Closing date: 31 Dec 2009 -- (CLOSED)
Location: Sudan (the)
Location: Khartoum, North Sudan, with regular visits to project sites in Darfur
Responsible to: Country Director, technical Finance Programme Manager
Duration: 12 Months
Salary: £24,648 - £26,872 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) inclusive of annual Cost of Living allowance.
Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, free return flights, annual loyalty bonus and 24 days annual leave.
Merlin International Profile
Merlin specialises in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Context and Background
The goal of the Sudan mission is to address humanitarian and health crises within Sudan, with particular focus on Darfur (Western Sudan) while supporting and strengthening available components of the health system including community capacity to deliver effective and quality primary health care services.
Over two million people are now thought to have been displaced since the commencement of hostilities in the Darfur region, many of whom continue to be in acute need of emergency assistance. These needs are further exacerbated by seasonal rains & food shortages due to interruptions of agricultural cycles. Developments at the peace process level may initiate population returns in certain areas, while other areas continue to experience displacement.
Merlin has been working in Darfur since 2004, and currently runs 3 projects across South Darfur. Merlin’s primary health care interventions provide quality services through both static and outreach mobile clinic services. Activities increase community-level access to health care by establishing static primary health clinics in former mobile clinic locations, and starting new mobile sites where population movements indicate severe need. The programme will also extend health education: Merlin believes that preventive health care has significant impacts on health status. Merlin collaborates closely with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and other government agencies for material and human resource support for projects. The focus for 2009 will be to continue to support improved primary health care provision in the selected locations supporting, with further scale-up of nutritional support using the CTC/CMAM approach as well as heightened focus on community engagement. In addition, Merlin has interest in expanding to other geographical areas in north Sudan (Non-Darfur).
Main purpose of the role
The Country Finance Director, as a member of the Country Management Team, plays a key role in developing and implementing the country strategy especially the required financial inputs, as well as ensuring that there are sound financial practices in country and rigorous budgetary control.
This position provides financial management for a multi-programme and multi-site operation in a challenging living and working environment. A key priority in all locations is to embed clear financial management controls and to ensure understanding of and compliance with these by all staff.
Overall Objectives
Reporting to the Country Director, and working closely with Programmes Finance team in Merlin’s London Head Office, the Country Finance Director will:
- Be a member of the Country Management Team and take the lead role on financial planning, forecasting, budgeting and developing financial management capacity throughout the country.
- Directly manage the Country Finance Team to ensure effective and proactive financial leadership, support and guidance is provided to managers in country.
- Be responsible for the preparation and reporting of field finances to head office and ensure that budget preparation, financial reporting and amendment planning for donors is completed in a timely manner and approved by head office before submission.
- Ensure appropriate systems and procedures, support and guidance for country programmes.
- Be responsible for the Human Resources and Administration functions. (in some locations only)
Responsibilities
Financial Oversight
- Ensure internal financial procedures, systems, policies and controls are applied and complied with throughout the country programme operations by all staff
- Be the lead person and provide financial support on all financial issues in the country Management Team
- Develop the funding/finance strategy for the country
- Prepare budgets, amendments and forecasts working with the Country Director and others
- Provide Head Office with all necessary financial information both proactively and on request
- Ensure donor reports and requirements are complied with to maximise available funding
- Monitor and control the balance sheet accounts
Procedures, Systems and Controls
- Ensure compliance with local regulations in respect of financial and other matters (e.g. Registration, Foreign Exchange, taxation and labour laws).
- Ensure compliance with the financial and other requirements of donors
- Ensure the development and implementation of in-country financial security guidelines and regularly review their effectiveness and the compliance of all staff with these guidelines
- Conduct internal audits for the field sites every three months, to ensure that all financial and administrative procedures are carried out in line with Merlin policies and guidelines and local Legislation
- Regularly review the financial and reporting systems to ensure that they continue to be fit for purpose
Treasury
- Co-ordinate and maintain a cash forecasting system to ensure that adequate funds are available to meet the working requirements of the programmes
- Ensure that payments are made in a timely and secure manner across all the country operations
- Along with the finance department in Head Office, ensure that all debts are recovered promptly
Donor Reporting & Monitoring of expenditure
- Prepare donor financial reports in line with donor reporting requriements
- Monitor ongoing levels of expenditure on individual programmes against budget, and provide timely advice of likely over or under-spends to the Country Management Team, and the relevant Programme & Finance teams in head office.
- Ensure respective Programme Coordinators and Programme Managers understand variance implications and how to respond to and manage them effectively.
External Relationships & Compliance
- Ensure that contractual commitments (e.g. for the rental of vehicles and/or premises) are financially sound and appropriate for the circumstances of the programme.
- Liaise with local legal advisors when necessary
- Ensure appropriate and timely contact with in-country government agencies to ensure that all legal requirements are met, e.g. work permits, import licences
- Liaise with International NGO Finance Directors in-country and actively participate in inter-agency co-ordination meetings.
Management and training
- Manage and support the performance and development of the in-country finance and administration staff, to ensure the provision of an efficient and effective service.
- Make regular visits to Field sites for monitoring and supervision purposes
- Provide financial support, training and advice to all individuals in country.
Human Resources (in some locations only)
- Oversee the HR function to ensure sound in-country HR policies and procedures which comply with Merlin HR policy, local labour laws and good practice, and which promote Merlin’s organisational values
- Advise and coach line managers and staff on Merlin’s national HR policies and good HR practice including appraisal, performance management, staff development, discipline and absence management.
- Supervise the administrative needs of the international staff including flight bookings, obtaining legal documentation, holiday and R&R planning, salary advances and international staff return forms
- Coordinate and support all aspects of the recruitment and selection process of national staff (including job description development, recruitment planning, advertising & shortlisting, selection interviews and tests, job offers, salary calculations and issuing contracts) in liaison with line managers, ensuring that Merlin’s recruitment process and good practice is carried out in all recruitment and selection activity.
- Ensure accurate maintenance and safe storage of all staff HR records (e.g. contracts, leave records, pay history etc)
- Manage timely, accurate and systematic payroll and income tax payments for all national staff
- Manage the national HR Manager
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
- Qualified accountant ACCA, ACA, CPA, (or equivalent), or substantial relevant work experience
- In depth knowledge of financial systems and implementing internal controls
- Practical experience of pro-actively monitoring and reporting on budgets
- Proven experience of analysing financial information to understand the current situation and to determine the strategic direction
- Proven experience of introducing and managing changes to finance systems, procedures and practices
- Understanding of financial security issues and how to develop appropriate guidelines
- Some experience of managing a team within a finance department
- Some relevant experience of training/capacity building
- Proven administration skills
- Strong ability to plan and work independently
- Experience of living or working in different cultures and countries
- Strong communication skills, with excellent written and spoken English
- Confident and proficient in the use of MS Office with advanced Excel skills
- Experience of establishing strong working relationships with colleagues from different functions and cultures
- Experience of a flexible approach to managing and prioritising a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
- Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
- An understanding of and commitment to Merlin’s mission and values
For roles involving HR management
- Knowledge and understanding of HR practices & issues
- Good experience of managing and undertaking high quality recruitment processes
- Experience of development and implementing HR policies & procedures, and of supporting staff and managers in their use
- Experience of dealing with employee relations issues
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
- Experience and understanding of working in a donor environment and meeting donor compliance requirements
- Experience of financial management with an international NGO in an overseas setting
- Familiarity with mid-range accounting systems (e.g. QuickBooks, Sage, PS Financials)
- Experience of HR management in an overseas setting (for roles involving HR management)
- Experience of office management
Reference Code: RW_7XYKEH-59
