Vacancies at Catholic Relief

Job Summary:

The County Head of Office will manage and represent Nawiri activities operating through its fully operational county office in Isiolo County, to ensure implementation of high-quality programs. S/he will provide leadership in the management of the office, with emphasis on representation, administration, human resources, security, transport, procurement and external relations with government and other partners. S/he will ensure the development and effective management of operational systems and resources and the delivery of high-quality programming in coordination with the CRS main office in Nairobi.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage planning and implementation of all key activities at the county office level ensuring alignment with Country Program (CP) and agency strategic programming and operations excellence priorities and standards. Approve expenses, monitor spending, and make budget adjustments in line with operational and programmatic needs and donor requirements.
• As the primary representative of Nawiri in Isiolo County, strengthen existing and develop new relationships with local partners, government and community organizations.
• Ensure high-quality project implementation, management, and compliance with programmatic standards, policies and procedures through project review systems and quality control (comprehensive M&E systems, budget review and analysis). Promote documentation of program reviews, success stories, and lessons learned.
• Plan, coordinate, monitor and report on activities and required resources to ensure cost efficient and quality service delivery from administrative support functions. Anticipate delivery challenges to ensure service continuity. 
• Coordinate Nawiri activities with the consortium partners including overall coordination with the Nawiri sub-offices to ensure effective sequencing, layering and integration of activities within Nawiri and with other programs. 
• Approve expenses, in line with CRS approval matrix, monitor spending, and make budget adjustments in line with operational needs and donor requirements.
• Serve as the security focal point for Isiolo County. Proactively manage security and mitigate security risks. Ensure a safe work and living environment through leading implementation of safety and security protocols and staff care and well-being best practices.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise up to 7 direct reports, providing guidance and leadership in making systems efficient, effective, transparent and in line with the agency and donor’s policies, procedures and regulations, ensuring integrity and compliance to the agency accepted standards. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports.
• Proactively and effectively manage resources and promote stewardship, ensuring program and operations teams and partner staff have and optimize the appropriate human, financial, and material resources and tools.
• Monitor day-to-day operations to ensure all operational services (HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Admin, ICT) are delivered with high quality in an efficient manner and adhere to policies and to ensure accountability and integrity to CRS and Donor’s standards and requirements. Manage risk and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, optimal utilization and maintenance of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material). Ensure coordination with Main Office Ops Department.
• Report immediately to the DCoP-Operations any issues, constraints and challenges in complying with CRS and Donor’s standards policies and regulations and with government’s laws.
• Create and maintain the proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Identify capacity strengthening needs for staff and partners and coordinate with CRS Kenya program and operations teams to address capacity strengthening.

Personal Skills

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and commitment to professional integrity.
• Team leadership abilities
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts may not be readily available.

Required/Desired Foreign Language

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; ability to draft and edit reports.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in Kiswahili.
• Dialects local to Isiolo County a plus.

Travel Required 25% of the time

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: Deputy Head of Office, Administrative Officer, System Strengthening Specialist, County Research Coordinator, and administrative management of consortium partner staff.  
• Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Chief of Party, DCOP Operations and DCOP Programs, and Nairobi based operations staff.
• External: Local government officials, Local/international NGO offices, and UN agencies operating in the project area.

QUALIFICATIONS

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in development, Business Management, Project Management or any other relevant field required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a non-profit, development, and/or humanitarian organization with progressive responsibilities
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience working with projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience in stakeholder management and establishing and strengthening community partnerships.
• Knowledge of procurement and general office administrative/management issues
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information management systems.
• Experience working and living in Isiolo County a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

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Job Summary: 

The Deputy Finance Manager – Projects will oversee all the financial management activities that ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and documentation of the Finance Department’s accounting operations and financial reporting (monthly, quarterly, yearly, and as needed) in support of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will help set the standard for the Country Program’s (CP’s) financial stewardship through professional maintenance, utilization, and analysis of all cash resources controlled by the CP.

