Finance and Operations Director

Introduction

Cordaid Ethiopia, being operational since 2006, initially focused on disaster risk management. Through these programs, we enabled local communities to develop the capacity to deal with unexpected man-made and natural disasters. In 2015, we expanded our work to different sectors, including health care. We strengthen the health care system in fragile areas and vulnerable communities. This includes strengthening the capacity of healthcare service providers to deliver comprehensive and quality healthcare service for their communities. Cordaid Ethiopia implements projects in humanitarian aid, health care, private sector development, and food and income in close collaboration with local partners. Within these sectors, we focus on strengthening health, food security and livelihoods, job creation, women, peace and security, resilience building, disaster risk reduction, and humanitarian responses.

Position and responsibility

As Head of the Finance and Operations units, the Finance and Operations Director is responsible for all aspects of the overall financial management and operations of Cordaid in Ethiopia.

He/she is the right hand of the CD and second in charge of the country office, part of the Senior Management Team, and reports to the Country Director of Cordaid Ethiopia. S/he will work closely with colleagues based in the office, some sub-offices in the country, and with Cordaid HQ in The Netherlands, including the HQ-based Corporate Controller and Business Controllers. She/he will also liaise with representatives and financial team of counterpart partner organisations.

Logistics, procurement, finance, grant, and IT leads report directly to you. You are the functional manager for project controllers, providing them with support and on-the-job training and coaching as required. As the Finance and Operations Director, you are the anchor to ensure that Cordaid Ethiopia has designed, implemented and maintains adequate internal controls.

General objective of the posting

The Finance and Operations Director is responsible for Cordaid Ethiopia’s financial well-being (stability, liquidity, sustainability). In addition, you are responsible for the overall operations of the Cordaid office. As part of the Senior Management Team (SMT) the Finance and Operations Director is also responsible for planning the organisation's long-term financial goals. Together with your SMT colleagues, you set the country's strategic direction.

The Finance and Operations Director manages the finance function across Cordaid Ethiopia, specifically the budgeting, reporting and project proposals. She/he sets the objectives and targets for the line manager reporting directly to her/him and those for who she/ he is the functional manager.

The director will also be responsible for leading the country's operations. She/ he ensures that the support operation functions are well aligned with each other and the part parts of CET and implemented efficiently.

Specific objectives

As part of your financial leadership responsibilities, you will:

Lead the finance function across Cordaid Ethiopia
Create, and maintain the financial calendar for Ethiopia.
Define and maintain the local annual budgeting and budget review process in line with corporate guidelines and instructions
Define, communicate and review financial targets for business development, project management and (in)direct overhead
Lead the project control meetings for the country office
Identify budget bottlenecks, and advise on financial improvements in line with Cordaid financial rules and regulations.
Support and coach the project controllers in preparing budgets, budget reviews and forecasts for their projects well on time and to good standards;
Ensure that the financial reporting is on time and in line with Cordaid's quality standards
Manage the overall cashflow and currency exposures in line with Cordaid's regulations which will include complete and timely cash requests to the head offices in the Netherlands;
Negotiates prices in major business contracts of complex logistical tenders.
Maintain a solid understanding of all Cordaid financial rules and regulations
Reviews financial reports before they are issued to external parties for the corporate headquarters
Safeguard Cordaid's assets
Reviews draft contracts for financial correctness;
Display the highest integrity standards according Cordaid’s Integrity Framework

As part of your Grant Management/Compliance leadership responsibilities, you will:

Support the Country Office teams in partner identification, assessment, and partner capacity building activities.
Ensure that all compliance and Grants issues between Cordaid Ethiopia and partners are addressed and that mutually beneficial solutions are agreed upon in a timely manner;

As part of your operational leadership responsibilities, you will:

Ensure that the logistics and procurement process, as executed, provides the required goods and services for the projects and support services on time and provides value for money
Ensure that the IT function supports Cordaid Ethiopia with reliable IT services across all offices
Lead process optimisation reviews for Cordaid Ethiopia operations
Create, and maintain the operational calendar for Ethiopia.

As line and functional manager, you will:

Create personal development plans for direct reports and those who report functionally to you
Create a safe place to work
Set an example for working in line with Cordaid’s values
Lead people in line with Cordaid's culture and social policy focused on productivity, employee development and satisfaction.

Qualifications

Management qualifications and experience

Master degree in financial management;
At least seven years' experience in working with an INGO that works with institutional donors such as UN, EU, Global Fund and World Bank , of which at least five in a senior Financial management position;
Work experience in fragile, stressful settings;
Experience in managing functional heads and an overall team size of over 15 people
Strong participatory, inclusive leadership skills
Demonstrable commitment to transparency and integrity
Strong organiser of one's own work (knowing how to prioritise)
Ability to delegate and empower direct reports
Strong communication skills;
Be diplomatic, culturally sensitive, result-oriented, innovative and a strong team player;

Technical Qualifications

Thorough understanding of financial accounting, risk management and compliance
In-depth understanding of internal controls, project controls and ability to define new type of projects
Best practise procurement practices and donor requirements
Good understanding of IT services (delivery), cyber security issues
Excellent English writing and communication skills;

Specifics of duty station

The Finance and Operations Director is based in the Cordaid office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Travel to project areas will be required.

Contract information

The contract period is for 12 months starting as soon as possible, with the intention to extend for a longer period. We offer a Cordaid contract with a competitive salary and a benefit package which includes comprehensive insurance cover, social security and pension contribution, a holiday allowance, 13th month, hardship allowance and cost of living allowance. It is an international, family posting.
How to apply

Further information & how to apply

Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, including the contact details of at least three professional references, should be forwarded on attention of the Director Country Office Ethiopia, Mr. M. Treffers, before 3 November 2022.