Job Opportunities at International Rescue Committee

Job Description

• The IRC is currently implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Management system across the Finance, Supply Chain and Grants Management functions in all IRC locations. Project Integra will retire several existing systems, bringing them into a cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 environment. Integra is the largest investment in systems that the IRC has ever made and will change the way we work. Integra in itself is not the only major change to IRC’s approach to Finance as all Finance policies and procedures are being updated and additional complementary systems to Integra are being implemented (e.g. Kariba, Power BI and Cost Allocation). 
• The Regional Finance Change Management Lead provides ERP training and accounting support to ensure the successful implementation of finance transformation initiatives in IRC's country offices and regional office. These initiatives will lead to value optimization, efficiency and effectiveness within the Crisis Response, Recovery and Development (CRRD) function.
• This position works closely with the Regional Finance Director, country office finance and program teams to lead and support the finance change management process. The goal of finance change management is to ensure that program team members have the right tools, business processes and support available at the right time and place to be able to do their jobs effectively in concert with an efficient Finance function. Furthermore, the incumbent plays a key role in ensuring that Finance remains a critical organizational business partner delivering accurate, insightful and timely financial management information.
• The role is part of the regional team and reports to the Regional Finance Director (RFD), with a dotted line (MIP – Management In Partnership) to the Director of Global Finance Change Management for technical guidance and support. 

 
Major Responsibilities: 

•  In close partnership with the RFD, own the successful deployment of the new Microsoft Dynamics ERP system (called Integra at IRC) across country offices in the region. Integra will provide the foundation for many of the finance transformation initiatives over several years.
•  Provide technical training and accounting support to country offices on ERP system changes, new accounting policies, procedures and ways of working.
•  Guide continuous improvement so that processes are tailored to the needs of the region and the countries within it.
•  Work closely with headquarters teams including Finance and Operations and Process Excellence (Integra team) to represent the region on finance-related Integra matters.
•  Collaborate with the Training team to provide effective training and capacity building of all staff, specifically on finance components.
•  Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement and innovation that values learning and a commitment to quality.

 
 Support the RFD in communicating finance changes across the region.

•  Use an encouraging and collaborative approach to establish clear and mutually agreed expectations, set objectives, establish priorities, and monitor and evaluate results.
•  Implement plans that result in successful adoption and achieve measured improvements in finance operations.
•  Provide surge capacity to country offices or fill gaps in the country finance teams as required.
•  Raise awareness of the need for change and build a desire to participate in and encourage change.
•  Drive collaboration and knowledge sharing at all levels of the organization to break down silos and achieve the best results for transformation and optimized execution.
•  Track and analyze success metrics and provide regular updates on status and progress.
•  Document key learning and use this to improve knowledge management and revise change management plans.
•  Participate in the development and delivery of plans, goals, objectives and priorities for the Regional Finance department and undertake other duties as assigned.

 
Job Requirements

•  Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting or CPA or equivalent
•  At least 6 years of experience within NGO/Corporate Finance environment using ERP systems
•  Skilled at facilitating cross-functional projects in an efficient yet collaborative manner
•  Excellent written / verbal communication skills, and follow-up skills
•  Written and spoken proficiency in English.
•  Strong analytical skills and creative problem-solving skills
•  Sophisticated MS Excel skills
•  Excellent writing, presentation and facilitation skills
•  Willingness to travel to IRC country offices within the region up to 50% of the time
•  Able to work with diverse teams in diverse locations, engaging their input and dedication to success

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

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Job Description

The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya; or in a country in West Africa, Central Africa, or East Africa where IRC operates (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Sudan).

Job Overview/Summary:

The Economic Recovery and Development Technical Unit (ERD TU) provides technical assistance, ensures innovation, promotes illustrative practices, and improves data collection and analysis for livelihoods programming within the organization.

Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) programming is an important mechanism for delivering effective and efficient assistance to affected households. To continue the scale-up of CVA, the IRC is recruiting a Regional Cash Implementation Specialist to support CVA programming across East and West Africa. The Specialist will collaborate with regional ERD Technical Advisors (TAs) to comprehensively support IRC country teams with high quality CVA programming throughout the regions.

