HELP UKRAINE AND SAVE THE CHILDREN
The Company
Save the Children employs approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education, and child protection. The organization also campaigns and advocates at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
Save the Children is working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:
- No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
- All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
- Violence against children is no longer tolerated
Role Purpose
Save the Children knows that great people make a great organization, and that their employees play a crucial role in helping the organization achieve its ambitions for children. Save the Children value its people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
Save the Children Ukraine is undergoing a large transition from a small to medium size country office to a large country program. Armed conflict has broken out in eastern and southern resulting in large-scale displacement internally and across borders into Moldova, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. Save the Children has launched a Ukraine specific response as well as a regional European response. The Finance Director shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office (CO). The Finance Director in his/her capacity will be accountable to the Country Director for overseeing the Finance department and co-accountable with other senior leaders for risk management –in both emergencies and development programming contexts.
As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) in Ukraine, the Finance Director shares the overall responsibility for the direction and coordination of the Country Office (CO). The Finance Director in his/her capacity will be accountable to the Country Director for overseeing the Finance Department and co-accountable with other senior leaders for risk management –in both emergencies and development programming contexts.
Strategic Direction:
- Responsible for strategic direction and leadership to Save the Children Ukraine finance department and team.
- Responsible for long term financial planning in line with Child Safeguarding Policy, coordination of annual budget exercise, revision, and update of in-country financial policy, analyse financial performance of the country operation, undertake capacity building initiatives for the field office-based finance staff, set financial performance standards and re-engineer processes within Finance for smooth operation.
- Guide/Assist the Country Director and the SMT in the Financial management/administration of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices.
Implementation of Global Finance Strategy at Country Office Level.
The Position
Ukraine CO operates in an armed and highly complex context with multi-member interests. The CO annual budget could reach more than $100m, and more than 700 staff. The Ukraine CO is undergoing a large transition from a small to medium size country office to a large country program. Armed conflict has broken out in eastern and southern resulting in large-scale displacement internally and across borders into Moldova, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary.
The Finance Director reports to the Country Director. Staff directly reporting to this post is the Deputy Finance Director and Financial Manager Budgeting & Reporting.
Key areas of accountability:
- As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to:
- Support development of an organizational culture that reflects our dual mandate values; promotes accountability and high performance; encourages a team culture of learning; creativity and innovation and frees up our people to deliver outstanding results for children and excellent customer service for our members and donors
- Assist CD and the SMT to develop an effective internal control framework and operationalize such framework
- Act as key business partner of DCD-POD and other Departments heads in driving the BVA KPI performance across the CO, helping to meet ‘zero GA outstanding audit findings’ target and improving procurement and stock control environment.
- Help establish, maintain, and improve active and regular working relationships with – host government authorities, partner agencies including humanitarian and development donors. and local and international NGOs
- As a Senior Management Team member contribute towards overall organizational goals and objectives by participating in strategy formulation, policy development and various business processes design and providing required financial analysis to aid decision making.
- Maintain strategic links with government of key ministries at national, regional and district levels, identify opportunities and ensure Save the Children’s participation in key activities of the national, provincial, and local level government, Ensure that Save the Children policies are coherent and relevant to current policies in Ukraine.
- Planning and Budgeting
- Assist the Country Director (CD) in the management /administration of the Country Office resources and its sub-offices including (a) the formulation of country work program and resource allocation, (b) providing effective support and guidance to the Senior Management Team and other key program staff during planning and allocation exercises; (c) monitoring implementation of donor agreements and resource utilization. Highlight variances, provide analyses and recommend resolution or reallocation of resources
- Perform periodic financial analysis on UKRAINE CO cost base this should include but not limited to staffing and NTC costs also to provide strategic financial recommendations for CD and SMT members on the fit for purpose and CO financial sustainability, this should be done in consultation business development and with CD, SMT/Counterparts and RO team.
- Work along with the SMT in developing plans to meet funding and programming needs. This includes diversification of funding resources.
- Identify and effectively manage financial risks related to delivering the Country Office program. Develop mitigation plans at proposal stage
- Ensure correct level of budget authority exists within Country Office and Field Offices
- Manage the financial aspects of quality budget development for new proposals and budget revisions and review them before they are submitted to Members/Donors
- Manage the financial aspects of the annual planning process and ensure the preparation of a quality and timely master budget and reforecasts. Review the documents and share them with SMT before final submission to the RO and respond/address the comments received from the RO and Members
- Ensure appropriate and adequate emergency finance procedures are detailed in the Country Office Emergency Preparedness Plan in order to enable rapid scale-up
- Ensure budget holders understand their responsibilities (e.g. through training)
- Ensure Field Offices receive adequate support to operate efficient accounting systems, including timely receipt of monthly budget variance analysis by budget holders, timely answers to queries, and scheduling tasks and deadlines
- Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control
- Oversee the finance function in Ukraine Country Office, ensuring that planning and budgeting, financial accounting, financial control, international accounting principles, budget monitoring, and reporting complies with SCI policies and procedures and donors’ rules and regulations
- Oversee correct level of budget authority exists within Country Office. Own the application of SCI approved scheme of delegation, together with the Country Director.
