Deputy director finance

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.

Background IRC opened its country program in Mali in 2012. Programs range from humanitarian to recovery activities, with a focus on child protection, education, economic wellbeing, nutrition, health, and water and sanitation. IRC works in northern, central, and southern Mali, where conflict and drought have displaced hundreds of thousands of people both within Mali and in neighboring countries. The humanitarian situation in the north remains fragile, and while the needs of internally displaced people and crisis-affected host communities are significant, access to deliver humanitarian assistance is an ongoing challenge. IRC works in northern Mali to provide essential WASH, education, and health services at a critical time, alongside child protection and economic wellbeing programs in the most remote areas.

Job Overview / Summary :

As a member of the Mali Country Program Senior Management Team (SMT), the Deputy Director of Finance provides the leadership and management needed to ensure the country program has the financial infrastructure and systems required to support the organization's strategic vision. The role contributes to the development of the country program's strategic and operational plans and monitors their execution through focused, rigorous financial analysis. The Deputy Director of Finance is responsible for the overall policy and management of the country program's finance and accounting functions, with an emphasis on financial management practices and systems that comply with U.S. and local legislation and donor requirements, and that support effective program implementation. The Deputy Director of Finance oversees all aspects of strategic and operational finance in compliance with IRC's financial control standards, working closely with the Country Director and the other Deputy Directors (Programs, Operations, and People & Culture) to maintain a strong level of performance across internal policies and procedures, and to jointly develop solutions to issues as they arise. Based in Bamako, the Deputy Director of Finance reports to the Country Director, with a technical reporting line to the Regional Director of Finance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning & Analysis Provides financial information that supports the Country Director in making business decisions aligned with IRC, regional, and country program strategies. Provides strategic analysis on the overall financial health of the country program to the Country Director and the SMT. Contributes to and provides feedback on the development of the country program's Strategic Annual Plan.
2. Internal Control and Accounting Ensures that all national financial practices are in line with IRC and donor policies and procedures. Ensures that monthly balance sheet reconciliations are performed in a timely manner. Manages the activities and schedules of the finance department to meet the requirements and deadlines set by management and donors. Identifies requirements and develops reporting templates to facilitate the management of country operations and the monitoring of grant expenditures. Oversees and approves the preparation of all financial reports to donors, ensuring compliance with accounting, legal, and contractual requirements, and their review by the Country Director and the Regional Director of Finance prior to submission. Ensures that internal controls over operations are carried out regularly across the country program. Oversees, in collaboration with the Audit and Internal Control Officer, external, internal, donor, and government audits. Keeps abreast of the Malian government's legal and fiscal requirements and ensures they are respected. Closely monitors all financial activities and keeps the Country Director advised of any situation with the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance. Leads the roll-out of new or updated global finance policies and procedures within the country program, establishing supplementary in-country finance procedures as required. Provides country management and program staff with regular actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis for all grants and unrestricted funds. Initiates corrective actions to address internal control weaknesses identified through audits or internal control reviews. Enforces internal control policies and procedures to protect the country program's assets (cash, inventory, non-expendable property). Serves as the principal liaison with Regional Finance on finance, accounting, grant budget management, and cash management matters.
3. Staff Management and Development Establishes and maintains a clear matrix of the roles and responsibilities of the finance department, ensuring appropriate segregation of duties. Ensures that job descriptions for finance staff are up to date and reflect actual duties. Recruits and retains qualified staff to perform financial functions. Ensures that comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are conducted annually. Implements professional development plans for all finance staff. Develops and implements a training program for country finance staff. Oversees finance training and technical support to non-finance staff to strengthen skills in accounting, reporting, and internal control.
4. Cash Management Oversees all banking relationships of the country program, particularly the BDT, and bank account activities, including the negotiation of fees, interest, and exchange rates. Oversees the review and approval of all monthly bank and cash reconciliations. Maintains accurate forecasts of cash requirements to meet future expenditures and IRC's financial commitments. Ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation, and that cash held at headquarters is regularly mobilized. Develops and implements a plan to minimize the program's exposure to foreign exchange risk. Ensures the follow-up and collection of trade and other receivables within set deadlines. In compliance with IRC policy, establishes country policies on cash holding limits, cash movements, and foreign currency holdings. Establishes country policies on advance payments, credit terms, and the use of bank payment instruments. Supervises the preparation of cash transfer requests to headquarters, ensuring appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation.
5. Budget Management, Forecasting, and Financial Reporting Oversees the preparation and revision of grant proposal budgets, supporting program teams in costing and developing budgets for submission. Oversees the preparation and dissemination of budget follow-ups and monthly expenditure forecasts. Presents and facilitates the review of actual expenditures against budget with program managers and grant managers. Presents the country program's monthly financial situation and key financial performance indicators to the SMT. In compliance with donor requirements and IRC policy, ensures that shared program costs are properly recovered, and flags any expected funding gaps to the Country Director and Regional Director of Finance in a timely manner.

Key Working Relationship

Position reports to: Country Director Indirect/Technical reporting to: Regional Director of Finance (technical, including straight-line accountability to the CFO); Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Director of People & Culture, and Deputy Director of Operations (on cross-functional matters)

Key internal contacts

National Program: Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Director of People & Culture, Deputy Director of Operations, Risk & Compliance. Region/Global: Regional Finance Team, Regional Consolidation Unit.

Key external contacts

Banking managers. Donors. Local government staff (taxation and regulatory matters). External auditors.

Job Requirements :

Qualifications

Master’s degree in accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field. A recognized professional certification (e.g., CPA or equivalent) is an asset.

Experience, Technical Skills & Personal Skills

At least five (5) years of experience in financial management or auditing, preferably in the humanitarian or international development sector. Proven experience working in developing or transition country contexts. Proficiency in computerized accounting systems and financial management tools. Full professional proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint), plus relevant job-specific software (e.g., accounting or financial management systems). Good written and oral skills in French; fluency in English is an asset. Demonstrated ability to proactively identify financial issues, inform management, and propose appropriate solutions. Ability to work effectively in a complex environment, manage multiple priorities, and cope with operational pressure. Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical supervision. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate in a multicultural and diverse environment. Demonstrated commitment to staff training and development, including experience facilitating capacity-building sessions. Demonstrated management and leadership skills. Willingness to travel up to 10% of the time.

Professional Standards:

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, 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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