Officer, Finance

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies 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 has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

IFRC has launched an Emergency Appeal for Ukraine and impacted countries that is coordinated on a European regional level and supported in the initial months by a large number of surge delegates in the impacted countries and at the Regional Office for Europe level. ICRC, IFRC and numerous Partner National Societies are integrating their capacities to provide coordinated crisis response in Ukraine and the neighbouring countries. Operations are led and coordinated on country-level, integrated under existing Country and Cluster delegations, through Operations Managers reporting to Heads of Country or Cluster Delegation. Where no Country/Cluster delegation exists, Operations Managers report directly to the RoE. 

Job Purpose

To provide Finance support to the Ukraine and Impacted Countries Crisis Emergency Appeal 

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Management Support

• Support in financial management and reporting for the Ukraine Emergency Appeal Projects managed from the Regional Office
• Support in preparation of donor financial reports as from time to time within the documented deadlines.
• Ensure that all donor reporting requirements (financial) are met within the deadlines, and the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of the reports are maintained. Track donor balances and ensure appropriate coding of expenses
• Support the Operations managers with the timely execution of project funding agreements with the National Society with a view to enabling timely Programme and operational implementation.
• Work with the various operations managers to ensure expedited cash transfers in support of programmes and operation
• Ensure National Societies supported from Europe Regional Office are aware and adhere to donor funding and financial reporting,
• Work closely with National Societies (NS) to ensure correct booking of expenditures to the correct budget lines, ensure expenditure is incurred in full compliance with the project funding agreements, Federation Financial and Procurement Procedures.
• Support in reconciliation of NS working advance accounts
• Provide reports that help program managers monitor expenditures and balances
• Review requests of working advances from NS ensuring reasonableness of expense estimates and subsequent Posting National Society working advance returns in ERP
• Ensure that transfers to NS are performed only if they follow the validation process, policies, and procedures, including the clauses of project agreement, to ensure that funds are transferred in line with it.
• Support to partner NS focal point, on the documentation and coding of all the financial transactions related to the projects being implemented.
• Review partner spending in relation to budgets.
• Review working advance requests from staff and accounting of the same.
• Ensure that Cash Voucher Assistance Programme reconciliations are reviewed and approved and registered in correct pledges.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Reporting

• Prepare ad hoc financial reports

• Support Audit preparation and document retrieval. Reviewing the documents for completeness before submission to auditors with regards to accounts payable and transfers and expenditures from National Societies

Education

Required:

• Relevant university degree or extensive professional experience in related field

Preferred:

• Professional qualification in accounting or equivalent
• Relevant professional training courses (Red Cross/Red Crescent related, humanitarian and development sector, management, etc.)

Experience

Required:          

• Minimum of 2 years work experience with an International Organisation, international non-governmental organization, NGO and/or government development agency
• Volunteering or working within the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement
• Developing budgets, plans and financial analysis
• Minimum 2 years experience working in a finance environment
• Communicating financial results to managers
• Preparation for, conduct of and/or support to external financial audit

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Advanced skills in computer productivity applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Advanced knowledge of accounting concepts
• Financial management skills
• Fluently spoken and written English and Hungarian

Preferred:

• Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural context
• Highly organised/time management skills
• Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards or equivalent
• Advanced knowledge of ERP and financial management and reporting applications (e.g. CODA and Business Objects)
• Ability to effectively provide training on financial management matters
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust

Comments: This is a national staff position open to Hungarian nationals and others who are legally eligible to work in Hungary. Candidates must be able to provide proof of their eligibility to work in Hungary.