Partnerbericht

Senior Finance Specialist

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of gender, ethnicity or skin color. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled in a firmer and more honest way.

Equality is the common thread throughout our activities and projects, but also internally. We are aware that our team of colleagues can be even more diverse and that having a diverse team is the only way to see the world from a broad perspective. To obtain a multi-voiced team, we are therefore calling in particular on women, members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, or people with disabilities to apply for this job.

Apply and become part of Oxfam Novib!

Door 6 april 2023

Description of the Department
The Finance and Operations Department has the core responsibility to deliver on enabling operational services that help the organization achieve its impact goals and ensure that it fulfills its external regulatory requirements. The department consists of four functional units (ICT and Facilities; Integrity; HR, People and Culture; Corporate Finance, Quality and Control), one expertise unit (Project and Donor Compliance) and an Executing Affiliate (EA) unit (EA Global Business Support) where business support to our EA country offices are clustered.

Purpose of Unit
The ProMt unit provides project related financial and administrative support to the Programs and Engagement Departments and non-project related financial and administrative support to all units and departments. It is the owner of a number of key policies and processes that relate to the operational, financial, and administrative management of projects from the inception of a project until its closure, and procurement in general within Oxfam Novib. It provides direct project support through seconded staff and procurement management, and indirect support through a core team setting and providing guidance on professional project management, financial and administrative standards for projects and procurement in general.

Job Summary
The Senior Finance Specialist will be part of the Project Management Support expertise (ProMt) unit and seconded on a full time basis to projects and/or programs. The Senior Finance Specialist is responsible for the comprehensive financial management of projects and programs. This includes the implementation of sound financial controls, budgeting, monitoring, reporting, auditing and forecasting processes, financial risk assessment and management and capacity building for Oxfam country offices and partners. You will collaborate with and provide guidance to the financial officers of projects and programs’ and the network of actors related to projects and programs to ensure quality implementation of financial administration in accordance with Oxfam Novib and donor requirements. The aim is to strengthen a coherent, robust approach to financial management and oversight for projects and programs. The Senior Finance Specialist is therefore an experienced financial and very effective communicator.

Tasks and Responsibilities

  • Advice to the project leader based on financial analysis for financial management decisions focusing on short-term and long-term planning, budget control to ensure budget utilization and prevention of losses. This includes budgeting and timely adjustments.
  • Set up a project wide system for a planning and reporting the financial parts of project management, to ensure that all financial elements of project management are properly coordinated.
  • Deliver a direct contribution to the realization of project goals of the project by drawing-up and monitoring the consolidated project budget including all partners, including tasks such as the appraisal and consolidation of financial data from partners and country offices for overall planning and reporting.
  • Provide financial oversight on budget follow up at individual project levels.
  • Providing financial strategic support to the Finance Quality and Control
  • Coordinating the annual external audit process for the project.
  • Ensuring that the financial risks and opportunities are effectively managed, and pro-actively making contributions to lower risks where possible by taking the lead in risk management and actively reviewing.
  • Coordinates and consults with other units such as CORE, Integrity team and Corporate Finance, Quality & Control Unit to resolve bottlenecks/challenges, develop/improve tools and /or templates, and in managing fraud and other incidents.
  • Contribute to the development of a knowledge base around donor requirements and advise colleagues involved in projects from the same donor.

Knowledge and Experience

  • A first-level university degree (e.g., Bachelor; HBO) in financial management, business administration, accounting or other relevant social sciences is required.
  • A minimum of five (5) years of experience in financial management or financial controlling position in a project-based organization.
  • Experience in an international setting is an advantage.
  • Experience in independent financial planning, budgeting, reporting, project audits and capacity to evaluate these against the political and socio-economic context within which they are carried out.
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Dutch is considered an asset.
  • You are eligible to work in the country you applied for.

Skills and Abilities

  • Comprehensive understanding of donor contract management, financial project management, sub-granting and contexts of operation in least developed, low- and middle-income countries.
  • Experience in a complex, networked international organization.
  • Excellent communication and social skills and are a team player.
  • Willing and able to travel to different countries, sometimes at short notice.
  • Willing to work on other projects within the Oxfam Novib Programs Department.
  • Experience and knowledge of relevant financial IT-systems.

Working at Oxfam Novib

  • All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.
  • At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles – Oxfam Policy & Practice.
  • Oxfam Novib is committed to offer you a motivating work environment at our offices in The Hague. We offer a one-year contract from start (including a 1-month trial period), with the possibility to extend.
  • Oxfam Novib offers an attractive and honest benefits package, including a year-end allowance and yearly pay increase from the Collective Labor Agreement. Moreover, we offer complementary options to choose from. The salary range for this position is set in scale 9 with a salary range between €2.978,- and € 4.582,- gross based on 36 hours a week.
  • Oxfam Novib is based on the power of difference. That is why we aim to attract a diverse mix of talented people who share our standards, values and principles, and who are committed to prevent and eliminate any type of misconduct.
  • We have an active policy against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any form of abuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. This subject will be covered in our application and selection process.

 

Additional information

  • Do you believe that this is the job you are looking for? Then we would love to meet you! Please send your resume and cover letter via our application portal.
  • If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Mark Kingma, Senior Finance Specialist Lead at mark.kingma@oxfamnovib.nl.
  • Only applications received before the closing date 23 April 2023 and submitted via our application portal will be considered.
  • This job opening is posted internally and externally, simultaneously. Internal candidates are given preference if they are sufficiently qualified or can be obtained in short term. We believe it’s important in our organization that our employees are offered maximum opportunities for growth in new themes and competencies. Priority for internal candidates supports this.
  • At the time of a contract offer, it is necessary for Oxfam Novib to request valid references. Our candidates will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including criminal records and terrorism, financial checks or integrity screenings/references.
  • Oxfam Novib reserves the right, to its sole discretion, not to make agreements regarding this job opening, make an agreement in a lower level, or make an agreement with an amended job description.
  • We are currently working hybrid (50% in the office in The Hague and 50% at home).
  • Qualified candidates residing in the Netherlands, or other EU/EEA countries and who are willing to relocate to the Netherlands at their own expense and responsibility, are encouraged to apply.
  • Oxfam Novib is unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.