Country Finance Officer

The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) was established in 1935 and is one of the oldest and largest humanitarian organizations in Ethiopia. ERCS provides services to communities affected by natural and manmade disasters through the provision of emergency responses, ambulance and first aid, family reunification, essential drugs, water and sanitation, and other humanitarian services. ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. Currently the ERCS has a structure consisting of 12 Regional Offices, 34 Zonal Branches and 131 District/Woreda Branches, 599 Woreda Red Cross Committee and 5871 Kebele Red Cross committees.

ERCS also runs disaster risk reduction programs relating to food security, climate change adaptation, livelihood diversification, and institutional capacity building interventions, with the aim of creating resilience households and communities. ERCS works in partnership with the Ethiopian Government, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), partnering National Societies, members, volunteers and the communities we serve.

Job Summary

Danish Red Cross has a longstanding partnership with Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS). DRC supports ERCS in Migration, Social Cohesion programs as well as in Disaster Preparedness and Humanitarian Response across the regions in Ethiopia with funding from various donors including Danida, EU/ECHO, Private funding etc. 

The Country Finance Officer (CFO) will support the Ethiopia Red Cross Society (ERCS) through the DRC Country Office in ensuring correct, effective and timely financial management in general and of DRC supported programmes in particular. The CFO assists the DRC Country Manager in ensuring effective and timely financial management of the Country Office expenses.

The CFO is line managed by the Country Manager has a functional reporting line to the ICA (International Controller and Advisor) for all functional finance matters (ie, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), templates, systems etc.). The Country Finance Officer position in Danish Red Cross (DRC) forms part of the Country Office. The position is recruited and contracted by ERCS

All financial management aspects of the financial support provided by DRC to Ethiopia Red Cross (ERCS)

Financial Management of Programmes

• Coordinate and assist Country Office / ERCS in preparing annual and quarterly programme budgets and financial reports to the donors and ensure that the donor specific guidelines are adhered to.
• Coordinate with DRC ICA at DRC HQ, the creation of country-level grants and projects within the DRC accounting system.
• Control and monitoring of programme budgets and expenditures and ensure compliance with donor and DRC requirements.
• Scrutinize DRC country project and programme financial reports and proactively support the DRC Country team and ERCS to timely submit complete and compliant reports to the DRC Regional Office in accordance with DRC SOPs.
• Provide input to the financial overviews of the DRC region / country project and programme portfolio and follow up on grants allocated to the DRC region/country.
• Support ERCS in the development of (and adjustments to) contracts and agreements, activity plans and financial reports and budgets. 
• Undertake quality control of cash requests and quarterly financial statements submitted by partners through the responsible delegates and other staff.
• Process the payment of cash requests from National Societies in the DRC payment system.  
• -n cooperation with the ICA, coordinate with ERCS the yearly financial and performance audits and unannounced cash counting for programmes in the country, including tender process for local auditors, instruct these and ensure that guidelines are followed.
• Advise ERCS on their financial and administrative systems and procedures including on corruption, fraud or misuse of funds.
• Advice, support and facilitate, in close coordination with the DRC Region / Country Team, ERCS, DRC HQ and partners, the compliant completion/closure of projects and programmes, including, but not limited to, final financial reporting, final external audit, updating of the DRC region / country project and programme portfolio overviews, and recording in the DRC accounting system.
• Data processing into KOMPAS for the reports received from ERCS.
• Prepare and periodically update grant income and expenditure budget for the overall programmes in the country.
• Identify capacity development needs and subsequently suggest, design and assist the DRC Country Team in building the financial management capacity of the National Society, where applicable.
• Periodically undertake field visits to provide on-site support and financial management capacity development of ERCS and, where necessary, also the DRC Country Team.

