Country Finance Manager – Cameroon

introduction

The Danish Refugee Council supports refugees and internally displaced people all over the world: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights and strengthen their chances for a better future. We work in conflict areas, along the escape routes and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work towards successful integration and – where possible – towards fulfilling the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has grown into an international humanitarian organisation with over 7,000 employees and 8,000 volunteers. The Danish Refugee Council is based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and is represented in forty countries. It is a non-profit, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational aid organisation.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced people. The basis of all our efforts is our compass of values: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, honesty and transparency.

1. background

DRC Cameroon began operations in Cameroon in 2018 to meet the humanitarian needs of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) and vulnerable Cameroonians in the Adamawa Region. DRC currently operates a regional office in Meiganga and two branches in Djohong (Adamawa Region) and Garoua-Boulai (Eastern Region). The focus of interventions is to find durable solutions for the most vulnerable, using a holistic graduation approach to enhance both protection and economic recovery. In late 2018, DRC began operations in the Southwest Cameroon Region to meet the needs of people forcibly displaced in the context of the Anglophone crisis, and launched humanitarian activities in January 2019. DRC operates in the Meme, Fako, Kupe-Manenguba and Ndian divisions, with an office in Buea and a sub-base in Kumba. The focus of the programs is on rural and hard-to-reach areas to meet people’s basic needs for food, shelter and NFI while improving the protective environment and providing income opportunities.

In 2023, the Democratic Republic of Congo expanded its activities to the Far North of Cameroon to provide protection, positive peace, governance and economic resilience in response to the region’s multidimensional and interconnected crises.

2. Purpose

The Danish Refugee Council is currently looking for a Finance Manager in Yaoundé. Under the supervision of the Head of Support Services (HoSS), the Finance Manager will ensure that all finance functions in the country programs, including accounting, payments and bank salaries, budgeting, financial reporting (internal and external to donors and government agencies), capacity building of the finance team, budget management training for support and program teams, and financial management and compliance on grants, are completed effectively and on time. The Finance Manager will lead a team of three staff members (a finance officer, a finance assistant and a finance intern) and supervise the technical leads of the finance teams in their respective areas.

3. Duties and responsibilities

The main responsibilities and tasks of financial management are as follows:

• Financial accounting, management and reporting

  • Working closely with geographic area managers, strengthen existing financial management and control procedures and systems in accordance with the DRC Operations Handbook guidelines, internal policies and donor requirements.
  • Ensure that proper financial procedures are followed and maintained at the country headquarters, in cooperation with budget officers and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • In collaboration with the Director of Support Services, work with budget owners to assist them with budget preparation, rebalancing, monitoring and tracking.
  • In collaboration with the Head of Support Services, ensuring the quality of the master budget
  • Ensure daily accounting functions including regular cash verification, cash/bank reconciliation, monthly cash book closing, advance reconciliation and timely submission of accounts to Head Office Finance Department.
  • Ensure that payments to suppliers and country office recurring expenses are made on time and authorized in accordance with IDRA and CT authorization.
  • Gather information from relevant regional offices to consolidate project proposal budgets according to project requirements and donor constraints. Propose sufficient programme and support budgets, including the mission’s investment plans, in close collaboration with the Head of Support Services.
  • Maintain a controlled and smooth cash flow management process for the country program and ensure that all regional offices have sufficient cash flow for operations.
  • Supervise the management of bank accounts in the country offices and also oversee cash management and safe deposit boxes.
  • Monthly maintenance of the Country Master Budget and reporting all foreseeable gaps to the Head of Support Services for gap management. Also responsible for disseminating the same to the respective regional offices.

• Capacity development

  • Works closely with the Head of Support Services to implement, improve and maintain financial management policies, systems, structures and procedures in the country office
  • Update job descriptions of finance department employees as needed.
  • Provide technical support to finance staff in the regional offices and provide guidance to finance staff in the country office.
  • Proactively identify and respond to capacity building needs of finance staff in the country office. Provide training and other capacity building opportunities as needed to ensure that the capacity of finance staff is continually developed.
  • Conduct hands-on training for budget officers and guide them through budgeting, donor compliance, and DRC Manual compliance.
  • Schedule on-site visits by the country office finance staff to the area and field offices to support the teams on the ground

• Technical line management responsibilities

  • Maintain a continuous, accurate physical and digital data filing system for all financial records in the country office and relevant documentation in the program finance offices.
  • Ensure that you have the necessary knowledge of the DRC Dynamics (ERP) system and are responsible for training other finance staff in the Country Office as well as in the Regional Offices.
  • Manage special projects assigned by the Head of Support Services.
  • Upon request, you will undertake any other tasks assigned by your supervisor to ensure the optimal functioning of the organization.

4. Required qualifications

• Postgraduate university degree in economics, finance/accounting or business administration.
• At least 5 years of international practical experience in financial management
• At least 3 years of experience working with international non-governmental organizations.
• At least 3 years of experience in team management.
• Proven experience in managing large budgets.
• Expertise in providing technical advice and training.
• Ability to prepare basic training modules on dynamics, accounting and financial management.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Office, Internet) and advanced knowledge of Excel are required.
• Good knowledge (written and oral) of English and French.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and persuasive skills with a well-developed ability to motivate and persuade at a high level.
• Proven extensive experience in financial management

5. Required skills and qualities

• DRC’s core competencies:
  • Striving for excellence
  • Cooperation
  • Take the lead
  • communication
  • Demonstrate integrity
• Proven leadership qualities and competence in personnel management
• Expertise in providing technical advice and training.
• Proven experience in managing large budgets.
• Ability to prepare basic training modules on dynamics, accounting and financial management.
• Proven experience in working with national partners and local/state authorities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and persuasive skills with a well-developed ability to motivate and persuade at a high level.
• Proven, extensive experience in financial management.
• Work experience with relevant funders
• Proven analytical and critical thinking skills.

6. General provisions

• The employee must follow the DRC’s instructions on security, confidentiality and ethical guidelines, including the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
• Employees may not engage in any other paid employment during the DRC contract term without prior approval.
• During the term of their contract with DRC, employees may not engage in any activities that could harm DRC or the implementation of a project.
• Employees are not permitted to give interviews to the media or publish project-related photos or other material without prior permission.
• All equipment borrowed for the project must be returned by the employee to DRC at the end of the contract period or upon request.