About this opportunity
Opportunity Overview
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is hiring a Senior Finance Lead to oversee a major humanitarian program in South Sudan, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The program is expected to run from October 2026 for 2.5 years. This is a senior leadership role, sitting on the program's Senior Management Team, and it comes with significant responsibility for financial oversight, compliance, and partner management in one of the world's most challenging operating environments. The project aims to reduce conflict-driven mortality, morbidity, and protection risks by helping vulnerable people access lifesaving, multi-sector humanitarian assistance. South Sudan has faced prolonged conflict and displacement, and the IRC has been operating there since 1989. The program will work across eleven field sites, covering five states and one administrative area, including refugee camps and host communities. The Finance Lead will be based in this context, managing finances across multiple offices and ensuring that funds are used effectively and accountably. The IRC itself is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world, founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein. It operates in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, delivering health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and protection services to people affected by conflict and disaster. The organization employs thousands of staff globally and is known for its commitment to professional standards, safeguarding, and accountability. Working here means being part of a large, established network with deep experience in crisis response. Living and working in South Sudan is demanding. The climate is hot, with a rainy season that can make travel difficult. Infrastructure is limited, and security risks are real. However, the IRC has a long-standing presence and robust systems in place to support staff. The role requires fluency in English and Arabic, and experience working in Sudan is an advantage. This is a position for someone who thrives in complex, high-risk environments and wants to make a tangible difference in the lives of millions.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a member of the Program's Senior Management Team, overseeing all financial management and operations
- Develop and implement the program's financial policies, systems, and procedures, including a financial management manual
- Prepare and review quarterly accrual reports, expenditure reporting, and projections consolidated across all program offices
- Provide monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis to program staff, facilitating review for adaptive management
- Direct the preparation of all FCDO financial reports in accordance with accounting, legal, and contractual requirements
- Ensure compliance with local government tax and legal regulations, including establishing program-specific bank accounts with adequate financial controls
- Work closely with the Cash Programming Technical Lead to ensure robust fiduciary risk management across cash delivery mechanisms
- Manage and support finance and program support staff, including performance management, career progression, and capacity strengthening
- Lead recruitment for finance staff and implement training programs on expenditure tracking and quarterly forecasting
- Oversee financial management across downstream partners and sub-awards, including financial due diligence, partner budgeting support, and expenditure verification
- Strengthen partner finance capacity through coaching and practical tools, ensuring accurate and timely reporting
- Lead program assurance, including audit planning and coordination, follow-up on findings, and implementation of corrective actions
- Provide scenario-based financial analysis and value-for-money insights to support senior management decisions and course correction
Benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience, aligned with IRC's global compensation structure for senior roles
- Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision
- Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave, with travel arrangements and accommodation provided
- Annual leave and sick leave as per IRC policy
- Accommodation and living expenses covered in the field location
- Security training and support, including evacuation procedures
- Professional development opportunities, including training in financial management and leadership
- The chance to work with a globally recognized humanitarian organization with over 90 years of experience
Eligibility
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, commerce, or finance, with a recognized professional certificate such as CPA, OR a master's degree in accounting
- Minimum of 10 years in a similar financial, compliance, or operational role supporting FCDO accountable grants and other international donor projects in fragile and conflict-affected contexts
- Experience with budgeting and financial reporting on multi-million-pound, multi-year FCDO accountable grants
- Experience with financial management and reporting on programs with substantial sub-awards and consortium partners operating across multiple locations
- Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices, financial reporting standards, and financial management processes
- Familiarity with FCDO rules and regulations, particularly on program expenditure, forecasting, and fiduciary risk management
- Extensive experience with computerized accounting systems, spreadsheets, and database programs
- Proven track record of identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions in complex, high-risk environments
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to work in diverse environments
- Experience managing staff performance, providing training, and managing performance improvement plans
- Fluency in English and Arabic is required
- Experience working in Sudan is an advantage
- Experience with financial oversight of cash transfer programming is strongly preferred
- Experience with adaptive management approaches and evidence-based programming is strongly preferred
How to Apply
- Review the full job description and ensure you meet all eligibility requirements, particularly the 10+ years of experience and fluency in English and Arabic.
- Prepare your CV and a cover letter highlighting your experience with FCDO grants and working in fragile contexts.
- Click the Apply button below to submit your application.
Official Application Strategy & Insights
Selection Committee Priorities
- •Academic/Professional Alignment: Ensure your statement explicitly ties your past work in to International Rescue Committee (IRC)'s strategic goals.
- •Leadership Evidence: Selection panels heavily weigh demonstrated initiative, community impact, or research output.
- •Financial & Language Prerequisites: Confirm if Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificates can substitute for formal standardized language test fees.
Required Document Verification
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