Head of Finance (Expatriate), Human Appeal

Who We Are

Human Appeal is a global non-profit humanitarian and development organisation. We deliver life-saving emergency assistance such as food, medical aid, and disaster relief. At the same time, we run sustainable, community-led programmes in healthcare, education, and livelihoods to build resilience and self-reliance. Our experienced local teams work in vulnerable, hard-to-reach areas. Guided by a vision of a just, caring, and sustainable world, our mission is to save lives, alleviate poverty, and empower communities in line with the core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.

Position Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Finance (Expatriate) position within the Finance department based at Sudan Office.

The role holder will lead and oversee HA Sudan's Finance Department, holding overall accountability for financial management systems, financial control, and processes across the country programme. Ensure seamless coordination with HA Global Finance at Headquarters, and provide strategic financial leadership to the Finance Manager and wider country finance function. Present complex financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders, and provide expertise in project accounting, financial analysis, and modeling. Maintain expert-level knowledge of UK GAAP, IAS, and institutional donor reporting requirements (UN, USAID, DEC, UNDP & FCDO and other institutional donors.

Main Responsibilities

Supervision of Daily Operations:

• Provide overall supervision of the Finance Manager and country finance team to ensure payroll functions are accurate and processed on time.
• Oversee the negotiation and management of employee insurance and benefit plans, ensuring the Finance Manager implements agreed terms correctly.

Month-End Close:

• Lead and review the month-end financial close process, directing the Finance Manager to ensure all financial activities are accurately recorded and reported in line with HA standards.
• Review and approve all bank and fund reconciliations

Budget Preparation and Forecasting:

• Establish and enforce country-level guidelines for budget and forecast preparation, ensuring compliance by the Finance Manager and project finance staff.
• Prepare the annual budget in consultation with the Sudan Country Director and Executive Director, with support from the Finance Manager.
• Guide and review the Finance Manager's support to Program Directors and Project Managers on budget preparation for funding applications.
• Review monthly forecasts prepared by the Finance Manager to ensure accuracy in financial planning and adjustments.

Project Management Accounting:

• Oversee maintenance of financial records for all projects and programs, ensuring the Finance Manager upholds accuracy standards to facilitate management reporting.
• Ensure financial statements are prepared accurately and on time per funder contract agreements, providing technical review and sign-off.
• Oversee timely and accurate financial reporting on project and program activities, reviewing outputs prepared by the Finance Manager.
• Communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders, ensuring shared understanding for informed decision-making.

Financial Analysis and Modeling:

• Lead comprehensive financial analysis and modeling to support strategic planning and decision-making at country level.
• Direct the Finance Manager in producing detailed project and program financial analysis, including variance, trend, and forecast analysis.
• Develop and oversee financial models for project planning, budgeting, and performance evaluation.
• Develop and manage cross-charge models to allocate costs accurately across projects and departments.
• Monitor and analyze overall budget performance, providing regular reports and recommendations for adjustments, informed by inputs from the Finance Manager.

Information Technology:

• Evaluate and advise on new technology needs for financial data processing, control, and reporting, ensuring the Finance Manager implements approved systems effectively.
• Oversee the internal accounting system and records, ensuring the Finance Manager maintains the reliability and integrity of financial management information, documentation, and reports.

Risk Management:

• Oversee risk management policies and procedures to minimize program and organizational risks, ensuring consistent application by the Finance Manager and country finance team.
• Identify opportunities to maximize income through sound financial strategies.
• Coordinate regularly with HQ on emerging financial issues with potential impact on Human Appeal Sudan and the international management team.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks by monitoring financial operations, directing the Finance Manager on risk controls, and implementing risk management strategy in coordination with HQ for major issues.
• Ensure prompt resolution of audit and critical issues in coordination with the Country Director and HQ.

Team Management:

• Directly manage and supervise the Finance Manager, with overall responsibility for the Sudan finance team structure.
• Oversee the Finance Manager's supervision and coaching of field finance staff, ensuring clear job descriptions and regular performance feedback are maintained across the team.
• Drive an active capacity-building policy for local finance staff, including the Finance Manager, demonstrating strong leadership.

Financial Reporting and Compliance:

• Supervise the Finance Manager's preparation of all mandatory monthly and yearly accounts, ensuring consistent application of accounting policies.
• Review and approve financial reports for funding agencies such as the UN and other international bodies, ensuring the Finance Manager meets contract terms and compliance standards.
• Oversee cash flow projections and installment fund requests to funding agencies, prepared by the Finance Manager and reviewed by the HOF.
• Ensure compliance with in-country statutory accounting and reporting requirements.

Expenditure Control:

• Oversee expenditure control against budget for all projects, holding the Finance Manager accountable for accuracy.
• Ensure program staff receive regular, accurate financial reports and analysis from the Finance Manager for effective project management and decision-making.
• Oversee day-to-day financial transactions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll, managed operationally by the Finance Manager.

Proposal Preparation:

• Oversee preparation and verification of budgets for all project proposals and documents, with the Finance Manager providing direct input and the HOF ensuring accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with the Human Appeal Operations Manual, including electronic data storage, backups, and security procedures.

Procurement and Inventory Management:

• Ensure purchasing is carried out per the Human Appeal Procurement Policy, with oversight of the Finance Manager's compliance, and ensure any purchase, lease, or sale of assets follows the procurement manual and receives required approvals.
• Liaise with banks, tax authorities, and other financial institutions as needed, maintaining key institutional relationships.
• Oversee insurance renewals and accurate inventories of all project equipment, including the Asset Register, ensuring the Finance Manager maintains records to standard.

Payroll Management:

• Oversee salary payments, taxes, insurance, and benefits administered by the Finance Manager, ensuring timely payments and accurate payroll records, and ensuring tax calculations, social security, and other statutory contributions align with HA policies and procedures.
• Ensure staff advances and loans are settled in line with policy, particularly at service termination, with the Finance Manager handling processing under HOF oversight.

Audit Liaison:

• Act as the main contact for external auditors on accounting matters, with support from the Finance Manager.
• Ensure internal controls are in place across the country programme, including regular project office visits.

Office Operations:

• Work with administrative staff and the Country Director to ensure smooth office operations and cost savings where possible.

Financial Presentations:

• Present financial reports and insights to the CMT, ensuring clear and actionable communication of financial performance and strategies.

Other Duties:

• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the direct supervisor (International Financial Controller).

Candidate essential criteria

Education: University Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; professional certification (CPA, ACA, ACMA, ACCA) is a must.

Experience: Minimum of 8 Years of Experience in senior Finance position in field offices.

Computer Skills: Proficiency in MS Office Suite; expertise in Business Central and QuickBooks.

Language Skills: Excellence in English and Arabic is Mandatory.