Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in 1971, is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of medical professionals, logistics, administrative and various other professions, all guided by our medical ethics and our principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

MSF WaCA, created in 2019, is the first MSF headquarters in Africa, and responds to the desire to reinvent the MSF movement after 50 years of humanitarian actions in the world, for more access to care, more reactivity and proactivity for greater medical coverage of affected populations in the world.

Why join us?

You are preparing to become a member of the MSF family, with over 50 years of emergency medical action that earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

We are an inclusive organization that considers social and professional well-being a right for all and provides an environment that takes into account the diversity of each member.

MSF WaCA claims an African anchorage that considers the local expertise with which it contributes in the implementation of its activities and makes each member, a key actor of the new dynamics of the humanitarian action in the world.

We Are Looking for: FINANCE REFERENT – EMERGENCY CELL

Department: Operations

Direct Manager: Emergency unit Program Manager

Functional Manager: Head of Finance Operational unit

Working %: 100%

Position Based in: Abidjan, HQ

Mobility: All WaCA’s Interventions Zones

Type of Contract: Fixed-Term Renewable

Position to be filled: January 2025

Objectives

He/she works in the Emergency Unit and is a member of the Finance Operational Department (FinOp) composed of all the Financial Referent and its manager.

The Emergency Financial Referent is responsible for the financial management of missions where emergency responses are deployed. He/she is under the dual supervision of the Emergency Unit Manager and the Head of FinOp and represents the finance department seconded to operations to assist the Emergency Unit in all its mission support activities in terms of administrative and financial management.

He/she contributes to field finance strategy, support FINCO/COFIHR, and ensure tools and procedures are consistent with the Finance Department strategy.

At this stage of the construction of the emergency unit, he/she is expected to define, develop the financial guidelines, policies, and procedures for the financial management of the emergency responses.

He/she plays mainly a technical role, but his/her extensive experience is an asset for the management of operations.

He/she participates in the implementation and adaptation of financial policies and is responsible for the proper budgetary and accounting management of resources (HR, Finance, Medicines, Stocks, etc.) on the missions for which he/she is responsible.

Main responsibilities

Reporting to the Emergency Unit Program Manager and functionally to the Head of FinOp, he/she will be responsible for:

As a member of the Emergency Unit:

• Participate in the development of field program strategies and operational strategy by ensuring budget realism and compliance with financial constraints;
• Be involved in cross-cutting projects;
• Be in contact with other MSF sections to share local information and best practices;
• Participate actively in the dynamic of the emergency unit;
• Conduct field visits or provide short term interims as needed;
• Participate in the identification and support of the members (finance) of the Emergency Pool.

Design and Implementation of the financial policy:

• Actively participate in the creation, design of policies, financial management tools for emergencies and ensure their dissemination, compliance and necessary updates ;
• Ensure the application of financial procedures, norms and quality standards defined by the organization in terms of financial management;
• Ensure the application of financial fundamentals/basics;
• Be responsible for the completeness and quality of the unit’s program accounting;
• Monitor the proper financial management of his/her area of responsibility;
• Analyze and transmit to the Finance Coordinators (FinCo) or Finance and Human Resources Coordinators (HRFinCo) according to the set up in place, the specific financial issues of the countries for which he/she is responsible;
• Be responsible for the implementation of financial policies in the countries under his/her responsibility;

Ensure the proper use of resources:

• Oversee the preparation of the budget and budget revisions and manage them (he/she prepares and monitors the budgets of the missions assigned to him/her);
• Be responsible for the transparency of the financial information produced to third parties (donors, legal authorities, etc.);
• Provide economic and financial analyses necessary for steering (departments and operational missions);
• Adapt financial resource monitoring tools to emergency contexts in collaboration with the Finance Department;
• Be responsible for the production of financial information;
• Produce reliable financial statements for internal (closing, budget, etc.) and external (donors, auditors, local authorities; etc.) purposes
• Anticipate financial problems that missions may face and propose potential solutions;
• Guarantee the monthly cash flow of the missions in charge.

Human resources management of the field teams within its scope (FinCo, HRFinCo depending on the set up in place):

• Act as a functional referent to the FinCo/HRFinCo on the missions in his/her perimeter;
• Provide technical support to the missions in terms of administrative and financial management (supervise, advise and provide constant and quality support);
• Carry out and/or participate in the setting of objectives (technical, personal and operational) for the FinCo/HRFinCo and their evaluation in collaboration with their mission leaders;
• Ensure briefings and debriefings of FinCo/HRFinCo; project administrators as needed;
• Participate in briefings and debriefings of other coordinators;
• Collaborate with the HR Cell Referent in reviewing and approving descriptions of finance field positions, based on job profiles and needs.

Skills transfer, capacity building and training

• Participate in the definition and implementation of training for his/her team;
• Monitor and evaluate the deployment of new practices or equipment in his/her missions;
• Participate in the training of FinCo/HRFinCo in the field or during international sessions;
• Participate in the development and follow-up of the career path of the field staff (finance) and in the identification of talents for future managers in collaboration with the other members of the finance department and contribute to the HR policy in this area;
• Participate in the selection of the FinCo;
• Support Finco/HRFinco in understanding and implementing changes.

Liaison with the Accounting Officer (CGCF)

• Work closely with the CGCF for the reliability and timely closing of the missions’ accounts;
• Ensure that he/she has timely access to information on operational developments in order to anticipate the accounting implications of these developments;
• Participate in the development of his/her skills by delegating appropriate tasks and creating opportunities for field visits and interims.

Other:

WaCA being a young entity in constant evolution, this job description is subject to adaptation, therefore flexibility and adaptation is expected from any member of the organization.

Job requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or related field; professional certification (CPA, CMA, ACCA) preferred.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field is advantageous.

Competencies

• Rigor, sense of organization and priorities;
• Good interpersonal skills
• Logical sense, capacity of analysis, spirit of synthesis
• Good writing skills,
• Availability, listening skills, open-mindedness, curiosity
• Autonomy, diplomacy and negotiation skills
• Interest in teamwork, ability to manage, train, support a team and to delegate
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary people in a multicultural context
• Speed of decision and action, good stress management
• Human and didactic qualities essential for training and briefings
• Availability for regular field visits
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing contexts and rhythms

Professional experience required

• Extended MSF experience in HQ or/and significant experience as a Finance Coordinator on missions with MSF, particularly in the context of emergencies;
• Strong financial management and accounting skills, including budgeting, analysis, and reporting.
• Previous experience in the same position with MSF is a plus;
• 3 to 4 years of experience in financial management in a company or in humanitarian aid and experience in grant management and accountability systems at program/project level.

Languages Skills

• Working proficiency in English and French

Computer Skills

• In-depth knowledge of financial ERP systems and processes. Knowledge of Wefin, Saga, Homere, Unifield is an asset.
• Mastery of MS Office tools with an advanced level in Excel;
• Experience in management and cost analysis;

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MSF offers equal recruitment and development opportunities without any form of discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, geographical origin, physical disability or any other discriminatory ground.
Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

N.B.: This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position. It is not exhaustive. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs.

Deadline: 15th November 2024 18:00 GMT
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.