Finance Manager

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International is a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty, promoting well-being, and advancing dignity across 15 countries. Established to respond to fragile settings, the organization addresses natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and chronic poverty. Relief International employs a dual approach that combines humanitarian aid with development strategies, ensuring immediate services while laying the groundwork for sustainable long-term impact. Their unique methodology, referred to as the RI Way, emphasizes local participation, integration of services, strategic partnerships, and the enhancement of civic skills. This approach empowers communities to identify, design, and implement solutions tailored to their specific needs. Relief International operates under the RI Alliance, which includes four corporate members: RI-US, RI-UK, MRCA/RI-France, and RI-Europe. Together, they function as a unified management structure, with additional country offices registered as affiliates in 18 other countries, further extending their reach and impact.

Job Overview:
The Finance Manager (FM) plays a crucial role in providing strategic direction and leadership for all financial functions within the Country Program. This position is responsible for ensuring that all financial transactions are accurately accounted for and documented, adhering to Relief International's accounting procedures and budgetary constraints. The FM must ensure compliance with donor and headquarters reporting requirements and deadlines, manage cash flow effectively, and ensure that costs are allocated correctly across multiple projects. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying deficiencies within the finance team and implementing improvements through training and capacity-building initiatives. The FM will also coordinate with operational teams to monitor procurements and expenditures, ensuring that financial operations support programmatic needs effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Finance Manager will oversee various financial operations, ensuring that adequate support is provided to field teams and that the finance structure in field offices is robust. Key responsibilities include supervising finance operations, reviewing and approving transactional data in the NetSuite financial system, preparing monthly financial accounts, and managing cash flow plans. The FM will coordinate the preparation of project and donor financial reports, ensuring timely submission and accuracy. Additionally, the FM will lead the budgeting process, assist in grant management, and serve as the point of contact for external audits. The role also involves supervising partner field accounts, ensuring compliance with RI policies, and maintaining internal controls. The FM will be responsible for payroll processing and reconciliation, as well as safeguarding the organization’s assets through adequate internal controls.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business management, or a related field, with an advanced degree in Finance or Accounting or certification from a professional accounting body (such as ACCA or CPA) preferred. A minimum of five years of experience in a finance supervisory or leadership role is required, with at least three years in international nonprofit organizations. Experience managing US government-funded grants is highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate excellent financial and analytical skills, strong communication abilities for effective reporting, and the capacity to lead a financial monitoring team. Familiarity with donor and governmental requirements, as well as experience managing consortium grants, will be advantageous. The ideal candidate should be detail-oriented, adaptable to challenging environments, and possess a proven track record in financial management and capacity building.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business management, or a similar first-level degree. An advanced university degree in Finance or Accounting is preferred, along with certification from a recognized professional accounting body such as ACCA or CPA. This educational background is essential to ensure that the Finance Manager possesses the necessary knowledge and skills to manage complex financial operations effectively.

Experience:
The Finance Manager should have a minimum of five years of experience in a finance supervisory or lead position, with at least three years of experience in international nonprofit agencies. Experience with US government-funded grants and financial management is preferred, as it indicates familiarity with the specific requirements and regulations associated with such funding. The candidate should have a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a fast-paced environment and possess experience in training and capacity building of finance teams.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization and for reporting purposes. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly if they are relevant to the regions in which Relief International operates, enhancing communication with local stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may involve field visits approximately 20% of the time to partner offices to ensure compliance with standard accounting procedures. Relief International is committed to safeguarding the communities it serves and expects all staff to adhere to its Code of Conduct. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for unlawful harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse. Recruitment for all roles includes a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checks. The closing date for applications is immediate, with a rolling review of applicants, meaning the position may be withdrawn from the job board before the official closing date.