ROLE PURPOSE:    

As part of our humanitarian ambition and 2030 global strategy, Save the Children is developing and implementing a new Surge Capacity Model that continues to improve the efficient deployment of high quality surge staff to support the delivery of our humanitarian responses.

The Finance Manager will lead the finance function of the Global Expertise and Humanitarian Surge Platform (GEHSP). S/he will ensure that financial recharge and recovery for the time of deployed staff are properly managed, and report on the financial risk of the platform. The role holder will be expected to work with a wide range of stakeholders across Save the Children International and Member offices and may be required to travel internationally from time to time.

The post holder may on occasion deploy to responses.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

• Reports to: Director of GEHSP with dotted line to SCI Director of International Programmes Finance
• Staff reporting to this post: up to 2-3 Finance Officers, GEHSP Information and Innovation Officer
• Budget Responsibilities:  None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY 

Financial management for surge platform

• Lead and manage the finance function of the Global Expertise and Humanitarian Surge Platform, maintaining a broad understanding of the work of the platform and the role of the finance team within it.
• Manage the performance of the remotely-based Finance Officers and the Information and Innovation Officer through coaching, mentoring and other techniques to develop a strong understanding of their role in the platform and the ability to carry out their tasks independently and with initiative.
• Ensure accuracy in the input and management of data in the Agresso finance system and its alignment to the financial information contained in the GEHSP bespoke deployment system (IDS), providing technical assistance to the finance officers where needed.
• Collaborate with colleagues from SCI finance department to ensure that the platform follows SCI financial policies and procedures.

End-to-end deployment finance

• Ensure that correct and timely postings are made in the Agresso finance system to recharge deployment costs for each deployed staff member to the receiving response, and to receive employment costs from the entity that employs the staff member.
• Ensure that monthly reconciliations are carried out on the balance sheet accounts that are used to hold recharge and recovery transactions, dealing with and escalating any issues so that any old balances are cleared.
• Act as a subject matter point of contact for deployable surge staff, advising any surge staff on humanitarian financial management and finance surge staff on career development.
• Ensure that the finance policies for for deployed staff and roster consultants are fit for purpose, and revise them where necessary.
• Ensure that expense payments are made correctly and in good time to deploying staff, and that roster consultant invoices are paid in good time, trouble-shooting any issues encountered.
• Support the continuous improvement of our deployment processes and systems.
• Ensure that sender rates are available for members, country offices and regional offices deploying their staff members via the GEHSP. Liaise with finance team across all senders to ensure the rates are realistic and up to date.
• Support the set up and management of new streams of surge when and if relevant.
• Support the Information and Innovation Officer in producing high quality deployment data and adapting our current information management solutions according to stakeholder needs.
• Tracking and reporting of financial performance and risk
• Monitor and analyse spend against overall annual budget for the platform on a monthly basis, and advise senior management on appropriate actions in response to analysis.
• Lead on financial risk management and reporting, feeding information and analysis on recent cashflow and current surplus or deficit into the monthly dashboard  and into the scenario-planning tool.
• Provide financial support to the decisions of the Director of Platform, including concerning the use of the platform financial reserve and the reinvestment of surplus.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS  

• Educated to a degree level
• Professional accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CFA etc)

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Substantial experience of financial management in an international context, operating at all levels of the business, including with senior leaders
• Proven experience of working in humanitarian responses
• Good knowledge of IT finance systems and Microsoft Excel
• Proven ability to drive continuous improvement around financial controls and procedures
• Strong people manager, competent in coaching and mentoring others, both within the  team and more widely across the organisation
• Experience of capability building/training in diverse contexts and across cultures
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to communicate to colleagues from a range of departments about complex financial issues.
• Adaptable working style and effective when working in situations that may appear ambiguous
• Clear thinker who can remain calm and focussed when working under pressure 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate fluently in English (both verbal and written)
• Quality focussed with strong attention to detail

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Agresso finance system