The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world’s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 50 countries and more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you’re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC has worked in Ethiopia since 2000, providing essential services through direct and partner-led programming. Currently, the IRC offers multi-sectoral assistance through emergency response and long-term resilience-building. The IRC implements development, humanitarian, and life-saving emergency programs through different sectors, including Environmental Health, Health and Nutrition, Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Emergency Rapid Response (ERR), Education (EDU), Child Protection (CP), and Community Wellbeing Initiative (CWI).

In Ethiopia, the IRC delivers educational services to children, their parents or caregivers,and to government-run primary schools. The IRC operates directly and indirectly throughout all regions of Ethiopia, except for the Southwest Region. The IRC works through seven field offices – in Adama, Hawassa, Asossa, Gambella, Somali, and Shire, and four satellite offices in Aleta Wondo Harar, Bahir Dar, and Shiraro. The IRC directly operates in Oromia, Somali, Tigray, Beninshangul-Gumuz, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP), Sidama, Gambella, and Harari regions. The IRC operates directly and through its partners in Amhara and Afar regions.

Background and Objectives of the FCDO Transforming Education in Ethiopia (TREE) Programme

Education in Ethiopia is under stress, with limited access and retention for marginalized groups and reduced levels of learning outcomes across all year groups. This is further compounded by different crises – conflict, climate-induced shocks, and residual impacts of COVID-19, with some children out of school for most of the past 3.5 years. The Transforming Education in Ethiopia (TREE) Programme (2024 – 2029)” initiated by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) aims to increase access to education for girls and other marginalized groups and enhance their learning outcomes as well as improve teaching quality and learning outcomes with a focus on foundational learning.

The program will focus on three key components below:

1. Access to quality education: Improved quality of teaching and learning in targeted schools.

2. English Language: Selected schools provide better teaching and learning in English Language as a subject, and improved use of English across the curriculum.

3. Inclusion: Increased number of the most marginalized children, particularly girls, access education, stay in school and learn.

Recruitment for this role is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the final applicant’s selection is subject to FCDO approval.

Scope of Work

The Finance and Operations Director will provide leadership and direction on all aspects of finance, grant, procurement, administration, contracting and resource and risk management to the TREE team. To ensure compliance with client and corporate requirements across all functions. To ensure that the program management system is sufficiently robust to support the technical team in achieving program objectives. The Finance and Operations Director will ensure the program complies with FCDO financial rules and regulations and the host country’s labor, tax, and other relevant laws. S/he will contribute to developing the project’s strategic and operational plans and will be responsible for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the agreed financial targets. S/he will have line management responsibilities to finance support staff and directly report to the Team Lead as part of the programme Senior Management team.

Key Responsibilities

• Establishes the project’s finance management and risk management policies, systems and procedures, and leads their development, documentation, and implementation.

• Leads the design of appropriate procurement processes in line with IRC and FCDO requirements.

• Works in collaboration with the program team to develop and agree on the fund operating procedures and standards of financial management within the overall framework of TREE financial systems and procedures.

• Ensures contracts with institutions, consultants and sub partners meet the procurement provisions of the client contract and follow best practice, both externally and internally.

• Manages project finance activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by the EPD team and FCDO. Prepares quarterly accrual reports, expenditure reporting, and burn rate projections.

• Provides project management and program staff with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and project fund analysis and facilitates review and discussion.

• Directs the preparation and approval of all FCDO financial reports regarding accounting, legal, and contractual requirements and ensures the review of such reports by the Team Lead and HQ prior to submission.

• Enforces internal control policies and procedures and identifies potential risks and develops mitigation strategies to ensure project success

• Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to financial matters and ensures compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements.

• Manages the allocation of resources, including personnel, materials, and equipment, to optimize project performance.

• Develops, updates and implements programme wide administrative systems to corporate and programme standards, that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the TREE operation.

• Ensuring that the programme’s procurement processes are fit for purpose, compliant with corporate, client and statutory standards.

• Ensuring the application of appropriate risk management measures.

• Ensuring timely and effective programme support services to facilitate efficient and effective program delivery.

• Ensure IRC and donor compliance requirements are met

• Work with country office finance team on project related finance functions and facilitate and engage in the audit requirements.

• Ensure project cycle meetings will be conducted timely and action plans are followed and acted on.

• Ensure project spending forecast/pipeline analysis will be developed as required.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA, or a master’s degree in accounting.

• A minimum of 10 years in a similar financial, compliance, or operational role supporting FCDO commercial contracts and other international donor projects in similar contexts.

• Experience of designing, implementing and managing financial and procurement management systems and controls.

• Experience with budgeting and financial reporting requirements on multimillion pound, multi-year, FCDO commercial contracts.

• Experience with financial management and reporting on projects with substantial sub-awards.

• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices, financial reporting standards, financial management processes and procedures.

• Extensive experience in working with ERP system, PBI or computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheets and database programmes.

• Must have a proven track record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions.

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment.

• Experience in management of staff performance gaps and provision of additional training or managing a performance improvement plan.

• Knowledge and experience with Ethiopia’s labor, tax, and other relevant laws

• Fluency in English required.

Recruitment for this role is contingent upon the successful award of the project, and the final applicant’s selection is subject to FCDO approval.

**Standard of Professional Conduct:**The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.