Job Description
American Refugee Committee
POSITION TITLE: Finance Controller
COUNTRY PROGRAM: Rwanda
RESPONSIBLE TO: Country Director
STATUS: Full Time
SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: National Finance Staff
DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION
The American Refugee Committee (ARC) is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to transformational change – change in the lives of refugees and in the lives of the people who reach out to help.
American Refugee Committee programs are built from the ground up. We work with people at the most vulnerable points in their lives, when they have lost everything to war or disaster. They let us know what they need most, and we work together to develop ways to help them get it. Our programs are as diverse as the people we serve, but they all work together for the same goal: to help people take back control of their lives. We help nearly 2.5 million people a year through programs around the world.
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
Responsible for oversight of all financial activities, budgets and reports for an ARC country program. ARC has Finance Controller positions in the following locations: Pakistan, North Sudan, Rwanda, Liberia, Kenya, and Somalia.
MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Management
Manage day-to-day accounting functions including regular cash verification, bank and balance sheet accounts reconciliations, monthly closing, timely submission of financial report to headquarters (HQ), donors etc.
Complete monthly balance sheet and intercompany reviews and reconciliations.
Promptly respond to HQ finance queries including Intercompany charges.
Update the financial compliance dashboard monthly, note and address any significant variances.
Monitor grant spending through production of monthly Budget Versus Actual (BVA) analysis and ensure program teams explain significant variances and propose corrective measures.
Reporting and Budgeting
Monthly closing, timely submission of financial reports to ARC HQ, donors, etc.
Ensure on-time monthly submission to ARC HQ.
Prepare timely budgets, cash requests and accounting reports.
Monitor grant spending and projections.
Assist in preparation of budgets for all proposals, including accurate support of budget narratives.
Support program teams to accurately realign budgets whenever necessary.
Provide regular and timely budget reports and analysis to the Country Director and field program managers.
In coordination with HQ, lead the production of ARC country program annual budgets.
Support the Country Director to produce and update donor matrixes.
Liaise with donors on finance and budget issues as required.
Staff Management
Supervise finance staff. This includes ensuring they are properly trained and know what performance expectations are.
Carryout staff appraisals for finance staff.
Organize and lead orientation and training session related to finance.
Travel to the field as required ensuring systems are properly followed.
Audit and Internal Control
Implement and administer ARC systems for internal control, compliance, and accounting data processing and financial reporting functions in accordance with donor regulations.
Develop internal audit function and perform internal audit and reviews to ensure compliance with ARC and donor requirements.
Other
Maintain up-to-date, accurate accounting system, including: computer data entry and paper file system.
Ensure local taxation law requirements are fully complied with.
Other appropriate duties as assigned by the Country Director or HQ CFO.
EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
Minimum 5 years senior finance experience required; 3 years experience working for an international NGO in complex emergency or post-conflict settings required.
Experience in multi-cultural and multi-level programs.
Bachelors degree required in Finance, Accounting, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
Experience with international donors and grant requirements.
Strong computer skills in Microsoft software products: Excel, Word, outlook etc and accounting software. Serenic or Sun experience strongly preferred.
Prior experience in conducting finance training.
Excellent written and oral communications skills as well as leadership skills.
Sense of humor and good interpersonal skills.
Fluency in English required.
KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES
Ability to work with a team in an intense environment.
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Extremely flexible with the ability to cope with stressful situations.
