer Partnerships assist the Finance Manager Budgeting & Reporting by managing the day-to-day budget and grants management functions. Under the guidance of Finance Manager Budgeting & Reporting, the Sr. Officer Partnership ensures that budgets and grant rental management issues are immediately attended to and submitted on time to the relevant stakeholders. In addition, Sr. Partnership officer will ensure that grants are fully implemented in compliance with donor regulations and IRC requirements, will develop budget management tools and conduct training to improve efficiency. Further He/She supports the partnerships finance section in accordance with established policies and procedures per PEERs.

WORKING RELATIONS:

Position Reports to:  Finance Manager Budgeting & Reporting.

Communicate and work with other team members: Finance, Partnership, Supply Chain, Liaison, Program Coordinators and Grants

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Partnership Financial Management

·      Champion the application of IRC’s Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System (PEERS) across all financial interactions, ensuring financial support is grounded in mutual respect, equity, and transparency, and that finance staff adopt a partner-led mindset.

·      Work collaboratively with partners to develop and finalize budgets and budget amendments.

·      Review the partners documentation supporting each type of reported costs, as per the standard requirements to the operating context and the partner internal policies. Identify missing documentation, operating weakness and internal control issues

·      Work collaboratively with Partnership unit to ensure the timely disbursement of funds to partners in accordance with the partnership agreement to ensure program continuity, ensuring clear communication with the partners.

·      Collaborate directly with partner’s finance staff to ensure completeness, correctness, and accuracy of their financial reports and cash requests. Provide feedback to the partner in consultation with Finance Manager Budgeting &Reporting and Deputy Director Finance as appropriate

·      Review the partner’s financial reports (and narrative reports for consistency) and relevant supporting documents to ensure compliance with the partnership agreement, donor regulations and the IRC policy. providing feedback to the partner in consultation with the Partnership team as appropriate.

·      Review the partner’s budget remaining balances against actual spending and spending plans, feedback advise on spending status. Request feedback on the over/under spending and support the program team in realigning/ reallocating savings, if any

·      Maintain audit-ready, organized, and complete financial documentation for all sub-awards in compliance with internal and donor audit standards.

·      Serve as a finance focal point throughout the partnership management cycle, ensuring that financial tools, guidance, and processes reinforce local leadership, adapt to partner contexts, and reflect the principle of “do no harm” to local institutions.

·      Participate in the Partner Capacity Assessment (PCA) and collaborate with cross-functional teams and partners to identify, analyze, and manage financial risks through co-developed and continuously reviewed mitigation strategies.

·      Review and advise on financial clauses within partnership agreements, including terms for advances, cost documentation, reporting, and special conditions, ensuring they are realistic, context-sensitive, and compliant.

·      Perform the financial monitoring of the partner budgets and actual spending in collaboration with program technical coordinators and Partnership unit, identifying issues and working proactively and collaboratively with partners to resolve them.

·      Participate in the review of the performance of the partner, of the IRC, and of the partnership, including successes, challenges and lessons learned.

·      Support financial closeout of partnership agreements, including verification of final expenditures, asset confirmations, and financial reconciliations.

Staff Training & Capacity building

• Train staff on Shared Program Cost allocations methodology

• Assess the skill and experience of the Finance staff and provide training, in both the field offices and the main office on matters related to grants, contracts and budgets

• Train Project/Field Managers/coordinators on how to monitor their budgets, code expenses and the proper use of the categorization of costs: dimensions D codes and chart of account.

Internal Control Assessments

·      Ensure appropriate projections of the shared program costs allocations to grants as per the IRC methodology

·      Ensure all relevant/senior staff are aware of various donor rules and regulations that play a role in their work, especially procurement and inventory management staff.

Personnel Management

·      Serve as a technical resource person for the accounting department. Assist on matters relating to grants and budgeting and serves as the finance focal person on these issues

This job description is not exhaustive and additional tasks in the remit of the role may be added / removed according to operational changes.

REQUIREMENTS:(Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities)

A. Education:

·      A bachelor’s degree in accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance. A recognized professional certificate in accounting is an advantage.

·      Minimum of four (4) years of managerial experience in the financial area of a non-profit organization or an international commercial organization.

·      Experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs (Integra, Dynamics).

·      Good leadership and management skills.

·      Be able to function effectively in a complex work environment and to set appropriate priorities and deal effectively with challenging priorities and pressure

·      Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support.

·      Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation

·      Dedication to the IRC’s mission, purpose and values.

·      Proficiency in English is required.

C. Skills and Abilities:

·      Must have demonstrated skills in working remotely and supporting staff in a remote context.

·      Must be able to function comfortably in a complex work environment, under moderate pressure whilst prioritizing multiple tasks.

·      Must be able to communicate effectively (written and verbal) in English.

·      Good supervisory and time management.

·      Excellent computer skills.

·      Must be able to work under minimal supervision.

D.  Proficiencies:

• Active listening and effective communication.
• Critical thinking and problem solving.
• Professionalism and work ethic.
• Receptive and Resilient.
• Positive Interpersonal interactions

Professional Standards:The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equity.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Gender Equality:IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other encouraging benefits and allowances.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.  We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Professional Standards:All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined inIRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies onSafeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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