EMS is seeking, on the behalf of an INGO, a proficient and experienced Group Finance and Operations Director.

Function: Operations

Job Group: Programme Support

Duty Station: Geneva – Head Office

Indicative start date: September 2020

Administrative Line Manager: Executive Director

Line Management Responsibility: Direct: Head Office Operations team

Technical: Country Programme and US Operations teams

J**OB PURPOSE:**

The Group Finance and Operations Director is responsible for contributing to the strategic leadership and management of the INGO globally, together with leading and managing the INGO’s Group Operations function.

The Group Operations Director is a member of the Group Executive team.

The purpose of the role is to lead and manage the INGO’s Finance, Human Resources (HR), Logistics and Information Systems functions to ensure that its country programmes operate efficiently and cost-effectively in pursuit of its mission.

The INGO’s aim is that all its functions should operate according to its values and best practice standards for its size and mission as defined by both the non-profit and with-profit sectors. In this role, the values of honesty, integrity and prudence are particularly important.

SCOPE:

Our client currently operates 4 country programmes: South Sudan, Iraq, Myanmar and the Philippines and has a fundraising and advocacy function in the USA. The South Sudan programme accounts for 50+% of Group activity. The INGO consists of 4 legal entities based in Switzerland, France, Belgium and USA and through common Board membership constitutes a Group. Annual Group income is c.€20m. Total staff number c.300 and are culturally very diverse, reflecting the organization’s experience that it achieves its best outcomes when it has diverse teams. The quality of the INGO’s programmes is renowned and there is increasing recognition for its approach at a global level.

There are significant opportunities for increasing impact and extending the geographical reach of the INGO’s programmes – a key aspect of the role is to enable and support this growth. Group income has risen from €11m in 2017 and there remain significant opportunities to grow further and to increase the number of country programmes.

Historically the development of the Operations function has lagged the development of the Programme function and an important part of the role is investing in the development of the function including continuing to develop a high performing and resilient team. It is expected that the investment phase will take a further 1-2 years during which time the job holder will be more hands-on than in the longer term. Initially, a greater proportion of the job holder’s focus will be on finance than in other areas. The job holder, therefore, needs the ability and motivation to be hands-on in the beginning and then to perform at a higher level in the future.

KEY PERSONAL OUTCOMES:

As a result of the responsibilities outlined below it is expected that the key personal outcomes from this role will include the development and delivery of:

A Group strategic business plan:

  • Group budgets and forecasts, together with the appropriate systems to both reflect and implement the business plan;

  • A Group risk mitigation system and associated procedures;

  • A Group compliance system designed to ensure legal, regulatory and grant compliance in each

jurisdiction in which the INGO operates;

  • A Group HR strategy covering structure, people, processes and culture;

  • A best practice Group logistics function;

  • A best practice Group IT strategy & function.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following responsibilities are categorized according to function. However, the responsibilities should be carried out in an integrated way designed to meet organizational objectives and tasks. The role includes a responsibility to ensure the overall smooth running of the INGO, identifying emerging needs, ensuring these are met and that an integrated approach is taken. This integrated approach relates not only to Operations functions but also to its inter-action with Programmes, Fundraising and Advocacy. A key theme running through these areas is the jobholder’s responsibility to ensure donor, legal and regulatory compliance in all of the jurisdictions in which the INGO operates.

Finance:

In respect of Finance the role’s main personal and delegated responsibilities are:

  • Personal responsibilities;

  • Strategic & business planning including budgeting & forecasting Delegated responsibilities;

  • Effective Group reporting – complete, accurate, balanced, timely and compliant;

  • Effective country programme financial management – controlled and compliant systems supporting Group reporting;

  • Prudent Treasury management including cash and forex;

  • Grant management & compliance;

  • Risk management;

  • Procurement – best practice procurement in respect of major group contracts, particularly insurance policies;

  • Internal audit – a respected function which adds value and ensures continuous improvement.

The job holder will be expected to ensure the maintenance and development of the highest standards of internal financial control throughout the Group and all its functions and programmes. A key aspect of the role will be to communicate the INGO’s finances to internal and external stakeholders.

Human Resources:

In respect of Human Resources, the roles key personal responsibilities are:

  • The development and delivery of a group HR strategy covering structure, people, processes and culture

  • To lead, manage and develop a best practice Group HR function, which will enable the INGO to deliver its strategy and programmes.

This will include the delegated responsibilities for the following aspects:

Logistics:

In respect of Logistics the roles key personal responsibility is:

  • To lead, manage and develop a best practice logistics function which enables the INGO to deliver its programmes in accordance with donor proposals;

This will include delegated responsibilities for the following key elements:

  • Procurement – timely and cost-effective purchase of goods and services in line with the highest standards of internal control and donor compliance;

  • Movement of people and goods – the timely transport of people and goods;

  • The management of the INGO’s premises and accommodation;

  • The maintenance of a Health & Safety function, including as a minimum, compliance with local regulations.

Information Systems:

The roles key personal responsibilities are:

  • The development and implementation of an IT strategy to cost-effectively support the INGO’s functions in the delivery of its strategy and programmes;

  • To lead, manage and develop an information systems function, which will enable the INGO to deliver its strategy and programmes, efficiently and cost effectively.

This will include delegated responsibilities for the following key elements:

  • Design and implementation of an information management system;

  • Selection, implementation, maintenance and support of basic office systems – hardware and software;

  • Selection, implementation, maintenance and support of appropriate systems for key functions such as Finance, HR, Payroll and Fundraising;

  • Compliance with data protection regulations.

GROUP OPERATIONS TEAM:

The current head office group operations team, together with their key responsibilities are:

  • Group Financial Controller;

  • Financial Controller : Programmes (Grant Management & Compliance) ;

  • Group Finance Officer (Head Office Accounting);

  • Senior Global Flying Finance Controller (Internal Audit);

  • Group Human Resources Manager;

  • Group Operations Assistant.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

  • Demonstrable success in leading the operations function, including finance, of an INGO with an income in excess of CHF25M per year with highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, being able to build relationships at all levels and across cultures;

  • In addition, the experience of leading and managing the following functions: Human Resources and Logistics & Information Technology;

  • Member of a well-respected international professional accounting body and preferably also an MBA, with experience of principles-based accounting and financial management, including strategic planning, forecasting, risk management and compliance:

  • Post qualification experience should include statutory auditing;

  • Excellent spreadsheet skills;

  • Working with multi currencies;

  • Experience of working in the international humanitarian and development sector and the ability to demonstrate empathy and commitment to the work of the INGO;

  • Expertise in working/cooperating with INGOs in fragile countries from Africa, Asia or Middle East would be a strong asset;

  • In-depth experience of institutional donor fundraising, grant management, donor reporting and compliance;

  • A positive and constructive approach which seeks to identify options depending on the context and to build cohesion around a given approach;

  • Demonstrable experience of working with Boards;

  • Demonstrably been an integral part of an SMT leading on strategic and business planning;

  • Intercultural competence;

  • Fluency in written and spoken English. The INGO’s organizational language is English and the nature of

the role requires the ability to communicate concisely, clearly and with precision in English.

  • Fluency in French and/or German will be an asset.

This vacancy is archived.

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