Director, Financial & Administrative Management

Job content

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during, and after disasters, health emergencies, and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary-General and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organised into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination (NSDOC); (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization (GRHDD); and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services (MPSCS).

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster, and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Financial and Administrative Management Department (FAMD) falls under the Management Policy, Strategy, and Corporate Services (MPSCS) Division. It is responsible for managing the overall budgeting, accounting, treasury, assets, financial reporting, and financial services operations of the Secretariat. FAMD also provides advice and support on financial matters, including financial policies and procedures, to other departments/divisions at the Secretariat Headquarters in Geneva and offices in regions, clusters, and countries worldwide.

Director, Financial and Administrative Management Department

The Director, FAMD, leads the Finance and Administration Team, covering all financial areas. The Director, FAMD, provides strategic, operational, and programmatic support to the organisation. He/she leads the organisation’s global financial management team comprising the Financial Controller, the Budget and Analysis and Manager, and the Finance Information Systems and Processes Managers as direct reports and five regional Finance and Administration Managers as indirect reports. The Director, FAMD, may be requested to act as the chief financial spokesperson of the organisation.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the USG-MPSCS, and with a dotted reporting line to the Secretary-General, the Director, FAMD, provides global leadership, strategic direction, and operational services for the effective and efficient management of Secretariat financial resources. He/she articulates and implements a strategic and operational framework relating to financial risk, planning, management, monitoring, reporting, operations, and control. In this connection, the Director, FAMD, also attends meetings of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and works with members of the Global Leadership Team (GLT) to agree on and articulate strategic and operational financial priorities to enable the achievement of the Federation’s mission.

The Director, FAMD, oversees the budgeting, accounting, treasury, assets, financial reporting, and financial services operations of the Secretariat, including the following: (i) establishing policy; (ii) managing internal controls; (iii) preparing statutory accounts in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards; (iv) safeguarding the assets of the organisation to minimise the risk of financial loss; and (v) developing and maintaining costing systems and reporting tools to provide high-quality financial information and analysis that supports governance and management decision-making.

Governance

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure that the Federation’s governance bodies (General Assembly, Governing Board, Finance Commission, and Audit and Risk Commission) can discharge their statutory functions as these relate to Finance, Financial Contributions of National Societies, Budget, and Audit in accordance with the Constitution and Financial Regulations.
• Build collaborative and effective relationships with all other key internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the effective governance bodies of the IFRC, including serving as the Secretary to the Finance Commission.
  

Advice To The Secretary-General Directly Or Through The USG-MPSCS

Advise the Secretary-General in the discharge of his/her statutory functions as these relate to Finance, Budget, and Audit, in accordance with the Constitution and the Financial Regulations:

• Advise the Secretary-General, directly or through the USG-MPSCS, on strategic, operational, and financial risk matters to ensure.
• Coherence and alignment between the organisation’s objectives and its financial resources.
• Value for money from the effective and efficient administration of financial resources.
• Accountability and transparency regarding the management of financial resources.
  

Supporting Institutional Growth

Participate in the growth of the Federation and of National Societies through:

• Analysis and development of strategy through engagement with stakeholders.
• Identification and materialisation of new funding and service opportunities.
• Expansion of existing funding sources.
  

Leadership, Supervision, And Capacity Building

• Lead, direct and motivate staff to ensure the highest level of performance in their respective areas of responsibility, ensuring quality service to operations globally.
• Ensure that the global finance team is adequately resourced with competent personnel who are appropriately recruited, trained, and managed.
• Provide technical management and leadership to a team of finance and administration managers in the field.
• Proactively champion the relevant people priorities, including talent management and succession planning activities, and act as a mentor to staff.
• Drive capacity building to strengthen National Society development in areas pertinent to finance and financial management.
  

Accountability And Transparency

• Provide regular management reports to allow budget managers to review, monitor, and effectively manage cost centres and projects and make effective operational decisions.
• Provide specific attention to the quality, completeness, and accuracy of the data used in making financial decisions.
• Provide timely, robust, accurate, and reliable financial information to senior management, assisting them to interpret financial information and make decisions in the best interest of the organisation in line with the strategy and accordance with the Federation’s policies.
• Oversee the preparation of statutory financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and oversee the external financial statement audit process.
  

Financial Strategy And Innovation

• Develop, implement, and communicate the financial strategy for the organisation to ensure its sustainability.
• Lead the development and implementation of fit-for-purpose innovative finance solutions appropriate for the Federation and its stakeholders.
• Safeguard the financial balance of the IFRC to ensure its short- and long-term viability and the successful execution of its programs in accordance with its policies.
• Oversee the management and donor financial reporting processes.
  

National Society Development

• Provide analysis, advice, and support on matters related to financial sustainability, policy, accountability, transparency, and governance vis-à-vis National Societies, as needed.
  

Administration, Insurances, Building And Office Services

• Ensure the management of all insurances and mail services and the effective and efficient acquisition, management, and safeguarding of the Federation’s physical assets in accordance with the Federation’s policies. This includes the proper management of building and office services.
  

Meetings And Conference Services

• Ensure that IFRC statutory and other official meetings are organised and delivered to the expectations of stakeholders and that all essential corporate publications are translated in the required languages, as appropriate.
  

Library And Archive Services

• Ensure the proper management of the IFRC library and archive services.
  

Organizational Culture

• Embody the values of the organisation and play an active role in strengthening the organisational culture.
  

Duties Applicable To All Staff

• Work actively towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the USG-MPSCS and the SG.