Job Vacancies @ Catholic Relief Service (CRS) – 2 Positions

Catholic Relief Service (CRS) is recruiting to fill the following positions:

1.) Senior Finance Officer
2.) Field Operations Manager

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work are accomplished through programs of emergency response, health (including malaria), agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

CRS/ Sierra Leone and Program Background

Catholic Relief Service (CRS) started work in Sierra Leone in 1963 carrying out the commitment of the Catholic bishops and the Catholic community of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. For over 57 years, CRS has been on the front lines in responding to emergencies and promoting health, education, agriculture, and urban resilience in Sierra Leone.

To date, the Country Program has a robust portfolio built around several major programs in Health, Agriculture, Nutrition, Education and Urban Resilience such as the USDA/McGovern Dole Food for Education and Nutrition (All Pikin for Learn) Program, Global Fund Malaria Program and COVID-19 Response Mechanism Project. In addition, the country program is working on several high-profile opportunities to improve water security in Freetown and support Freetown City Council to deliver its Transform Freetown strategy through slum regeneration.

See job details and how to apply below.

1.) Senior Finance Officer

Job Title: Senior Finance Officer

Department:   MGD/FFE, Finance/POOL

Reports To:     Grant Manager – MGD/FFE Project Unit

Country: CRS-Sierra Leone.

Duty Location: CRS Field Office, Kabala with travel up 25% to of the field sites

Job Summary 

You will help coordinate and contribute to the implementation of the Country Program’s (CP’s) accounting systems, policies and procedures in compliance with CRS’ established accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements to support high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will efficiently perform accounting services through documenting financial transactions by compiling, analyzing, and verifying account information; preparing account entries; and delivering financial reporting services.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• • Review and validate supporting documentation before processing of financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place.
    • Review accuracy of POET coding for processing financial transactions for assigned accounts in Insight.
  • Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned accounts in Insight financial accounting package.
  • Record financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review and analyze various accounts to detect irregularities. Advise on corrective actions and prepare correcting entries and adjustments, as necessary.
  • Monitor disbursement/receipt schedules, alert relevant staff of due payments/liquidations, and maintain appropriate communication and follow-up to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management.
  • Prepare various, periodic and ad hoc financial reports, as needed, and perform variance analyses to assist with decision-making and proper management of financial resources.
    • Prepare Bank Reconciliation statements for Freetown and Kabala Sub-Offices. Ensure proper follow up and clearing of outstanding unreconciling items in a timely manner in accordance with policy.
    • Serve as back-up to the Deputy Finance Manager for the preparation of FLCAT and ensure Severance is printed and approved monthly.
    • Provide relevant support for month and year-end close process.
    • Prepare Quarterly Cash Forecast
    • Prepare Monthly Aging Reports.

• Provide information to subrecipients and staff on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and contribute to capacity strengthening.
• Perform assigned treasury (cash payment/receipt, cash forecast, etc.) duties, as long as segregation of duties is ensured.

Basic Qualifications

• B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent).
• Minimum of two years experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Accuracy and completeness with great attention to detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Familiar with an accounting software systems. Knowledge of Project Insight is a plus.

Required Languages – English

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% to the field, SR Offices and project implementation sites.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff) 

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. 

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to safeguarding-related topics. 

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.  CRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To apply for any of these positions please send up-to-date CV and a supporting letter, copies of relevant certificates to [email protected]. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Closing date for the receipt of application packages is 17th June 2022.

2.) Field Operations Manager

Job Title: Field Operations Manager

Department: MGD/FFE & POOL Project Units

Reports To:       Senior Program Manager with Matrix to the HoOps

Country: CRS-Sierra Leone.

Duty Location: CRS Field Office, Kabala with travel up to 20 % to Freetown and the field.

Job Summary:

In collaboration with the Senior Program Manager provide strategic oversight to the following operational functions -Human Resources (HR), Logistics, Procurement, Administration, Fleet, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Audit – in support of the Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. You will promote stewardship of resources, help ensure principle compliance, proactively identify risk issues, and lead operational improvements in line with organizational policies.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Manage or coordinate operations functions – systems, processes and staffing – that meet CRS’ standards, donor requirements, and local regulations and support high-quality programming. Collaborate with programming leads to ensure appropriate operational needs in line with financial plans and proper stewardship of material sources.
• Coordinate and monitor day-to-day operations to ensure support services are delivered with high-quality in an efficient manner. Identify and help address challenges that affect the proper stewardship and optimal utilization of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material). Proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high-quality programming.
• Provide guidance on internal processes for approving expenses, monitoring spend, and making budget adjustments in line with operational needs and with donor requirements.
• Contribute to effective staffing of the Field Office needs and adherence to HR systems, policies and practices that support a high-performance culture, staff development and retention. Help assure quality personnel administration and a work environment that truly reflects the agency’s guiding principles.
• Coordinate with internal compliance for periodic systems checks, review and assessment of operations policies and procedures. Coordinate response to issues that emerge from internal and external audits and provide guidance to implement improvements at field level.
• Help maintain the proper conditions for learning – a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Identify capacity strengthening needs and provide guidance for project teams and partners, which includes cross-departmental learning.

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or other relevant field. Masters preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in finance, human resources, logistics, or administration officer/support level position with progressive responsibilities.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience; additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Management experience a plus. Experience with an NGO preferred.
• Understanding of financial systems, including budgeting and budget/expense analysis experience preferred. Knowledge of Sun Systems and Vision accounting software or similar financial reporting software a plus.
• Knowledge of multiple public donors’ regulations, including USDA/USAID, a plus.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment a preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  

• Good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Good relations management abilities. Ability to work collaboratively
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Required Languages – English

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 20 % to Freetown and the field.

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory Responsibilities: (HR Officer, Procurement Officer, Fleet Officer and Admin Officer)

Internal: Senior Program Manager, Chief of Party, Head of Operations, Senior Operations Manager, Head of Programming, Country Representative

External: District stakeholders, Bank officials etc.

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.  CRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To apply for any of these positions please send up-to-date CV and a supporting letter, copies of relevant certificates to [email protected]. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Also send a copy of your application package to the desk Officers, Ministry of Employment and Social Security, New England, and Extension Offices in Applicants’ Locations