Médecins Sans Frontières
The Regional Finance and Risk Resources Team Leader for South America will be the advisor on strategic finance, risk resources and Internal control matters in the region. You report to the Operational Finance Referent and to the Field Risk Resources and Internal Control Referent.
A specific role lies in the active engagement in the review of the role and responsibilities for Finance at the three levels (project, coordination and region) along with the Brazilian section, and the evaluation and implementation of new management methods in line with the principles of FrC (autonomy, subsidiarity and consultation).
Depending on the outcome of the revision of the roles and responsibilities within a mission, the Regional Fin Team Leader supports and coaches the project and country support finance teams, promotes their autonomy and capacitates them in effective finance.
Under the supervision of the Field Resources Risk & Internal Control Referent, as the Regional Finance and Risk Resources Team Leader you identify risks related to resources and monitor the control measures implemented by the management. Therefore, you support the management at Regional, Country and project level to ensure the respect of an appropriate internal control system.
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Regional Finance Team Leader ensures a smooth transition between Cells/E-pool and the newly established Regional operational management for South America, guiding the necessary strategic operational reflections from a financial and Risk resources perspective.
You ensure that Management Control, Budgeting & Forecasting, cash management, internal control, resources risk management and financial analysis functions are accurate and performed according to standard OCB policies and processes.
You will ensure that the projects are made responsible for their own budget and follow-up and that the project are accountable of the appropriate implementation of the internal control system.
You ensure a rescue role for finance staff (project or national level depending on the final set up) providing technical support for finance and risk resource management.
You facilitate interaction and communication between different finance teams (within a mission but also within the region, and including MSF Brazil section)
RESPONSABILITIES
Review of Finance Roles and responsibilities
- In collaboration with the Regional Support team members and with the projects teams, assess, evaluate and propose an adapted Finance set-up (aiming at providing projects more autonomy) and a clear path to reach it.
- Ensure a smooth flow of information and participate in the definition of clear roles and responsibility between the partner section, the projects/missions and OCB including grant management, financial reporting, accounting management, reinvoicing principles and implementation.
Budget & Forecast
- In collaboration with the Regional Support team members, support and guide the project and capital teams with their budget.
- Ensure consistency of budgets with validated operational objectives.
- Provide the overview of the regional envelope, supporting strategic operational decision-making.
- Guide, coach and challenge the projects in the preparation and analyses of the monthly follow-up of budget and calculation of the forecast.
- Communicate the monthly forecast to the Operations Finance Referent; ensure that significant variances of forecast are validated by the correct level of decision (project, regional or DO).
Cash Management
- Ensure that all policies and guidelines concerning cash management are relevant and appropriate and that are well managed in the projects.
- Coach finance staff at project and capital level on money security rules, bank and cash management best practices. Support them to define and implement the finance strategy in terms of means of payment (On line banking, phone banking, etc…).
- Validate and ensure monthly cash-flow of the projects.
- With the HQ Treasury department ensure the appropriate, timely and safe transfer of funds from HQ to the projects.
Finance policies
- Coach and supervise finance staff at project and capital level to ensure the proper implementation and respect of MSF policies and guidelines, ensuring they are aligned with legal requirements and within the national legal framework (including expense validation table, advance table).
- Support the project in the definition of the financial strategy adapted to the project and the context of the country.
Accounting
- Ensure that the Field Accounting Controller is aware of every operational decisions and events that may have an impact on accounting management and supervision.
- Oversee that the analytical accounting is coherent, appropriate and consistent in the projects. Communicate the analytical to the Field Accounting Controller.
- Ensure an efficient communication and close collaboration with the Field Accounting Controller in charge of the FRC missions.
Resources Risk management
- Animate and contribute to the improvement of resources risks management at project level.
- Ensure the resources risks assessment of the projects and region are done when necessary.
- Ensure that mitigations measures defined for the projects and mission are in place.
Follow up of audit recommendations
- Support the projects in the implementation of recommendations from external and internal Audit.
- If necessary, facilitate the audit process at projects and mission level.
- Liaise and share information with the Internal Audit Unit for cases that need an independent investigation.
Code of Conduct for the management of resources
- Reinforce or remind the knowledge and awareness of the Code of Conduct at field level.
- Control that the induction of new staff is including the Code of Conduct for the management of resources.
Insurance
- Be the focal point for insurances (except HR assurances). With a direct support from Insurance referent in HQ, ensure that the strategy defined for insurance is implemented.
- Contact with local insurance.
- Ensure that sinister are reported and fully documented. Ensure the follow-up with HQ referents.
- Ensure briefing, animation, training and sensibilization on insurance management.
Decrease of cash focal point
- Ensure that projects are using cash when it’s only possible means of payment.
- Propose new models to avoid using cash or moving cash inside the mission.
- Contact person with service providers.
- Follow up and support on implementation of policy decided for the projects.
Anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism
- Be the focal point for Anti-money launderingand anti-terrorism processes.
- With the support from Risks resources unit and Audit department ensure that the processes defined for mitigation of Anti-money launderingand anti-terrorism related risks are respected.
- Ensure briefing, animation, training and sensibilization on the topic.
Anti-corruption
- Responsible of the communication plan for the anti-corruption guideline and process.
- Support and facilitate the implementation of Anti-Corruption guideline and process in all projects
- In Agreement with the Risk resources Unit and the Internal Audit, support the investigation of corruption cases.
- Briefing of all new staff on Corruption risks and way to prevent, identify, alert, report corruptions cases.
- Ensure trainings on corruption.
- Ensure the communication and reporting of Corruption incidents.
- Follow up and support to the managers at field level that recommendations from former corruptions cases are in place.
- Animate the process by questioning, challenging and providing guidance on reporting.
- Follow-up and reporting of field corruption cases.
WECHECK and Internal Control
- Support the FieldCo and all managers at field level to implement WECHECK and use its outcomes to advise a better project management.
- Support the follow-up and implementation of corrective measures appearing WECHECK.
- Ensure proper communication of the result of WECHECK at regional level and report field feedback to WECHECK manager at HQ.
- Briefing of new managers on WECHECK. Training on WECHECK when necessary.
- Spot incoherence, duplication and gap in the different processes described in the different departments’ guidelines and procedures and communicate them to the process owner.
Coaching related tasks
- Frequently visit projects and the capitals to provide support and coaching to finance staff.
- Participate in briefing and debriefs of newly recruited managers with finance profiles.
REQUIREMENTS
Education & Experience
- Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in audit, business management, international relations, finance or related subject
- A minimum of 5 years of humanitarian experience
- Experience in internal audit, internal control activities related to resources management, risk management and/or in relevant operational areas
- 2 years MSF experience, in Finance, preferably both in coordination and project positions
- Work experience in the region is an asset
Competencies
- Strategic vision
- Leadership
- Management and development of staff
- Strong communication and coaching skills
- Service orientation
- Capacity to influence and persuade
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Coaching & mirror attitude with the teams
Languages
- Proficiency in English is required
- Proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese is required (proficiency in both is an asset)
CONDITIONS
- Expected starting date : 15/03/2023
- Location : Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
- 30% mobility in the region
- Contract type: Fixed-term contract – Full time
- Contract duration: 1 year
- Salary as per MSF Field salary grid
- The contractual conditions will be established based on the station, on administrative / legal constraints and in respect of MSF function grids and salary policies
- Family position
- Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
- Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments
Deadline for application: 06/01/2023
How to apply
How to apply?
Please, send your CV and cover letter to [email protected] and mention “Regional Finance and Risk Resources Team Leader South America” in the subject of your email.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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