Finance Delegate – Sudan Full Time

We help to strengthen resilience of vulnerable people exposed to hazards and crisis situations and we respond to disasters and conflicts to save lives and alleviate suffering. We act before, during and after disasters to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people.

We do this without regards to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. Our seven principles guide our humanitarian work: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The International Assistance department is responsible for all Netherlands Red Cross international support for victims of disasters and conflicts and for vulnerable people exposed to hazards.

The Netherlands Red Cross has in a long term partnership with the Sudan Red Crescent Society to support them in building community resilience. We do this through the support of a varied project portfolio, some of them in consortia with other partners, but always with a direct support to the implementing partner, SRCS.

Position title: Finance Delegate (FD) – Sudan

Duty station: Port Sudan, Sudan

Time period: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Starting Date: 1 December 2025

Status: Single posting with R&R

Purpose of the position

The main purpose of the position is to monitor, support and check financial processes for NLRC supported projects in Sudan, to structure its administration and to build the capacity of NLRC delegates and Host National Society (HNS) financial staff. In terms of partnership development, the FD is playing a key role in the development and roll out of a Finance Vision for Sudan. Due to the current context that pose high level of financial risk, there will be a specific focus for the FD on risk management (e.g., leading the dialogue with SRCS senior finance staff on developing/ improving risk mitigation measures, enabling NLRC Finance officer to implement and monitor the compliance measures, etc.).

Background

The NLRC supports the Sudan Red Crescent through a strategic partnership, with longer term development assistance through a current program in the area of Disaster Management, WASH, Food Security, Data and Financial Sustainability. Additionally, NLRC supports the SRCS with strengthening its capacities to effectively provide services to the most vulnerable communities and assists the partner in the coordination within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and other stakeholders. Currently, the SRCS is resuming their accounting system (ERP) and then plan to find out a cost effective and more sustainable solution. The FD will contribute in the effort and build the capacity of the NS. NLRC along with other movement components will contribute to the financial sustainability of SRCS. The FD will contribute to the targeted financial sustainability (only finance related matters) work of SRCS.

The outbreak of the conflict between RSF and government forces since April 2023, has strongly disrupted SRCS project implementation and its organisational structure. Due to the current crisis, SRCS (and its partners) are also facing an increased financial risk. The SRCS is trying to ensure business continuity and has developed a plan to support its branches via Regional Hubs. One of the proposed hubs is in Gedaref (one of the NLRC project areas), which SRCS intends to equip with additional Finance Staff, to enable the surrounding branches to increase its financial control capacity. This is part of the financial control measures that SRCS tries to put in place, to report better to Movement partners.

For the above reasons and current contexts we are recruiting a Finance Delegate to support operations in Sudan, to minimize financial risks, to structure the administration and bring it up to date, and to provide capacity building to NLRC and local staff based in-country, financial system development of SRCS, to support the Finance vision development and to support the finance sustainability (only finance related matters) work in Sudan.

Position in the organization

In this position, you report to the NLRC Country Representative based in Nairobi who is in charge of the functional management, in conjunction with the PPC (Partnership and Portfolio Coordinator, at NLRC HQ). However, on the day to day basis, you will work hand in hand with project delegates (for all the projects) and SRCS Finance Coordinator (assigned for NLRC projects). On a monthly basis, the Finance Delegate will Technically report to the Financial Controllers of NLRC HQ. Every two weeks, the FD attends online the NLRC finance meeting (with NLRC financial staff HQ and NLRC financial delegates of all partnership projects). Also the FD gives input to the quarterly finance meetings with NLRC HQ.

The Finance Delegate works together in day to day operations with NLRC Project Delegates, including the Country Representatives (who are owner of the Office project and other projects), and local staff. Close cooperation & frequent communication with Project Administration, Desk and Financial Control is essential.

Summary statement and responsibilities

Each NLRC partnership country will have a Country Finance Plan (CFP), that includes all specific (financial) areas that need support and implementation. The FD is co-responsible to develop, monitor and implement the CFP for Sudan, in close coordination with CR, PA and FC.

Specific tasks from the CFP are:

• Development and roll out of the Finance vision for Sudan (close coordination with FC and CR)
• Specific attention to be given to Risk Management (e.g leading the dialogue with SRCS senior finance staff on developing/ improving risk mitigation measures, enabling NLRC Finance officer to implement and monitor the compliance measures, etc)

NLRC Projects:

