Finance LEAD

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC has been operating in South Sudan since 1989 and is registered as an international NGO. IRC currently delivers multi sectoral programming directly and through partners across seven states and two administrative areas. These include Northern Bahr el Ghazal, covering Aweil East, Aweil West, and Aweil South counties, Unity State, covering Rubkona, Koch, and Panyijiar counties, Upper Nile State, covering Maban, Renk, Panyikang, Nasir, Ulang, and Panylgang counties, Lakes State, covering Rumbek Centre, Rumbek East, and Yirol West counties, Central Equatoria, covering Juba, Yei, and Kajokeji counties, Eastern Equatoria, covering Kapoeta East, Jonglei, covering Ayod, Twic East, Uror, Akobo counties, as well as Abyei Administrative Area and Ruweng Administrative Area, including Pariang County and Ajoung Thok and Pamir refugee camps.

Background and Objectives of EFASS
South Sudan has one of the world's most fragile education systems, with approximately 2.8 to 3 million children, representing around 60 to 70 percent of the school-age population, out of school. Foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes remain critically low, with less than 10 percent of children achieving minimum reading competency. Years of conflict, accelerating climate shocks, and government education expenditure under 3 percent of the national budget have created an entrenched crisis. Girls and children with disabilities are disproportionately affected by these barriers, with harmful gender norms and stigma further limiting their access to education.

EFASS is a £27 million, four-year programme (April 2026 to March 2030), designed to deliver five interlinked outcomes. These include improving access, retention, and progression for the most marginalised out-of-school children, particularly girls and children with disabilities in conflict and climate-affected areas. The programme also targets improved foundational learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy, strengthened delivery of inclusive and climate-adaptive education approaches by teachers and facilitators, improved education data and evidence for decision-making through a national Learning Outcomes and Quality Assessment, as well as strengthened pathways for system uptake and sustainability beyond EFASS.

Scope of Work
The Finance Lead serves as a member of the Programme's Senior Management Team and is responsible for overseeing financial management and operations for the EFASS Programme. The postholder provides leadership necessary to ensure the programme has appropriate financial infrastructure and systems in place to support smooth implementation. Working closely with the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader, the Finance Lead contributes to the development of strategic and operational plans and is accountable for monitoring delivery against financial plans through comprehensive financial analytical reviews.

The Finance Lead establishes programme finance policies, systems, and procedures, and directs their development, documentation, and implementation. This includes preparing and regularly reviewing the programme financial management manual and ensuring all staff comply with organisational and FCDO requirements. The postholder manages programme finance activities to meet reporting requirements and deadlines, including preparing quarterly accrual reports, expenditure reporting, and projections consolidated across all programme offices. The Finance Lead provides programme staff with monthly actual-to-budget expenditure reports and analysis, facilitating review to support adaptive management.

The Finance Lead directs the preparation of all FCDO financial reports in accordance with accounting, legal, and contractual requirements. The postholder maintains up-to-date knowledge of local government requirements and ensures compliance with tax and other legal regulations, including establishing programme-specific bank accounts with adequate financial controls. Given the programme's use of conditional cash transfers, the postholder works closely with the Cash Programming Technical Lead to ensure robust fiduciary risk management across cash delivery mechanisms.

The Finance Lead holds accountability for finance and programme support staff, including performance management, career progression, and capacity strengthening. The postholder leads recruitment for finance staff and implements training programmes covering accurate expenditure tracking and quarterly forecasting.

In addition, the Finance Lead will oversee financial management across downstream partners and any sub awards, including financial due diligence, partner budgeting support, minimum compliance standards, and routine expenditure verification. The role will strengthen partner finance capacity through coaching and practical tools, ensuring partner reporting is accurate, timely, and consistent across locations.

The Finance Lead will also lead programme assurance, including audit planning and coordination, follow up on findings, and implementation of corrective actions, with a clear focus on internal controls and fraud risk management. The postholder will provide scenario based financial analysis and value for money insights to support senior management decisions and course correction during implementation.

Finance Lead Profile and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in accounting, business administration, commerce, or finance with a recognised professional certificate in accounting 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 requirements on multi-million-pound, multi-year FCDO accountable grants.
• Experience with financial management and reporting on programmes with substantial sub-awards and consortium partners operating across multiple locations.
• Experience with adaptive management approaches and evidence-based programming is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices, financial reporting standards, and financial management processes and procedures.
• Familiarity with FCDO rules and regulations, particularly related to the management of programme expenditure, forecasting requirements, and fiduciary risk management.
• Experience with financial oversight of cash transfer programming, including understanding of risks and financial controls required for cash delivery mechanisms, is strongly preferred.
• Extensive experience with computerised accounting systems, standard spreadsheets, and database programmes.
• Proven track record of proactively identifying and communicating potential problems and proposing solutions, particularly within complex and high-risk operating environments.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact, partner, and thrive in a diverse environment. Committed to staff training and development and effective at facilitation.
• Experience managing staff performance and providing additional training or managing performance improvement plans.
• Fluency in English is required. Experience working in South Sudan is an advantage.

This position will be contingent on the outcome of the bid.

Safety & Security Situation: All staff must comply with all IRC South Sudan by security policies and procedures.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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