receiving and hosting areas and communities. Since 2006 DRC has pursued a regional strategy in West Africa determined and shaped by the displacement patterns stemming from the conflicts in the region. Currently, DRC runs a regional programme focusing on border areas between Liberia, Côte D’Ivoire and South East Guinée that includes protection and emergency interventions as well as rehabilitation and recovery activities. In the coming three years, DRC will continue to focus on these areas as they are particularly prone to conflict related displacement and protection violations due to resource competition and inter-ethnic tensions.
The program has a regional office located in Abidjan-Côte d’Ivoire, a sub-regional office in Monrovia-Liberia and 5 field offices in North and South East Liberia, West and South West Côte d’Ivoire and South East Guinée.
The program receives funding from BPRM, Danida, EC, ECHO, OFDA, SIDA, UNHCR, UNDP and UNICEF along with private contributions. Presently the program is employing 17 expatriates and approximately 200 local staff.
The RHFA will report to the DRC West Africa Regional Director and will oversee the finance and administration staff located in the regional, sub-regional and field offices. The daily communication does normally take place between the RFHA and the field offices and with the DRC HQ based program assistant in the project economy department.
The Regional Head of Finance and Administration represents the DRC in Finance coordination groups in Abidjan and Monrovia. The RHFA should ensure frequent contacts and coordination with other finance departments of relevant donors and UN agencies in Abidjan, Monrovia and Conakry, as well as with relevant Government ministries (Labor & Finance).
Job purpose
The Regional Head of Finance & Administration is responsible for sound financial and administrative management and planning of our operations throughout Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
He/she is responsible for the overall financial planning, management and coordination within the region, and in collaboration with finance assistants in Monrovia and Abidjan will support the operational offices to further strengthen their financial management procedures and controlling mechanisms. The administrative support will include staff issues and office management. He/she will ensure coherence with DRC’s financial and administrative procedures.
Key Responsibilities
Finance
• Ensure capability of providing qualified and timely assistance on all necessary financial areas of the operation
• Act as advisor towards RD and CDs/HoFs to ensure that they have the tools to fulfill their budget responsibilities
• Overall responsible for planning, budgeting and controlling expenditures related to the shared operational costs of the operation
• Responsible for maintaining and applying a cost allocation key for shared operational costs towards donor budgets
• Ensure that monthly accounts are timely submitted to Head Quarters
• Coordinate in close co-operation with relevant staff, financial reporting to donors and submit these in a timely manner
• Participate in the preparation of budgets for new project proposals in close collaboration with RD and CDs/HoFs
• Draft and up-date Financial and Administrative Handbook and other relevant manuals/guidelines
• Responsible for cash flow at DRC field offices
• Facilitate communication about budgetary changes between CDs/HoFs and Head Quarters
• Ensure that payments and actions are in accordance with the legislation as well as donor and Head Quarter requirements
HR and Administration
• Ensure increased focus on Human Resource Development, including capacity building of local staff and constant delegation of responsibilities
• Ensure relevant training for both local and expatriate staff on financial and administrative issues
• Update and sharing general financial and administrative procedures, relevant policy issues, relations and events to the RD, CDs, HoFs and relevant staff members
IT
• Supervise and monitor the IT and communication systems of the RO and make sure that the IT-services and equipment matches the needs at any time
Procurement
• Ensure development of and constant improvement and standardization of procurement and logistics systems, procedures, guidelines etc, which can lead to more efficient management of procurement and logistics in line with DRC rules and guidelines
• Ensure that DRC guidelines on procurement and logistics are implemented within the operation
Other duties as handed down from the Regional Director
Requirements
• Ability to take a comprehensive view of budgets and numbers without loosing track of the details.
• Strong management, communication, mentoring and teambuilding skills
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work
• High level of cultural sensitivity
• Proficiency in financial software applications (knowledge and experience of using NAVISON a plus)
• Experience in grants management a plus
• Knowledge and experience with EC/ USAID/World Bank and UN rules and regulations a plus
• Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility and ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision
• Fluency in written and spoken French and English is compulsory
• Experience in working with NGOs in developing countries
• Experience in capacity building of staff and local partners in admin and finance
• Willing to travel/work in remote sub-offices
Terms
Starting Date: 1 March, 2012
Duty station: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire (Non-family station)
Contract: 12 months, with possibility of extension (subject to funding)
Salary: Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Global Expatriates (available at www.drc.dk under Vacancies). This is a B4 position.
Further information
You are welcome to contact Regional Director Gilles Ponserre on email: rd-wa@drc.dk or Head of Desk Elsa Moreno on email: elsa.moreno@drc.dk for further information on the programme and the position.
Please note that applications are not to be sent to Mr Ponserre or Ms Moreno; we only receive applications via our online application system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies > Current vacancies > Head of Field Office – West Africa. Applications sent directly to Mr Ponserre or Ms Moreno will not be considered.
Application and CV
Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications sent together with a CV, in English and marked “Regional HoFA – West Africa” will be considered.
We only accept applications sent via our online application system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies > Current Vacancies > Head of Finance and Administration – West Africa.
Please remember to upload both a letter of application and your CV. CV-only applications will not be considered.
Applications are to be sent to no later than 30. January, 2012.
Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you experience problems with your online application.
About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, humanitarian organisation covering all aspects of the refugee cause. Our aim is protection and promotion of durable solutions to refugee and displacement problems, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. We work on the basis of the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief, and the UN Conventions on Refugees.