- Ensure finance dashboard and MFRs are well presented in SMT meetings with clear recommendations for improvement plans where applicable.
- Monitor accurate and timely submission of financial reports and attachments to internal and external stakeholders (SMT, RO/Centre, Members/Donors, government regulatory agencies, etc.)
- Responsible for making sure effective systems are put in place, and regularly reviewed, to allow adequate financial management and control over assets, funds, equipment, property, and facilities
- Lead and participate in the development of finance policies and procedures to ensure adequate finance controls are in place according to international accounting principles
- Complete and submit the FCC report, respond to findings and recommend resolutions or action plans
- Ensure Monthly Financial Reviews (MFRs) are prepared, reviewed with CD, and submitted to Regional Office regularly
- Ensure that finance in the main office provide technical support to the finance departments in field offices and continuously testing their internal controls, financial procedures, and systems
- Ensure the CO finance work with budget holders and field finance to estimate funds request on a timely basis to ensure resources are in place for carrying project activities
- Ensure statutory audit and project-specific audits are conducted and findings are addressed; and assist CD and CQSM during any internal audits
- Review and approve the proper accounting and closing of books upon receipt of completed reports and documents from various sub-offices
- Develop sub-grantees financial management through training and capacity building
- Develop CO budget holder financial management through training and capacity building
- Perform any other responsibilities related to financial management as required
- Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
- Ensure appropriate staffing and competencies within Finance Department at both CO and FOs
- Ensure all Finance staff understand and are able to perform their roles in an emergency/non-emergency context
- Lead Finance team: define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly
- Responsible for the recruitment, training, and promotion of Finance staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff
- Manage the performance of Finance staff through:
- Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews, and fair and unbiased evaluations.
- Establishment of a result-based system and regular follow up;
- Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
- Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
- Documentation of performance that is at standard and above and less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/work plans
- Ensure succession and staffing development plans are well prioritized and communicated with the CD and HR department.
- Risk Management
- Support the CD, and SMT in applying risk management lens to evaluation of growth strategies and opportunities to ensure manageable balance of risk and growth
- Support the CD, and SMT in developing a risk management policy to maximize financial resource effectiveness
- Identify and effectively manage financial risks related to delivering the Country Office program. Develop mitigation plans at proposal stage
- Participate in the preparation of monthly Risk Management Register in consultation with SMT in accordance with the SCI Quality Framework Essential Standards
- Undertake the financial risk assessments of all new partners and monitoring of on-going risk in coordination with SMT
- Support CD and SMT in keeping analysis of the internal and external risks and threats and appropriate mitigation measures up to date
Behaviours (Values in practice)
- Accountability:
- Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved
- Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
- Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
- Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale
- Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
- Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to
- Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks
- Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will have the following profile:
Experience
- 10+ years of demonstrated professional experience in financial management in an international NGO environment, including 5 years in managing high and complex contexts.
Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to demonstrate skills in leading a multi-disciplined team through a period of change
- Leadership skills, including the ability to supervise and motivate qualified professional staff with strong personal value systems
- Analytical, decision making and strategic planning skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities
Personal characteristics
- Ability to plan and organise a substantial workload that includes complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities in both development and complex emergency contexts
- Willingness and ability to dramatically change work practices and hours, and work with incoming surge teams, in the event of emergencies
- Demonstrated credibility with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels of an organization
- Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
- Ability to coach, mentor, delegate appropriately and provide developmental guidance to supervised staff and proven success in building capacity of staff
- Ability to travel to all programme sites in Ukraine.
Education level
- Masters’ Degree in Finance or Accounting or any related field or equivalent professional experience.
Desirable
- Qualified finance professional is a plus (recognised accounting qualification such as CIMA, ACCA, CPA) with experience of operating in a global and complex organisation.
- Understand Ukraine Language.
- Proven record implementing change and improvement initiatives in complex contexts.
This position is full-time with a fixed-term contract and is located in Lviv, Ukraine.
Save The Children offers a competitive package in the context of the sector. This Role is offered based on international terms and conditions. Also, interviews will be held on an ongoing basis, adverts will be closed once a person is identified.
For non-EU citizens, Visa is to be obtained.
Application Information:
Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.
Save the Children needs to keep children safe so their selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects their commitment to the protection of children from abuse. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.
The deadline of application is until 17th of May 2022, at 20:59 UTC.
We encourage candidates to apply directly on Save the children’s website by following this link : https://www.savethechildren.net/careers/apply/details?jid=76250
