Regional Finance Specialist

Job Description

Background

DRC has been operating in West Africa since 1998 and in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2011. The DRC West-North Africa & Latin America (WANALA) Regional Office is based in Dakar, Senegal, and covers several countries. Led by the Regional Executive Director, the DRC WANALA oversees, supports, and provides strategic directions for DRC’s Country Offices within the abovementioned regions. The region covers legal entities in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Libya, Mali, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Venezuela. The Regional Program Team has a range of technical capacities.

Purpose

Under the supervision of the Regional Finance Manager, the Regional Finance Specialist is expected to be an experienced, highly qualified, and enthusiastic professional to provide professional guidance and direct support to DRC operations within the WANALA Region in terms of accounting, finance monitoring & reporting. Plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth and uninterrupted financial operations of an organization’s offices across a designated region. This role is designed to be highly mobile and adaptable, providing critical gap-filling support in times of staffing shortages, transitions, and high operational demands. The regional finance specialist is also central to inducting new finance staff and strengthening the financial capacity of local teams to ensure long-term effectiveness in financial management. This position also requires a full professional proficiency in French and English languages is based in Dakar (Senegal) but will have to travel extensively through the WANALA Region, potentially in all the countries mentioned above.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

Financial & Accounting Management

Ensure fills in for finance staff vacancies, ensuring continuity in financial management and operations in different offices across the region.
Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, compliance with internal and external financial regulations, and adherence to budgetary controls in each assigned location.
During times of operational emergencies or heightened activity (e.g., disaster response, major project launches), the specialist is dispatched to support urgent financial needs, stabilizing processes and ensuring that all financial activities meet the necessary standards.
When deployed to a specific location, assumes responsibility for overseeing the office’s financial management. This includes monitoring the budget, reviewing expenditures, ensuring proper documentation for donor reporting, and addressing any financial discrepancies that arise.
During deployments, the specialist reviews existing financial processes in the offices they are assigned to and identifies areas for improvement. By suggesting more efficient procedures or introducing best practices from other locations, the specialist enhances operational efficiency and reduces the risk of financial errors.
When deployed or assigned to a specific location, lead-up to internal or external audits, by providing critical support & reviewing financial records, ensuring that all documentation is in order, and assisting local teams with any questions or concerns to helps reduce the risk of audit findings that could negatively impact the organization’s standing with donors or regulatory bodies.
When assigned to a specific location, ensure maintenance of the Country Master Budget and highlight any gaps or financial risk to the line management.
Contribute to the development and elaboration of new learning materials for the Finance staff members in the WANALA region (in good cooperation with the Line manager).
Contribute to check that the financial procedures on DRC Dynamics are well-respected in each Country covered by the WANALA RO and to provide regularly reliable data about the use of DRC Dynamics in all WANALA Region.

Capacity Development

Provide induction training and onboarding support for new finance managers at the country level within the WANALA region. This includes familiarizing them with the organization’s financial systems, policies, and procedures, as well as introducing them to the specific requirements of donor-funded projects and local regulatory compliance.
Instrumental in identifying gaps in the knowledge and skills of local finance teams and designing targeted training programs to address these areas. This can include training in advanced financial management techniques, compliance with donor guidelines, or the use of Dynamics.
Ensure that capacity-building sessions are conducted as needed during field deployments, aimed at empowering country teams to independently and efficiently manage their daily tasks and responsibilities
To advise on and promote understanding and application of DRC policies, procedures, and principles.
The position requires 50% of field travel for gap filling, capacity building and roll outs of new financial processes and systems.

Technical Line Management Responsibilities

Make sure that financial management does not suffer during staffing shortages, new team transitions, or periods of increased activity through a flexible deployment for rapid response to gaps in financial management, preventing disruptions that could negatively impact project delivery or compliance with donor requirements.
Frequently deployment to offices across the region to cover gaps in finance staffing, such as when there are vacancies, absences due to leave, or emergencies by ensuring that financial management remains consistent and that key functions continue without disruption.
On request, perform any other additional duties assigned by the supervisor(s) to allow the organization to function optimally.

Required Qualifications

Post graduate University degree in Economics, Finance/Accounting or Business Administration.
Minimum 3 years of international practical experience in financial management
At least 1 year of field experience working with INGOs in WANALA contexts
Minimum 1 year in a similar role.
Proven experience in managing large budgets.
Competence in providing technical guidance and training.
Ability to prepare basic training modules on Microsoft Dynamics, accounting, and finance management.
Excellent Computer Skills (MS Office, Internet) and advanced proficiency in Excel are required.
Proficiency (written and spoken) in the English language.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills with a well-developed ability to motivate and persuade at high levels.
Proven significant financial management experience.
Previous experience with DRC is an advantage;
Previous experience working in an ERP system is an asset.
Good knowledge and experience in working with the following donors: USAID, ECHO, GFFO, SDC, UNHCR, UNICEF, FCDO
Experience in supporting voucher or cash transfer programs would be appreciated.
Fluency in Spanish and/or Arabic is an asset.