Finance Adviser Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees Kabul, Afghanistan

Finance Adviser

Afghanistan

DACAAR (Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees)has implemented rural development and water, sanitation and hygiene projects in Afghanistan since 1989. The organisation currently employs more than 650 people with an annual budget of approximately USD 16 million.

DACAAR is now looking for a Financial Adviser to support the organisation in financial management and administration with regard to compliance, transparency and internal control. During the last few years DACAAR has transferred senior management responsibility, including the key position for Finance and Administration to Afghan staff.

General responsibilities

The Adviser will oversee and ensure coherence between DACAAR’s contractual obligations and its financial and administrative procedures. Also, the Adviser will ensure adherence to established financial procedures. This includes review of all existing policies and procedures as well as advise on improvement of existing systems and a continued development and streamlining of regulations, procedures and systems in DACAAR. The Adviser will have a special focus on the financial management procedures and systems of the organisation and compliance with donors’ rules and regulations.

The Adviser reports to the Director and will have strong advisory relationship towards the Heads of Departments and staff in all matters relating to financial and administrative procedures In addition the Adviser will maintain close collaboration with the Programme Coordinator in Denmark and provide input to the Governing Board as requested.

Specific Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities of the Advisor related to Departments include, but are not limited to, the following:

Directorate

· Provide strategic advice to the Director on all matters relating to finance and the financial sustainability of the organisation.

· Develop, implement and administer a system for internal control, detection of fraud and compliance with donor and internal regulations.

Strategy & Policy Department

· Effectively stay abreast of donors’ policies, procedures, rules and regulations and compile and update an applicable compliance manual and training program for DACAAR staff.

• Support use of and if needed identify internal potential synergies, e.g. between staff working with grants and finance to ensure efficient compliance.
• Provide targeted and on-going coaching and mentoring to staff dealing with donor compliance.

· Ensure implementation of systems and procedures are in compliance with donor regulations through access to contract information, particularly the contract management database.

Finance & Administration Department

· Assist and advise the Head of Finance & Administration in monitoring the financial management of DACAAR, including management of cash flow and bank accounts in several foreign currencies, in accordance with individual donor contracts.

· Assist and support the Head of Finance & Administration in establishing an improved budget and expenditure monitoring system as well as regular monitoring of the same.

· Together with the Head of Finance & Administration, ensure that adequate budgeting procedures and systems are documented and in place in all departments within DACAAR and that relevant staff members receive sufficient support in implementation of such systems and procedures.

• Together with the Finance & Administration Manager, review and analyse annual budgets as well as proposal budgets prepared by the departments and compiled by the Finance Section.

· Together with the Head of Finance & Administration review and analyse Balance Sheet reconciliation and follow up on outstanding items with the Programme.

· Together with the Head of Finance & Administration, review financial reports prior to submission to the Director for approval before submission to donors.

· Provide the Head of Finance & Administration mentoring for further development of core financial and administrative functions and systems.

· Together with the Head of Finance and Administration ensure that principles and procedures for registration and control of stocks and stores are developed, documented, and applied consistently and as required.

· Ensure orderly closure of completed projects in collaboration with relevant entities in DACAAR.

· Advise the Head of Finance and Administration in case of any modifications required to financial manual and other related documents.

· Assist the Head of Finance and Administration in reviews, investigations and corrections of errors and inconsistencies in financial entries, documents and reports.

· Support the Head of Finance & Administration to ensure that procurement personnel are improving the current procurement regulations and systems to ensure that supplies for programme activities are procured in a timely manner and in accordance with the principles established in donor contracts.

· Establish a system in which procurement documentation for each project is completed and properly filed for audit use.

Human Resource Department

· Assist the Head of Human Resources in planning necessary recruitment, training and capacity building of Afghan finance and administration staff.

· Assist the Head of Human Resources in review and development of related finance training materials.

· Assist the Head of Human Resources in reviewing staff related financial benefits and ensuring consistency with the organisations human resource and finance strategy.

Programme Department

• Prepare procedures for the continued smooth monitoring of financial and administrative compliance for the proper and transparent implementation of DACAAR's programme as required by established procedures and donor requirements.
• Interact regularly with the Head of Programme and the Managers of Services, Portfolio and Operations and key staff responsible for the Programme’s accounting functions. Identify and deliver on the job trainings as necessary.
• Assist with the development of standards and wherever possible simplify procedures to enhance communication of financial information.

Qualifications

• Strong professional background (Master’s degree) in financial management and accounting.
• Strong professional experience and interest in management and administration of donor funds including compliance with donors’ rules and regulations (e.g. DANIDA, SIDA, NORAD, EC, ECHO and CIDA).
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills and attitude.
• Experience with DACAAR’s financial system, Navision, desirable.
• Work experience from and knowledge about Islamic culture in general and Afghanistan in particular is an advantage.
• Willingness to live, travel and work under difficult conditions.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.

DACAAR welcomes applications from both women and men.

Conditions

Duty station: Kabul, Afghanistan. The work might require occasional travelling in rural areas in Afghanistan, subject to the security situation. For the time being, Kabul is classified as a non-family duty station.

Contract: One year with the Danish Refugee Council (on behalf of DACAAR). Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates. (See www.drc.dk under Vacancies). The position is classified as A6.

Availability: 1. April 2012

Further information
You are welcome to contact Ms. Vibeke Falkenberg, Programme Coordinator (Copenhagen), phone+45 3373 5034 or e-mail vibeke.falkenberg@drc.dk and Mr Gerry Garvey, Director (Kabul), e-mail dir@dacaar.org for further information on the position.

Please note that applications are not to be sent to Ms. Falkenberg or Mr Garvey. Applications sent directly to Ms. Falkenberg or Mr. Garvey will not be taken into consideration.

Application and CV

Only motivated applications in English that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. CV-only applications will not be considered.

We only accept applications sent online on www.drc.dkunder Vacancies > Current vacancies > DACAAR Finance Adviser – Afghanistan (click on the vacancy, then on “Apply” at the bottom of the window that opens).

Please send your application, in English and marked “DACAAR Finance Adviser“ no later than 7. October 2012

Please contact Anne Oxholm, job@drc.dk, if you experience problems with your online application.