Financial Controller

Job Summary
Job Title:
Financial Controller
Country:
Haiti
Location:
Port-au-Prince
Contract Duration:
12 months – with the possibility of extension
Start Date:
Reports to:
Country Director
General Description of the Programme
GOAL is an international humanitarian agency established in 1977 and currently operational in 13 countries world-wide. GOAL has an annual budget of approximately €130m and is supported by a range of donors including the Irish Government, UK Government, USAID and the European Union.
GOAL has been operating in Haiti since the country was devastated by a major earthquake in January 2010. GOAL is transitioning to a much longer-term programming approach linking relief and recovery to development through an integrated community-led development programme approach. GOAL Haiti has developed a strong focus on urban development and building of resilience within urban communities. The EU has recently launched an urban development programme under the 11th FED: URBAYITI. This program aims at improving resilience, infrastructures and services of three communes in Haiti.
Overview of the role
The Financial Controller is responsible for the financial management, internal control systems, management of funds, and reporting requirements of the organization. In particular the successful candidate will ensure timely submission of required donors reports, monthly management accounts to GOAL Dublin, statutory reports and other ad hoc reporting to relevant authorities, as well as budget preparation and monitoring of the programme. As a key member of the senior management team, the Financial Controller will contribute to the overall development and running of the country programme.
People Management and SMT membership
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Report directly to Country Director in country, maintaining oversight of the GOAL Haiti finances. Work closely with the Finance Director in Dublin and other SMT members in country to provide guidance and oversight of the finance function.
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Providing leadership, direction and capacity building support for the in-country Finance Team.
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Providing training and support to financial and non-financial staff regarding GOAL’s financial procedures and internal controls, and programme management tools.
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Ensuring GOALs values and policies, including accountability and equality, are reflected in the work of the Finance Team.
Financial Management
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Prepare monthly management accounts for approval by Country Director for submission to Dublin adhering to the strict reporting deadlines as set by the Global Finance Director
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Ensure proper financial systems, in Freetown head office and in the field offices (both GOAL’s and its partners) are in place and implemented to accurately record all expenditure.
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Liaise with legal advisers in Haiti and HQ, as well as with local accountants & auditors relating to GOAL Haiti’s reporting and tax payments.
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Ensure compliance with GOALs standard accounting procedures and policies across the Haiti programme and actively monitor internal controls to minimize risk to the organization. In particular ensure appropriate cash management procedures are in place and operating effectively.
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Ensure preparation and retention of documentation to facilitate the annual external audit, donor audits, internal audits and revenue audits.
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Review monthly and quarterly donor status reporting for submission to GOAL Head Office, Dublin, adhering to strict deadlines.
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Oversee all cash management, including cash counts and cash transfers to field sites and partners in cooperation with the Programmes & Logistics team ensure that GOAL Iraq is in compliance with all relevant donor and internal guidelines.
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Maintain and keep updated Haiti Finance Manual with any approved exceptions to the standard GOAL worldwide Finance Manual, including a summarized and simplified finance and logistics manual for use by project managers and other field based staff.
Donor finance
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Ensure cost allocations basis among donors are reasonable in line with GOAL recommended methods.
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Review financial reporting to donors and other regulatory bodies, adhering to strict deadlines, coordinating with local legal and accounting advisors as appropriate.
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Review the financial sections of donor proposals, budgets and reports.
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Review GOAL annual and quarterly rolling budgets.
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Monitor and assist program managers with the financial management of programme budgets including expenditure forecasting, and ensuring the Budget Monitoring Tool (BMT) is completed in a timely manner.
Improving financial capacity
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Manage/supervise and work closely with local financial, administrative and partner staff.
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Managing and building capacity on financial systems for GOAL partners and GOAL SL staff
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Reviewing MOUs and contracts for suppliers and vendors engaged with the programme
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Responsibility for ensuring local compliance with the employee tax deductions, that all relevant statutory deductions are made from the employees’ salaries and paid out to the appropriate authorities, coordinating with local legal, accounting and human resource advisors as appropriate.
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Provide support to human resources on personnel and staff issues which have financial implications.
Any other duties as mutually agreed with the Country Director and the GOAL Global Finance Director
Requirements (Person Specification)
Essential
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Qualified accountant. ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or equivalent.
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At least five years’ experience, with at least one of these overseas.
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At least one year’s team management experience
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Willingness and ability to work in a pressurised environment, producing work of high quality to strict deadlines.
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Experience in dealing with institutional donors such as DFID, USAID, EC, UN, private foundations. Familiarity with donor rules and regulations (Particularly EU, Irish Aid, USAID).
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Flexible and reliable, with excellent interpersonal, motivational and management skills.
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Excellent analytical and writing skills (English)
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Strong IT skills and systems experience – Advanced Excel experience and SAGE experience is highly desirable.
• Strong experience liaising with governmental/local authorities and other NGOs
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You to be culturally sensitive and empathic to others, with a ‘can do’ attitude