Associate Director of Finance & Operations

Associate Director of Finance & Operations

Job title: Associate Director of Finance & Operations 

Purpose: Provide leadership to ensure the efficient and effective management of operations, people, finance, security, and compliance, ensuring excellence across these areas. 

Responsible to: CEO 

Responsible for: HR Business Partner, Operations Officer, Finance Officer (Part-time), Finance Lead (Part-time) 

Working with: Senior management team, programmes team, colleagues in other departments and stakeholders as necessary. 

Grade and Salary: GBP 65,000 

Location:  London, UK (Hybrid with at least 2 days in the London office) 

Post: Full-time 

Period: Permanent 

REDR UK AND THE WORK WE DO   

RedR UK is an international NGO and learning provider that develops capacity and supports aid workers, organisations, and communities to prepare for and respond effectively to crises within humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding contexts. Our work builds resilience, primarily in low and lower middle-income countries worldwide. We have 40 years’ experience responding to natural and manmade disasters.    

We are an HPass Certified Learning Provider, meaning we meet the Humanitarian Learning Standards. RedR UK is committed to the Humanitarian Charter, the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief and the Core Humanitarian Standard.   

RedR UK has offices in London and Amman and maintains a large pool of highly qualified trainers and experts who go through a rigorous certification and selection process. 

RedR UK is committed to a strong, positive culture, with benefits for staff and those with whom we work. Our culture is also important to us in terms of our ethic of humanitarian impartiality and neutrality and our compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and other professional codes of conduct.   

Our values are vitally important to us as individuals, teams and to RedR UK as a whole. We are committed to a continuous process of strengthening our culture, maintaining the high standards required to work together effectively, and delivering first class advice and service to those with whom we work.   

ABOUT THE ROLE 

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Associate Director to join RedR and its Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to oversee the efficient and effective functioning of our organisation's key operational areas, including Operations, People Management, Finance, Security and Compliance. The Associate Director will play a pivotal role as part of the SLT in ensuring the smooth implementation of our humanitarian programmes while upholding the highest standards of excellence, accountability, integrity, collaboration and lifelong learning.  

You will have a deep understanding of how to deliver programmes in a humanitarian context in a safe, secure and compliant manner. You will enhance delivery through standard operating procedures across the organisation and lead by doing.  

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Financial Management 

You will lead a finance team of 2 (both part-time), responsible for excellent financial management, controls, reporting, budgeting, and auditing (both internal and external) including: 

• Maintaining up-to-date financial records, including processing invoices, payments, and managing accounts payable and receivable. 
• Month-end and year-end closing procedures.  
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations. 
• Lead the budgeting and forecasting processes, managing cashflow. 
• Oversee payroll processing and reimbursement procedures. 
• Analysis of financial data and preparation of reports for leadership review. 
• Set standards for programme staff on financial budgeting and reporting 
• Stay informed about changes in accounting regulations and best practices. 
• Lead the improvement of finance and accounting processes and systems. 
• Prepare consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with Charity SORP FRS 102. 
• Lead on external audits to ensure that all external audit requirements are met in the UK and Jordan and associated statutory reporting (e.g. to HMRC). 
• Lead on regular internal audits and apply learnings in improving systems. 
• Lead on fraud and corruption prevention and response, and cyber security. 
• Work with SLT and business teams to prepare UK and overseas regulatory annual reporting. 
• Actively engage in the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee meetings, leading on behalf of the SLT. 

Operational Delivery   

You will systematically enhance, streamline and optimise operational processes and systems to enhance delivery and security of people. You will lead on efficiency, quality, and scalability while availing technological advancement. This includes systems, IT, CRM, facilities and vendor management. You will be supported by an operations officer to deliver this role: 

• Provide administrative support to the Operations, IT functions of the organisation.  
• Leading process improvement and renewals (e.g. insurance) across Operations, (e.g. IT, security).  
• Enhancing adherence to organisational systems, e.g. Office 365, Sharepoint, Salesforce, ensuring the organisation becomes more efficient and effective in how it works. 
• Lead any country registration, reporting, resourcing requirements, ensuring compliance and adherence to RedR policies. 
• Lead on policy review, updates and roll out.  
• Maintain RedR’s risk register and ensure its regular review throughout the organisation. 
• Leading a robust approach to data security. 
• Ensure the delivery of best practice security management through risk management, situational analysis, assessment, plan implementation, monitoring and evaluation, continuity and crisis planning and leadership. Lead the delivery of security management standard operating practice, protocols and procedures to support programmes and staff in the field. 
• Actively engage in the Senior Leadership Team. 
• Lead the preparation of monthly All Hands and Quarterly Team Meetings; and preparation for Board meetings. 

