Job Description

Deputy Director Finance- Mogadishu/Nairobi

Organization

• International Rescue Committee

  Posted10 Feb 2026  Closing date28 Feb 2026

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Somalia since 2006, providing essential services to conflict and disaster affected communities. The IRC has been operational in Central Somalia (Mudug and Galgadud regions), Puntland and Mogadishu implementing interventions in the areas of livelihood, Governance, GBV, WASH and health reaching out to more than 300,000 conflict and drought affected people.

JOB OVERVIEW

As a member of the Country Program Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director Finance provides the leadership and management necessary to ensure that the country program has the appropriate financial infrastructure and systems in place to support the strategic vision and mission of the organization. S/he will contribute to the development of the country program’s strategic and operational plans and be accountable for ensuring and monitoring delivery against the financial plans through targeted and comprehensive financial analytical review. The Deputy Director Finance is responsible for the overall policy and management for the financial and accounting management of the country program. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining financial management practices and systems that are compliant with US and local laws as well as donor requirements but are also conducive to effective implementation of country programs.

As Deputy Director Finance, s/he will have responsibility for all aspects of strategic and operational finance in the country program, acting as the principal finance business partner to the Senior Management team and Country Director, as well as conforming to IRCs financial control environment and CFO standards and objectives. The position will collaborate closely with all members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) to ensure acceptable levels of performance of cross-departmental business policies and procedures and collectively troubleshoot and develop solutions. S/he contributes to the development of country program’s Strategy Action Plan.

The Deputy Director Finance will report to the Country Director with technical oversight from the Regional Controller.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Financial Controllership

• Ensures that all in-country practices are in compliance with IRC and donor policies and procedures. Leads the roll-out of new/updated global policies and procedures.
• Closely monitors all financial activities and keeps the Country Director advised of all situations which have the potential for a negative impact on internal controls or financial performance.
• Manages the finance department activities and schedules to meet the financial reporting requirements and deadlines specified by IRC HQ and donors.
• Ensure that on a monthly basis balance sheet reconciliations are completed on a timely basis and those final reconciliations and trial balances are reviewed with the Country Director.
• Directs the preparation and approves all donor financial reports in respect to accounting, legal and contractual requirements.
• Develops, schedules, and performs or supervises the completion of country internal control audits, and initiates actions necessary to correct internal control weaknesses.
• Maintains current knowledge of local government requirements related to financial matters and ensures compliance with tax regulations and other legal requirements.
• Serves as the principal liaison with IRC HQ on all finance, accounting, grant budget management, and cash management matters.

2. Budget and Forecast

• Oversees the preparation and revision of grant proposal budgets; supports programs with guidance on costing and inputs in creating budgets for submission.
• Prepares and maintains the country program’s annual operating budget and reforecasts; ensures cost coverage for in-country operating costs and updates the operating budget regularly.
• In compliance with donor requirements and IRC policy, ensure that shared program costs are properly recovered and ensure that any expected funding gaps are timely flagged to CD and Regional Finance Director.
• Provides financial information to support the Country Director and SMT in making business decisions in line with IRC, regional and country program strategies.
• Provides strategic analysis on overall financial health of the country program to the CD and SMT.

3. Treasury

• Supervises all country office bank relations and bank account activities including negotiation of fees, interest and currency exchange rates in the country program.
• In compliance with IRC policy establishes country policies regarding cash holding limits, cash movements and foreign currency holdings.
• Oversees timely preparation, review and approval of monthly bank account and cash reconciliations.
• Establishes country policies on advance payments, credit terms and use of bank payment instruments.
• Designs, implements, and monitors systems, procedures and reporting necessary to maintain on current basis accurate forecasts of cash requirements for meeting future spending, including commitments entered into and which obligate IRC to future spending.
• Supervises the preparation of Cash Transfer Requests to New York and ensures that appropriate balances are maintained to facilitate grant implementation.

4. Staff Management and Leadership

• Establishes a finance department roles and responsibilities matrix; staff job descriptions are current; recruits and maintains qualified staff to perform finance functions.
• Ensures comprehensive and constructive performance reviews are completed annually; career planning and development plans are in place for all finance staff.
• Develops and implements a training program for the country’s finance staff.
• Oversees finance training and technical support to non-finance staff for skills improvement in the areas of accounting, reporting and internal control.
• Establishing succession and career plan for finance department.

Experiences and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance required; recognized professional certificate in accounting such as CPA or a Master’s degree in Accounting preferred.
• Extensive experience working in a development or humanitarian setting, including at least five years of experience living and working in the relevant field in developing and transitioning countries.
• Minimum of five years of managerial experience in finance.
• Extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs.
• Good written and verbal skills in the English language.
• Proven track-record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions.
• Function effectively in a complex work environment, setting appropriate priorities and manage competing priorities and pressure.
• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and professional patience and be able to interact, partner and thrive in a diverse environment.
• Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation.

Skills Required

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