• Support NLRC delegates (the project owners) to:
• Safeguard Donor compliance,
• Ensure 100% compliance to procurement regulations
• Verify, 100% audit proof of financial files including reconciliation with the financial administration of HNS and that payments can be made according to plans.
• Do Budget planning/preparation, forecasting, Monitoring and analysis
• 100% review of submitted Financial Reports by HNS and undertaking monthly bank reconciliation per project to identify discrepancies between the Monthly reconciliation of Winpaccs reports and HNS Navision reports and coordinate that CR/Project delegates follow up with HNS
• Do monthly financial reporting to NLRC for the project(s), in coordination with the country representative/project manager, to steer and manage the project funding.
• BVA report to Finance Control and CR accompanied with explanatory note for deviations above 10% per budget line by comparing the POA vs actuals for the relevant reporting period
• Monitor and ensure that the financial management at field level is carried out in accordance with NLRC guidelines, the agreed contractual conditions, MoUs, applicable local laws and other regulatory requirements, with when possible field audits to Branch Offices where NLRC projects are implemented.
• Report to FC and liaise with PA on project administration issues and ensuring SPACE and Winpaccs match both at field level and HQ level
• Coordinate together with Project delegates and accountants the end of project audits and internal reviews/auditing

Please note that the current portfolio of NLRC includes an EUD funded food security project. Being NLRC the lead of the consortium for the food security project, the FD plays the above role for the entire consortium covering the entire program.

NLRC delegation:

• Ensure Finance tools and systems are well maintained and safeguard that each Project delegate executes his/her roles and responsibilities correctly (e.g. budgeting, planning, monitoring, reporting, cash requests, Winpaccs cost control, are primary tasks of the Project Delegate and not the task of the Finance Delegate)
• Train and coach the NLRC Project Delegates, country representative & local finance staff in the NLRC procedures for: internal control, financial planning, budgeting, budget revisions. Winpaccs accounting and cost control: encoding of vouchers and variance analysis; forecasting, cash request and reporting requirements.
• Ensure financial management tasks are being followed as described by the Job Descriptions of each delegate (e.g. budgeting, planning, monitoring, reporting, cash requests, Winpaccs cost control, are primary tasks of the Project Delegate)
• Maintain a good working relationship with the HNS Finance manager and Support Service Manager and other stakeholders including financial staff of the National Society
• Attend Support Service/Finance technical working groups and provide technical support to the HNS and update the CR on the issues that may require his attention and report the same to FC during the monthly technical meeting.
• Support the review of HNS financial policies and procedures
• Carry out Risk assessment of Partners Administrative, Logistics and Finance systems and give recommendations for their mitigation.
• Deliver capacity strengthening activities through training, coaching of HNS staff.
• Support HNS in adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in their accounting financial management structure.
• Support the HNS in Branch Financial Management.
• Support the HNS in implementing Audit & other Risk Assessment recommendations.
• Work with the local financial and administrative officers and train on the execution of the project administration at (HNS) HQ and field (branch) level (with where possible visit the branches).
• Analyse and identify finance system bottlenecks and propose improvements to ensure compliant reporting through our office, in cooperation with HNS. Support the NS to find out alternate solution is case the current ERP is not convenient for the NS.

Host National Societies:

• Special attention in the above analysis should be the monthly project reconciliation and balance report: accruals of payables, receivables, bank and cash per project
• Capacity building: Assist HNS Finance team in their financial administration, suggest improvements in procedures and practices
• Capacity building: contribute to HNS agreed mentoring plan for finance staff.
• Ensure a well-functioning NLRC office administration is operational in Nairobi and Port Sudan by the end of the assignment and hand it over to local administrator who will be under his mentorship and training during the period of assignment (handover of the Nairobi office administration will be communicated on due time).

Requirements/Qualifications

Key qualifications

• Bachelor in Finance and Administration is needed, Masters in Business Administration would be an advantage
• Certification in Accounting, e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIA, et al
• Five years of experience in financial management, accounting and control
• At least two years of international experience in working for a humanitarian aid organisation in similar context
• Experience working and living in another country/context than your own
• Knowledge of Winpaccs Accounting system preferable, or willingness to complete the relevant training
• Experience in preparing budgets, cash flow statements and financial plans
• Experience in developing financial reports, and provide support to ensure consistency with narrative reporting
• Experience with donor formats and requirements
• Strong communication and training/coaching skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience and proven competence in preparing financial reports and explanatory notes on deviations
• Experience in problem identification and solution analysis
• Excellent practical computer skills (including excellent command of Excel spreadsheets and accounting software, as well as strong competence in Windows, Word processing, internet)
• Experience working and living in a conflict setting
• Fluency in English is required
• Fluency in Arabic is required
• Experience in working for the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement.
• Preferably experience of working in African context

Key competences

• Able to work in a team
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and personal conduct
• Flexible and adaptable to changing working conditions
• Self-motivated, with good judgment and initiative
• Ability to manage broad responsibilities with attention to detail
• Good interpersonal skills
• Stress resistant
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Hands on and pro-active mentality
• Ability to represent the employer in working groups and fora

We offer

• A full time appointment (based on 40-hour work week) for 12 months
• A flexible and human centred working environment in an international environment with a variety of international organizations.
• Well balanced employment conditions with space for initiative and development.

Tagged as: Netherlands Red Cross, Sudan