Support country manager and programmer delegates on financial issues 

Country Office financial management

• Ensure monthly reporting of Country Office Accounts including reconciliations.
• Maintain financial records/documentation and an appropriate and efficient financial filing system according to DRC filing guidelines.
• Processing DRC Country Office payments and, if applicable, work flow (internal) invoices.
• Plan and organise annual audits of Country Office Accounts in coordination with the IFM;
• Coordinate the preparation of annual plans of actions to address audit findings following the external audit reports and DRC internal monitoring visit’s recommendations (if any);
• Booking of all entries into the DRC accounting system.
• Manage cash flow to Country Office.
• Prepare and / or provide input to financial overviews to IFM / Country Manager (CM).
• Provide inputs to the DRC Country Office budget, follow-up on and revise it as necessary.
• Follow-up on time registration on project budgets by staff at DRC HQ and the DRC Regional / Country Office on a monthly basis.
• Prepare the quarterly Consolidated Financial Program Reports.
• Ensure correct posting of transactions booked on programmes.
• Monitor the Country Office Master budget through a monthly or quarterly budget monitoring/reporting process.
• Ensure that delegates monthly time registration are approved by CM and submitted to HQ 
• Monitor the country grant portfolio by preparing periodically an overview of the grant utilization progress with a projection of expenditures for the rest of the year and advise CM and the program delegates accordingly.
• Registration of local grants and assurance of cash pledges to IFRC and ICRC.

Support and cooperate with the DRC CM / Program Delegates

• Ensure transfer and accounting in KOMPAS of Delegates working advances.
• Advise on and support the preparation of appropriate and timely financial reporting of delegates and Country Office 
• Brief and assist Delegates and other staff on financial issues.
• Advise CM on all matters related to programme and Country Office finances and constantly maintain an overview of the country finance situation.
• Provide advise and Support to Delegates on financial administration procedures and matters

Ensure compliance

• Ensure that Country Office and Delegates apply DRC administrative procedures and policies.
• Maintain administrative procedures in the Country Office up to date, including financial filing system.
• Responsible for IT management.
• Stay informed of Government rules and regulations relating to financial management and administration (including HR management) in country.
• Ensure compliance with DRC financial management and administration procedures (SOPs).
• Stay abreast of relevant Government rules and regulations relating to financial management, including audit, and inform the DRC regional and country teams accordingly.
• Stay abreast of new DRC and/or partner guidelines on financial and administrative matters and inform the DRC regional and country teams accordingly.
• Provide backup for other DRC Country Office staff, if applicable. 
• Provide suggestions and inputs to the continuous development of the financial administration procedures, routines, and processes at regional and DRC level, e.g. by suggesting revisions the SOPs.
• Perform any other task assigned by the IFM and/or CM.
• The Country Finance Officer will participate in relevant internal meetings, development forums, workshops, courses etc. on the request of the CC. 
• Contribute to efficient communication and coordination between DRC Head Quarters, the Regional Office, Country Office, Delegates and ERCS on financial matters.
• Monitor and report on any suspicions of corruption, fraud or misuse of funds to CM, IFM and/or to rapport@rodekors.dk

Work Unit:- Danish Red Cross CO, Ethiopia

Functional line to the ICA (International Controller and Advisor) 

Delivery (Output) line to Country Manager (CM)

Terms of employment: - Contract for one year. 

Place of Work: - Addis Ababa 

Salary: - Negotiable     

Essential:

• Professional/academic qualification in finance or accounting (min. degree in commerce)
• Relevant experience of minimum 5 years in finance management and programming in humanitarian setting.
• Experience in preparing budgets, cash flow statements and financial plans
• Experience in preparing narrative and financial reports
• Full proficiency in Microsoft Office and advanced proficiency in excel is a prerequisite
• Excellent communication, planning, facilitation and coordination skills.
• Insight and understanding of various donor requirements and compliance. 
• Ability to monitor budgets and plans
• Knowledge and experience of accounting software packages
• Fluency in English speaking and writing is a requirement.
• Good analytical skills 
• Good cultural understanding and the ability to build confidence of partners in a challenging multicultural environment
• Excellent networking and facilitation skills
• Ability to work under pressure and respond to deadlines
• Strong team player.
• Organized and self-starter in prioritizing work load.
• Accuracy and fine attention to details.
• Tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to assume responsibility.
• Honest and reliable.
• Dynamic and proactive.
• Willingness to work away from home and participate in field visits
• Readiness to work flexible hours.
• Willingness to travel.

Desirable:

• Experience from the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
• Experience of managing and supporting staff.
• Experience in working in a multicultural environment.
• Experience from working in development and emergency environments.
• Skills in training and developing staff.

Expected Results

• Achieving transparent, coordinated and effective implementation of sound financial management of the country office and projects in line with DRC's commitment to donors and programme documents, budgets and plan of action.
• Improved technical quality of the programmes financial management 
• Timely and quality financial reporting to CM and ICA

How To Apply

We invite candidates meeting the required qualifications to fill out online employment application form With the indicated link Enketo Express for KoboToolbox (ifrc.org)   before the closing date of this announcement on June 13, 2024.

Qualified women are strongly recommended to apply!