Manager, Regional Support Services

Organizational Context

“This is a national staff position open to nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in countries where IFRC has legal presence: Buenos Aires (Argentina), San José (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Kingston (Jamaica), Managua (Nicaragua), Panama City (Panama), Lima (Peru), or Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago).

Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in those countries during application phase”

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the Regional Support Services Manager is to ensure development and control related to financial management and other support functions for Norwegian Red Cross operations.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic responsibilities

• Responsible for managing annual financial processes and ensuring finance compliance in the region according to donor requirements, and Norwegian Red Cross rules and systems.
• Ensure internal control and financial risk management at regional and country levels, including mitigating actions and management of suspected and confirmed cases of fraud and corruption.
• Strengthen support functions in the region, organizing effective support to country offices.

Operational responsibilities

• Supports and provides finance and progress analysis to Regional Representative for good decision making
• Responsible for quality and timely financial and procurement planning in the region, including yearly budgets, prognosis, and mid-term budget reviews, informing project adjustments, including the reallocation of financial resources.
• Responsible for correct and updated quality finance information in NorCross accounting and reporting systems.
• Ensures that procurement and logistics policies and procedures are documented, disseminated and consistently applied across the region
• Responsible to control and quality check of internal financial reporting according to guidelines.
• Manages financial aspects of the regional office, including reconciliations, NFO budgeting, budget monitoring and analysis, and forecasting.
• Supports the financial management of the country offices, including cash disbursements, reconciliations, budget monitoring and analysis, financial follow up of National Societies, and annual audit processes.
• Ensures finance monitoring in the region, coordinates regular spot checks in every country.
• Ensures that a strong internal control environment is maintained, including prevention of fraud and corruption
• ApplyNorwegian Red Cross procedures, including assuring procurements are in line with Norwegian Red Cross rules and regulations.
• Leads the financial-administrative mapping of National Societies and oversees the implementation of agreed mitigation measures.
• Contributes to human resources planning for personnel in the regionunder the technical supervision of NorRC Human Resources .
• Trains new support staff in Norwegian Red Cross rules and regulations, and the correct use of available finance management tool. Supports the accountants in the region, enabling them to book expenditure correctly and in a timely manner.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Collaboration

• The Regional Support Services Manager has a technical line to relevant support staff in CO.
• Contributes to International Programmes and Preparedness Departments efforts to harmonise and improve administrative procedures and processes between the Headquarters (HQ), Regional and the Country Offices.
• Supports, Regional and Country staff to ensure adequate financial management and management of support areas.
• Provides financial advice and analysis to the Regional Representative.
• Collaborates closely with the Finance and Grants Unit, to implement Norwegian Red Cross’ guidelines, rules, and regulations.
• Works with Finance Department to facilitate and follow up controller visits to the region.

Mission specific responsibilities

Financial Management and Compliance

• Responsibility: Coordinate and manage the region's annual financial procedures, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and Norwegian Red Cross rules.

Internal Control and Risk Management

• Responsibility: Monitor and assess internal control systems, manage financial risks,

Support Functions and Operational Efficiency

• Responsibility: Develop and optimize support functions, assisting country offices with financial and operational improvements.

Training and Capacity Building

• Responsibility: Organize and lead training workshops for staff on financial management, internal controls, and compliance.

Governance and Procurement Oversight

• Responsibility: Advice regional and country operations, ensuring alignment with organizational rules, and procurement guidelines.

Human Resources Planning and Development

• Responsibility: Contribute to HR planning, analyze personnel needs, and follow up on staff development initiatives.

Education

• Relevant university degree (Chartered Auditor, Business Administration, Finance Management or other relevant or Finance Degree, or equivalent)

Experience

• Five years of relevant experience.
• Proven experience in financial planning and budget analysis.
• Successful track record of managing international finance teams, including remote support.
• Proven good judgment in risk management, and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
• Knowledge of relevant accounting concepts, International Financial Reporting Standards or equivalent.
• Advanced understanding of internal control and treasury management concepts.
• Advanced understanding of supply chain management, or ICT, is an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Very good ability to work towards achieving objectives and results
• Very good ability to cooperate and share competency
• Very good ability to convince and gain acceptance
• Very good ability to communicate effectively
• Very good ability to think holistically
• Good ability to be solution oriented

LANGUAGES

• Fluent spoken and written English C1
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic), preferred

Competencies, Values and Comments

Competencies: Financial management, compliance with donor regulations, budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting

Competencies: Risk management, internal controls, audit processes, and fraud prevention

Competencies: Operational efficiency, organizational development, problem-solving, and performance monitoring.

Competencies: Training, facilitation, knowledge of compliance standards, and financial literacy.

Competencies: Governance, procurement management, contract oversight, and regulatory compliance.

Competencies: HR management, workforce planning, staff development, leadership, and coaching.

APPLICATION

A letter of motivation must be submitted along with the application no later than the closing date. In order to ensure a proper comparative evaluation of your application for this vacancy and to enable us to consider your profile against other similar current and future vacancies, we ask that you submit your application taking into account the following:

Important Note:

• Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through a national contract under the labour law of any of the following countries, where the IFRC have legal status: Buenos Aires (Argentina), San José (Costa Rica), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Kingston (Jamaica), Managua (Nicaragua), Panama City (Panama), Lima (Peru), or Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago); therefore only those citizens, as well as foreign applicants with valid and current residence and work permit in those countries, will be considered for this vacancy.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and local labour laws
• The closing date is midnight Geneva time; Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.