The position will provide regular in-person and remote support to each priority country office team. The Specialist will work closely with finance and supply chain teams and ERD program teams to support the use of cash in basic needs, food security, or livelihood programming. They will provide technical support to work towards ”cash across outcomes” with the Health, Environmental Health, Protection and Governance teams. The position will play a critical role in strengthening IRC and partner staff capacity to deliver CVA programs, promoting preparedness to deliver CVA rapidly when crises happen, crafting or improving M&E systems, and strengthening operations practice and procedure between programs, supply chain and finance teams.

Major Responsibilities:

•Assist ERD or other sector teams in IRC country offices in the assessment, design, implementation and monitoring of CVA programs. The position is encouraged to be heavily involved in program delivery, troubleshooting implementation challenges, and using monitoring data to improve program design.

•Ensure effective CVA tracking systems and continuous observation of CVA activity plans in collaboration with Finance, operations, ICT and M&E teams at TU, regional and country levels.

•Where not yet existing, support the development, adaptation and standardization (if appropriate) of operating procedures for CVA implementation. Ensure country teams know IRC’s cash procedures and tools so that they can use them independently.

•Support country teams in developing CVA preparedness plans and pre-positioning CVA plans in order to be prepared to rapidly and effectively deliver cash relief when emergencies happen.

•Support offices in adopting digital payment systems for CVA programs. Assist in defining digital payment needs and program requirements, identifying potential vendors, supporting the contracting process, and developing procedures to effectively handle digital payments.

•In partnership with the ERD TAs that support the West and East Africa Regions, coordinate and encourage sharing and learning between country programs, including sharing knowledge, skills, and tools by engaging country office staff in active cross-country and cross-sector communication.

•Provide CVA support to high-risk countries (Ethiopia, Cameroon, CAR, Mali, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen) to develop solid prevention plans, mitigating risks associated with CVA.

•Ensure gender and protection mainstreaming in CVA tools and methodology.

•Support the roll-out of IRC’s ”Good & Great Standards” for CVA by ensuring that country teams are trained and able to consistently meet them.

•Establish and maintain IRC networks (regional and international) and effective relationships with IRC partners.

•Deploy as needed on short notice to support new food security, basic needs, or other cash-based emergency responses in East and West Africa. Support assessments, program design, and start-up activities for new emergency responses in the region, including in locations where IRC does not yet have a presence, as applicable.

Key Working Relationships:

•Position Reports to: ERD Cash Technical Advisors for West Africa and East Africa

•Position directly supervises: N/A

•Indirect Reporting: Other Internal and/or external contacts:

•Internal: East Africa and West Africa Deputy Regional Directors, ERD Senior Technical Advisor for Cash and Emergencies, Cash Preparedness TA, ERD Markets Specialist, Regional Emergency Advisors, Regional M&E and ICT4P Advisors, Country-level SMTs, ERD Coordinators and other sector Coordinators as needed

•External: N/A

Job Requirements:

Education: Undergraduate degree in social science, international relations, humanitarian affairs, nutrition, food security, logistics, Business Administration, Financial Management, or related field and technical accreditation or equivalent

Work Experience: 3-6 years of work experience in the humanitarian or development sector with dynamic management and decision-making responsibility, including a minimum of 3 years of international experience implementing cash and voucher activities, including mobile money and e-vouchers. Experience working in diverse emergency, recovery, post-conflict or development contexts.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

•Strong demonstrated experience implementing CVA programs in a variety of programming contexts, and in-depth knowledge of various types of CVA approaches (conditional and unconditional grants, vouchers, Cash for work, etc.).

•Demonstrated assessment, data collection and analysis skills, including needs assessments, market assessments and incorporation of gender analyses into assessment approaches.

•Demonstrated ability to work across function and sector to build strong working relationships and to ensure high-quality market-based program delivery. Demonstrated ability to communicate technical expertise and standards and implement best practice approaches to implementing rapid, consistent, high quality projects

•Outstanding communication and coordination capabilities and capability to operate independently and as a team member.

•Experience writing proposals for donor funded programs and grants.

•Proven capacity building, facilitation and coordination skills required

Language Skills: English and French required; knowledge of local languages spoken in the region preferred