Finance Contoller

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.
Background
The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 7.6 million people are internally displaced and 12.2 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, with 4.8 million in hard-to-reach areas. There are 3.8 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.
IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis with an annual budget in excess of $140 million and a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1,250 staff in the region. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, NFI and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.
SCOPE
The Financial Controller has overall policy and management responsibility for the finance and accounting functions for the country program. The Finance Controller’s responsibilities include general controllership, staff training, management, treasury and budget functions.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Controllership
a) Ensures that all policies and procedures are in compliance with IRC and funding source policies, procedures, and requirements.
b) As required establishes finance and supporting function policies, systems and procedures, and directs or performs their development, documentation, and implementation.
c) Manages the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by New York and donors.
d) Identify requirements for and develop reporting formats to aid in the management of country operations and grant expenditures.
e) Provides country management and program staff with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis for all grants and Unrestricted funds.
f) Ensure that on a monthly basis balance sheet reconciliations are completed on a timely basis and those final reconciliations and trial balances are reviewed with the Country Director.
g) Closely monitors all financial activities, and keeps the Country Director advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance.
h) Directs the preparation of, and approves all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Country Director and Regional Controller prior to submission.
i) Develops, schedules and performs or supervises the completion of country internal control audits, and initiates actions necessary to correct internal control weaknesses.
j) Facilitates and co-ordinates external, internal, donor or government audits
k) Oversees the protection of the country’s assets (cash, inventory, NEP) through the enforcement of internal control policies and procedures.
l) Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to financial matters and ensures compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements.
m) Is the principal liaison with IRC NY on all finance, accounting, grant budget management, and cash management matters

2. Training & Staff Management
a) Develops and implements a training program for the country’s international and national finance staff to ensure staff development and minimize IRC’s exposure when staff are absent or depart.
b) Maintains current job descriptions for all positions within the finance group.
c) Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed on a timely basis and facilitates discussion of performance and career options with all country finance staff.
d) Oversees training and technical support to country program, logistics and administrative staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control.

3. Treasury
a) Supervises all country office bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates.
b) In compliance with IRC policy establishes country policies regarding cash holding limits, cash movements and foreign currency holdings.
c) Oversees the timely preparation, review and approval of all monthly bank account and cash reconciliation’s.
d) Establishes country policies on advance payments, credit terms, and use of bank payment instruments.
e) Designs, implements, and monitors systems, procedures and reporting necessary to maintain on current basis accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments entered into and which obligate IRC to future spending.
f) Supervises the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests to New York and ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation.
g) Ensures the development and implementation of a plan to minimize the country’s foreign exchange exposure to currency gains and losses.
h) Supervises the collection of contractual and other receivables.

4. Budget
a) Assists with the preparation and revision of program and grant proposals and budgets.
b) Assists in the preparation and maintenance of the country’s Operating Budget; including preparation of budget guidelines to assist program managers in formulating budgets.
c) In compliance with donor requirements and IRC policy develops the “Field Operations/Overhead” budget and recommends a methodology for allocation of overhead to grant budgets.
d) Prepares the annual and monthly cash budgets based on approved funding.
e) Presents and facilitates the review of actual to budget expenditures with the Country Director and program managers.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
INTERNAL:
Country Director and other senior country office staff
EXTERNAL:
External to the Country Office: Regional Controller, Regional Director, Internal Audit; IRC’s Program Directors and other key Program Staff.
External to IRC: Banking Managers, Donors and local government staff (taxation and regulation related), External Auditors.