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Head of Finance and Administration - North Caucasus

Stationed in Grozny, Chechnya

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is seeking a competent manager with long finance and administrative experience to head the Finance and Administration Department of DRC’s operation in North Caucasus (NC). BACKGROUND

As a humanitarian organisation working in some of the most challenging operational environments in the world it is of uttermost importance for DRC to work in compliance with the DRC Accountability and Quality Management system in the areas of Administration, HR, Finances and Procurement/Logistics. Smooth, reliable and effective operational systems are preconditions for DRC to maintain its position as a trustworthy and reliable partner for our donors and an accountable organisation towards our beneficiaries.

The HoFA is responsible for ensuring a sound financial, administrative, procurement and logistic operation of the NC programme in accordance with DRC’s internal procedures, donor requirements and Russian legislation.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The HoFA is the manager of the following services in DRC-NC:

• Finance department

• Administration, incl. Premises, vehivle fleet and IT set-up

• Procurement department

• Logistic department, incl. warehouse

The Administration and Finance department provides services to the operational departments of DRC-NC. The department also functions as the main link in relation to administration and finance matters between DRC HQ and the field office.

The Procurement and the Logistic departments are providing support to all other department regarding procurement and logistic issues and ensure that all procurement is performed in accordance with DRC guidelines and donor requirements.

Focus areas of the position in general:

• Capacity building of local staff and ensuring constant delegation of responsibilities

• Optimization of procedures and work flows

• Encourage and motivate cooperation and team spirit in the offices

Finance

The HoFa will maintain the process of improving the financial procedures and control mechanisms. The focus areas of the position are as follows:

• Accuracy, correctness and timeliness of cash books

• Ensure that all expenses are in accordance with the donor budgets

• Ensure that donor budgets are fully utilized

• Control of cash holdings and cash flow

• High quality and timely reporting to donors

• Continuous adjustments of the departments to the funding situation

• Maintenance of a transparent and consequent cost-allocation system for common costs

• On-going training and support to Program Managers and departments

• Maintenance and adjustments of the annual budget for shared operational costs

Administration

• Monitor that premises are rented at reasonable prices

• Monitor that the premises rented are in accordance with the needs and the donor budgets

• Ensure timely, appropriate and cost effective maintenance of premises

• IT-system

• Monitor that the IT set-up is appropriate for the work tasks and well maintained

Procurement

Monitor that the procurement department is rendering the necessary service to the program departments, and that donor requirements are followed.

Logistic

• Monitor that the logistic department is providing the necessary service to the program department

• Monitor that warehouses are utilized in a cost-efficient way

REPORTING

The HoFA refers to the Country Director.

INTERNAL RELATIONS

The HoFA is directly supervising the Chief Accountant, staff of Danish accounting, the procurement and logistic department. The HoFA cooperates closely with the program assistant and the Project Economy section in DRC HQ on issues related to ongoing financial administration and reporting. The HoFA coordinates with the HQ coordinator on issues of budgetary control and other programme matters.

QUALIFICATIONS

• University in accounting/management/business administration; Chartered Accountant certification or equivalent

• Professional financial management background

• Minimum 5 years relevant experience, preferably in an international NGO

• Fluency (written and spoken) in English. Russian language skills an advantage

• Previous DRC experience an advantage

COMPETENCIES

• Ability to develop clear goals and identify priority activities and assignments

• Demonstrated skills in planning, budgetary control, and monitoring performance

• Demonstrated IT skills. Knowledge of Navision an advantage

• Ability to work in a deadline driven environment and undertake a proactive approach

• Strong communication and inter-personal skills, demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team

• Solid experience in facilitating trainings and works

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of age, nationality, race, gender or age.

CONDITIONS

Availability: From 1. March 2012 or soonest hereafter

Duty station: Grozny, Chechnya, Russian Federation, with travel and work across the NC – a non family duty station.

Contract: 1 year, possibility of extension. Salary and conditions are in accordance with the DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates (www.drc.dk, available under Vacancies). The position is placed at salary level B4.

FURTHER INFORMATION

You are welcome to contact Shanna Jensen, Head of Europe and Asia section, e-mail shanna.jensen@drc.dk for further information about the position.

PLEASE NOTE that applications are NOT to be sent to Ms. Jensen. We only accept application sent via our online system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies > Current vacancies > Head of Finance & Administration – North Caucasus. Applications sent directly to Ms. Jensen WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

For information about our work and organisation, please visit our website www.drc.dk.

APPLICATION AND CV

Only applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.

Please forward the application and CV, in English and marked “HoFA – North Caucasus” no later than Tuesday, 17. January 2012.

We only accept application sent via our online system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies > Current vacancies > Head of Finance & Administration – North Caucasus. (Click on the vacancy, then on “Apply” at the bottom of the window that opens).

Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you have questions to the application process or experience problems with your online application.

ABOUT DRC

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, impendent, humanitarian organization working in all aspects of the refugee cause 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 related 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.

How to apply:

APPLICATION AND CV

Only applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered.

Please forward the application and CV, in English and marked “HoFA – North Caucasus” no later than Tuesday, 17. January 2012.

We only accept application sent via our online system at www.drc.dk under Vacancies > Current vacancies > Head of Finance & Administration – North Caucasus. (Click on the vacancy, then on “Apply” at the bottom of the window that opens).

Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you have questions to the application process or experience problems with your online application.