Senior Manager, Finance & Operations

About Cordaid

Cordaid is an internationally operating value-based emergency relief and development organization, working in and on fragility.

The organization was established in 2000 when several Dutch aid organizations joined forces. But our history goes back more than a century. Cordaid has changed over the years, the organization now is focusing more on the localization of its operations and programs to empower local human capacities and knowledge in serving communities and people. Reducing fragility has become our core priority and we work in all contexts of fragility, from relief, through rehabilitation to long-term development. To do this effectively we seek funds, start partnerships, and compete in a global market.

We believe in a world where people can break through barriers of poverty and exclusion, influence decisions that affect them, and participate in equitable and resilient societies. A world with an economy not driven by greed and growth, but by inclusivity, social justice, and gender equality. That world is our goal. We work towards it in everything we do.

Cordaid has been active in Afghanistan since 2001, working for a stable and prosperous country. Abiding by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence, Cordaid is committed to standing by the people of Afghanistan and delivering its lifesaving support.

Cordaid through its work and need-based programming, is committed to delivering lifesaving, resilience, and development assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

About the job

The position holder will be responsible for proving leadership and ensure effective implementation of the relevant aspects of the country finances and operations through sound standards and in compliance with Cordaid’s procedures. Has the overall supervisory role of all operational activities and deliverables.

Responsibilities

1. Personnel management

• Leads the multidisciplinary operation team on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the management style of Cordaid, focused on productivity, the professional development of staff and employee satisfaction.
• Coaches staff and leaves room for professional freedom to determine how to execute the work. Builds on the strengths and talents of staff members to improve team performance.
• Emphasis teamwork within functional teams and between different CAF units, project-based working and commitment.
• Ensures efficient use of resources and controls quality of work.
• Provides technical advice and operational guidance on innovative approaches to project financing, risk assessment/mitigation and use of financing structures. 2.

1. Finance and Operations Management and Service Delivery Coordination

• Manages the finance and operational aspects of CO, adjusting administrative processes in a way that secures donor funding, auditability, timeliness, reliability of service delivery and information, and assures an optimal cost allocation within the country office through ensuring effective coordination between projects and support operations.
• Implements and enforce effective support operating manuals, systems and procedures and ensure they are in line with Cordaid standards and the Afghan Country laws.
• Drives the organization change through participation in external engagements and representing Cordaid in inter-agency meetings and working groups on operations issues to ensure Cordaid’ s interests are reflected in common system activities related to common services and premises, cost recovery and cost-sharing arrangements, privileges and immunities, entitlements and salary surveys.
• Manages and monitors all administrative, organisation registration and legal-related systems/requirements are updated and to ensure compliance with country law and legislation. Keeps abreast of legislative issues and major donors’ regulations and audit methodology. Ensures organisation registration and statutory requirement compliance.
• Monitors and supervises all aspects of operations to ensure compliance with organization strategies, rules, regulations, policies, and standards of accountability, ethics and integrity and achievement of results.

1. Programme Support and Coordination

• Provides strategic operational support in large and complex partnerships and projects funds management. Ensures cost coverage of the CO and provides strategic management information. Identify bottlenecks in the budgets of the CO & the programme/projects and advice on financial improvements and ways to secure the costs and funds for sustainability of CO interventions.
• Provides timely support to the Programme team in project engagements, acceptance documents including participation in contract negotiations.
• Provides advice on goal setting, targets and performance standards for projects and recommend tools for auditing.
• Provides technical guidance on programme and project cost-sharing, deployment of funds and closure.
• Supports preparation and quality-assures programme documents, including Contracts, Agreements, LoAs, MoUs, and Cost-Sharing Agreements.
• Reviews donor compliance, including among partners and consortium members. Assesses the consequences of non-compliance and executes measures to reduce the impact for Cordaid.
• Ensures financial management and control of country office budget including timely fund transfer of funds in-country and to the field in an efficient and transparent manner.

1. Accountability

• Coordinates and manages the preparation and successful conclusion of internal and external audit activities. Identifies recurring systemic issues in audit reports and ensures the implementation of audit recommendations as progress to meet audit standards.
• Supports preparation and quality-assures legal documents.
• Leads due diligence reviews of Cordaid by the funding organisation.
• Identifies the organisation systems and procedures challenges and risks by analysing the current processes, including partner management. Proposes and executes the follow-up actions.

1. Compliance

• Reviews the current processes and engages integrated methods to standardise the operational activities to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and quality, in line with the Standard Cordaid Procedures.
• Conducts ad-hoc, confidential and/or direct internal investigations breaches in internal control and compliance issues including complaints submitted. Leads the follow-ups.
• Conducts field site visits to assess the level of compliance, identify gaps and non-coherence. Reports findings and ensures follow-up activities.
• Strengthens standardisation, adherence, and conformity to compliance by providing staff with the required technical support and guidance on the Cordaid safeguarding and integrity and other internal policies.
• Partners with GO units such as Legal, Quality Management, Operational Excellence, Internal Audit and Risk Management, to assess and ensure the effectiveness of control systems in driving compliance.
• Supports Partner Risk and Capacity Assessments and builds up local capacity for this. Leads on capacity building to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.'

1. Others

• Contributes to the development of the Country Strategic Planning and Reporting and the Annual Country Planning and Reporting.
• Any other duties assigned by the line manager.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in INGO supporting financial & operational functions.
• Master’s degree in Business Management/ Administration, Financial management, Operations Management, Organisational Management, Risk Management, or any other relevant subject.
• In-depth understanding of management styles and partnerships, as well as collaboration with local partners.
• Robust experience in developing and implementing organisational vision and strategies.
• Social skills to bridge cultural or other differences while managing a team (in severe circumstances).
• Proven ability to analyse and solve problems, persuade, network, and negotiate.
• Proven experience working in fragile environment with tight deadlines, effectively managing multiple priorities.
• Ability to work under pressure and with minimum supervision, be a self-starter, team builder, innovative and demonstrate the capacity for maintaining high professional standards.
• Knowledge of standards, procedures, and operation systems, (Admin, Finance, Logistics and Procurement).
• Knowledge of the legal framework that governs Cordaid’s operations, as required by the national/local government and by major donors (EU, UN, US, WB, Bilateral Donors).
• Cordaid is fully committed to a safe working environment and the highest integrity standards. To read more on Cordaid’s commitment to Integrity, click here: https://www.cordaid.org/en/who-we-are/integrity-and-code-of-conduct/

Salary and other terms of employment

Not applicable at this time.