Introduction
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) promotes durable solutions to problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people throughout the world. Operational in Sri Lanka since 1998, DRC supports a number of activities, often through partner agencies, in the North and East of the country – including infrastructure rehabilitation, livelihoods, social mobilization, capacity development, provision of emergency food as well as protection and advocacy. DRC works in close partnership with local communities, NGOs, UN agencies and the authorities.
DRC Sri Lanka, by the end of 2009, will have some 90 national and international staff; an estimated budget of US$5 million – funded by DANIDA, SIDA, ECHO, UNHCR, USAID and the E.C. The main office is currently in Vavuniya; district offices in Trincomalee, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Jaffna and a liaison office in Colombo.
Basic functions and focus of the position
The Head of Finance and Administration (HFA) manages the Finance and Administration Departments and has a primary responsibility for the sound financial and administrative management of the DRC Sri Lanka country programme.
The HFA ensures coherence with DRC financial and administrative procedures as well as with Sri Lankan legislation; and for maintaining efficient internal control mechanisms. S/he reports to the DRC Country Representative and, as appropriate, DRC HQ, Copenhagen. The HFA will be based in Vavuniya and expected to travel regularly, as appropriate, to DRC and partner offices.
Details of responsibility and duties
- Sound financial management, control and disbursement of all project expenditures
- Supervision of all financial reporting; including review, modification, initiation and implementation of internal control procedures in coordination with the financial staff in all offices
- Ensure the application of DRC’s regulations, rules, directives and instructions and other statements of policy governing the matters pertaining to the administrative, financial, personnel affairs in all offices
- Overall responsibility for planning, budget and control of expenditures related to shared operational costs
- recording, monitoring and planning co-funding as required
- Undertake and report on budget / expenditure analysis for all programmes on a monthly basis
- Supervision and overall management of all administrative and financial staff
- Provision of training for administrative, financial and programme staff to ensure full understanding and implementation of responsibilities
- Coordinate, compile and submit monthly accounts to Headquarters; and as required to Sri Lankan authorities
- Coordinate and compile financial reporting to donors and submit these in a timely fashion to DRC HQ
- Prepare budgets for new project proposals in collaboration with Programme Managers
- Establish sound administrative procedures and draft and up-date an Administrative Handbook
- Responsible for establishing budgets, managing and monitoring cash flow for all DRC offices
- Update and share general financial procedures, relevant policy issues, etc. to the management group and relevant staff members
- Maintain updated information on all governmental policies and procedures relating to visas, tax, reporting, security clearances, MoU etc. and ensure that DRC Sri Lanka is fully complying with the requirements
- Any other duties as agreed with the DRC Country Representative
Qualifications
- Degree in accounting / management / business administration from recognized university; Chartered Accountant certification or equivalent
- Minimum 8 years relevant experience; with at least 3 years international experience in a senior management position, preferably in an international NGO
- Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team
- Previous DRC experience desired
- Fluency (written and spoken) in English
Competencies
- Ability to develop clear goals and identify priority activities and assignments
- Demonstrated skills in planning, budgetary control, and monitoring performance
- Demonstrated skills in the use of computers and standard software applications as used by the Agency
Conditions
Availability: End January 2010 – (pending visa)
Duty station: Vavuniya (non-family duty station)
Contract: One year with possibility of extension, subject to funding. Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates, see
http://www.drc.dk underVacancies. This position is placed at salary level B5.
Further information
You are welcome to contact Programme Co-ordinator Aracely J. Andersen, email: aracely.andersen@drc.dk or Rob Drouen, Country Representative, DRC Sri Lanka, email rob.drouen@drc.dk for further information about the position.
Please note that applications are NOT to be sent to Ms. Andersen or Mr. Drouen. We only accept application sent via our online system at
http://www.drc.dk under Vacancies. Applications sent directly to Ms Andersen or Mr. Drouen will NOT be considered.
For information about our work and organisation, please visit our website
http://www.drc.dk
About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.