People & Culture  

• You will lead the People & Culture function at RedR and be supported in that coordination by a HR business partner. 
• Implement HR policies and procedures to support a diverse workforce including employees, consultants and Associate trainers and members. 
• Supporting a positive and healthy working culture across the organisation.   
• Enshrine best practice people processes including in recruitment, onboarding, professional development and performance management. 
• Manage any organisational change management processes and ensure that RedR UK’s culture and values are embedded across the organisation. 
• Analyse resource requirements and utilisation across programmes, providing insights and recommendations; collaborate with programmes to develop strategies for optimising resource allocation and utilisation. Establish mechanisms for ongoing monitoring of resource allocation and utilisation across programmes. 
• Foster collaboration across teams for effectiveness and efficiency, to avoid duplication, achieve a consistent approach and to improve quality. 

RedR UK Leadership 

• Provide direction and leadership to the organisation's finance, operational and people functions, aligning them with the overall mission and objectives. 
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team in delivering RedR UK’s 2025-27 strategy. 
• Lead on change management and strategic initiatives for RedR. 
• Manage a process of regular and effective communication and reporting across RedR, where lessons are learned, analysed, and applied. 
• Work with other RedR organisations to develop the RedR family as a global brand, investigating synergies and economies of scale between the organisations. 
• Foster a positive and resilient team culture that embraces and adapts to change, promoting innovation and continuous improvement. 

Key competencies 

Achieving Results: 

• Operationalises strategy decisions to make significant gains.  
• Leads major initiatives to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and ensure best practice. 
• Drives the adoption of best practices, constantly seeking ways to improve operational excellence. 
• Considers wider implications of decisions to ensure comprehensive results. 

Engaging with Stakeholders: 

• Cultivates strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, to achieve shared goals and foster a culture of cooperation. 
• Manages stakeholder expectations effectively, resolving conflicts and building consensus around operational changes. 
• Senior representation of the organisation with stakeholders. 

Humanitarian Learning Principles and Practices: 

• Advocates for the importance of key humanitarian principles within the organisation and among stakeholders.  
• Promotes a culture of continuous learning and adaptation within the organisation. 
• Promotes a culture of well-being and duty of care. 

Managing Projects: 

• Thinks ahead to long-term goals while maintaining focus on present tasks. 
• Leads the planning, analyses, implementation, and evaluation of projects and initiatives. 
• Creates and supports flexibility through quick adaptation to change. 

Demonstrating Leadership: 

• Inspires and motivates staff to perform at their best, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, accountability, and integrity. 
• Leads by example, demonstrating ethical leadership and a commitment to the organisation's mission and values. 
• Provides mentorship, coaching, and professional development opportunities to staff, empowering them to grow and succeed. 

Technical Expertise: 

• Masters comprehensive technical expertise. 
• Directs integration of technical skills. 
• Applies rigorous technical standards ensuring exceptional quality. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION  

Essential  

• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of RedR UK and a deep understanding of key humanitarian principles. 
• Proven track record of senior management expertise in a humanitarian context specific to finance, operations, and people. 
• Proficiency in data analysis with a keen understanding of performance and operational metrics. 
• Extensive experience in and security management within the humanitarian sector across fragile and conflict affected states. 
• Experience with procurement, contracting and compliance requirements of key donors including USAID, FCDO and UN agencies. 
• Familiarity with systems including Salesforce, QuickBooks, Dext, Sharepoint, and Excel. 
• Ability to navigate and thrive within a dynamic environment, exhibiting flexibility and resilience within a small organisation.  
• Exceptional people management skills in international contexts. 

Expected Interview Dates 

First Interview: Week of 25 November 2024 

Second Interview: Week of 2 December 2024 

What We Offer: Your well-being, our priority 

At RedR UK, we are dedicated to creating a supportive work environment that values and nurtures our team. Our benefits package is designed to foster a balanced and fulfilling career, supporting both your professional growth and personal well-being. Benefits include: 

• 23 days annual leave, increasing by one day each year up to 28 days (excluding public holidays). Plus, one day birthday leave. 

• 5% employer pension contribution involving dependants 
• 3 paid days annually to volunteer for causes you care about 
• 5 days of paid study leave 
• Employee Assistance Programme   
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity/Shared Parental Pay at 100% for 12 weeks for employees with over two years of service. 
• Life assurance coverage equalling four times your salary. 
• Up to 10 days compassionate leave for family emergencies, 5 days dependent leave. 

Our benefits are integral to RedR UK’s commitment to valuing, developing, and caring for our people as we work together to make an impact in the humanitarian sector. If you believe you can make difference, please join us. 

Could this be you?

Please send your CV and one-page cover letter. We will be hiring on rolling basis.