You will assist the Finance Manager assume leadership on all financial affairs of the country program, including coordination and management oversight of all financial activities in the country program as well as supervision the Projects Finance Officers and managing subrecipients' financial management activities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee accounting processes, policies, and service delivery and maintain accounting controls to ensure accurate, complete, and timely recording and management of financial transactions and internal controls in compliance with CRS’ financial management policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements for the sub recipients (SRs).
• Conduct comprehensive assessments of SRs to ensure financial viability, compliance with CRS policies, and adherence to project requirements. Develop and implement strategies for mitigating financial risks associated with SRs.
• Oversee and manage the tracking of SRs Internal Control Improvement Procedures (ICIPS).
• Review and analyze partner liquidations, ensuring accuracy and compliance with financial regulations. Provide guidance and approvals for General Journal entries related to partner liquidations.
• Collaborate with partners to identify capacity-building needs in financial management. Develop and implement training programs to enhance the financial management capabilities of partners.
• Conduct thorough reviews of General Journals related to project liquidations, ensuring proper documentation and compliance.
• Prepare, review, and follow up on status letters, ensuring clear communication of financial status to the partners including and any necessary actions.
• Generate and analyze Monthly BCR reports to identify variances and trends. Provide insights and recommendations for financial decision-making. Facilitate discussions with Budget Managers to review Monthly BCR reports, address concerns, and strategize corrective actions. Engage with Senior Management Team (SMT) and Leadership Team (LT) to discuss high-level financial performance, challenges, and strategic planning.
• Lead the preparation of Budget Maintenance Form (BMF) and track Budget Reconciliation Form (BRF) to maintain accurate project budgeting.
• Prepare and contribute to the development of New Project Forms, ensuring alignment with financial requirements, objectives and donor terms and conditions.
• Support the preparation of and analysis of donor reports and other financial reports for various internal and external stakeholders ensuring their timely submission and attend regular meetings with them when required.
• Support in the business proposal development in fundraising activities for both co-operative agreements and contracts with the business development team and be actively involved in the budget preparation including review of new project proposals for internal & external submission.
• Develop and implement cost allocation methodologies and calculators for new projects and proposals, ensuring accurate budgeting and cost recovery.
• Review reclassification entries to ensure proper accounting treatment and compliance with financial policies.
• Prepare, monitor, alert the program manager, facilitate, and manage the process of closing expiring grants within the ninety (90) days period as required in the grants closure period.
• Perform and support in assigned accounts payables and treasury duties (partner disbursements and liquidations) duties, as long as segregation of duties is ensured as per the job roles/personas.
• Serve as the key point person on all issues related to partner financial management. Provide proactive advice, support, and capacity building to managers, staff, and subrecipients to ensure compliance with standards and proper records of SRs financial transactions, as well as to support strengthening of internal control.
• Provide oversight and support for project audits, ensuring compliance with audit requirements and timely resolution of audit findings.
• Ensure compliance with CRS Gateway policies and procedures, contributing to the organization's commitment to accountability and transparency.
• Provide financial oversight and support to SRs in Somalia.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment and decisions 
• Strong communications and presentation skills.
• Capable of working in a dynamic, results oriented environment; ability to multi-task across various work streams/priorities.
• Ability to build relationships and influence 
• Accuracy and completeness with a strong eye for detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively Ability to transfer knowledge to others 

Supervisory Roles: Senior/Projects Finance Officers

Required Languages – Excellent Communication Skills in both oral and written in English

Travel- Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%. This is subject to change depending on the operational context.

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Finance Manager, Deputy Finance Manager – Operations, Projects Finance Officers, Operations Finance Officers, Regional Finance Managers, Regional Finance Officer, Risk and Compliance Manager, Regional Ethics Unit, Headquarters HQ Overseas Accounting Unit OAU, HQ Global Controller, HQ Global Risk Compliance Team,  SMT, Budget Managers, relevant Operations staff relevant program/operations staff and HQ Internal Audit Team .

External: Partners Finance Staff, Public & Private Donors, External Auditors and Representatives 

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent). Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is an added advantage
• Minimum of at least five years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an International NGO with at least three years in management
• Candidates with audit experience are encouraged to apply
• Supervisory experience required.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Substantial budgeting, budget/expense analysis, and accounting experience.
• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Knowledge of local law in the area of taxation and local regulatory reporting procedures.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) financial accounting software package or similar financial reporting software preferred and an additional advantage.