“All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment/promotions and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
IFES takes affirmative action with respect to the employment and promotion of women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans. IFES will also take affirmative action on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
IFES is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor”
About the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES): Together we build democracies that deliver for all. Our independent expertise strengthens electoral institutions/systems and builds local capacity to deliver sustainable solutions. As the global leader in democracy promotion, we advance good governance and democratic rights by providing technical assistance; empowering the underrepresented to participate in the political process; and applying field-based research to improve the electoral cycle. We believe that trusted electoral institutions deliver credible elections, effective governing institutions are accountable to the people they serve, all people safely participate in civic and political life on an equal basis and technology, information and data positively serve elections and democracy. Since 1987, IFES has worked in over 145 countries – from developing to mature democracies.
IFES is currently recruiting for a Director of Finance and Administration position for the anticipated 5-year, USAID-funded Liberian Elections and Democracy (LEAD) Activity. The program aims to lay the foundation for enhanced governance by promoting increased leadership of marginalized groups in the political process, by supporting the institutionalization of civic education and by building the capacity of the National Elections Commission and civil society organizations to independently manage and oversee all stages of the electoral cycle. The Director of Finance and Administration will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of financial management, procurement, and operations, including systems implementation, budgeting, expenditure tracking, and financial reporting. The Director of Finance and Administration will also be responsible for ensuring the project’s compliance with both IFES and USAID policies, procedures, rules and regulations. The Director of Finance and Administration will lead budget development and monitoring, award monitoring and compliance, procurement, and logistics for IFES in the field. This position, contingent upon receipt of funding, would be based in Monrovia, Liberia, and report to Country Director for Liberia.
Job Responsibilities:
- Lead all project finance and operations, including general administrative processes, financial management, procurement, accounting, and logistics;
- Establish and maintain sound and transparent accounting and fiscal control procedures;
- Ensure compliance of financial and operations systems with IFES policies and procedures, USAID rules and regulations, and local laws;
- Develop, analyze and monitor program budgets;
- Monitor and track wire transfer requests and expenditures against budgets and support budget realignments as needed;
- Manage project procurement processes in accordance with IFES policies and applicable regulations;
- Liaise between IFES headquarters and the field office on financial and procurement matters;
- Regularly analyze and forecast project expenses;
- Work on and monitor sub-award implementation and management for the full cycle of sub-awards, in coordination with other staff in the field and HQ;
- Advise senior leadership on financial and operations-related matters;
- Support preparation of annual and quarterly financial and accrual reports for donors;
- Contribute to the development of high-quality work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by USAID;
- Liaise with internal and external auditors in the review of project financial management;
- Supervise and train other project-based administrative, finance, and procurement, staff;
- Any other duties as assigned.
Position Requirements: - Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field required;
- At least ten (10) years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, including overseeing the finance and operations of projects in complex operating environments;
- Experience working in Africa;
- Professional level of oral and written fluency in English;
- Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations on financial management and procurement is required; Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), budgeting and fiscal control principles;
- Ability to maintain and apply strong internal controls for finance and procurements;
- Demonstrated experience with developing and managing budgets;
- Demonstrated experience managing/implementing/monitoring sub-awards;
- Relevant skills in automated accounting software systems and database spreadsheets;
- Experience training and mentoring finance and operations staff;
- Experience with financial management of projects that utilize rapid resource mobilization;
- Demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relations with international donor agencies, electoral management bodies, and government stakeholders;
- Demonstrated leadership qualities, depth and breadth of financial management expertise;
- Relevant computer software skills and familiarity with accounting software (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office);
- Excellent interpersonal skills and experience establishing and maintaining good relationships with a wide variety of professionals and organizations; and
- Experience using and training other staff on QuickBooks.
More Information
- Job City Monrovia
