Finance Controller

Job description

Our Purpose and Work in Europe

Our purpose in Europe is to support people displaced by the war in Ukraine. The Alight response seeks to support displaced people in western Ukraine, Poland and beyond to meet them by:

• Doing the doable by meeting acute and practical needs with quick impact projects to serve single individuals and entire communities. All team members should have the permission and tools to respond to need directly and by identifying other organization whose work we can amplify.

• Providing guides to orient and connect displaced people to the best available resources. Ukrainian guides are now working in 5 cities, remotely, and through the online guide (www.Alightguides.org). Guides are currently booking Airbnb stays but will transition to other kinds of support by fall.

• Transforming spaces and services, to create and support dignified safe havens providing short- and medium-term housing.

• Working with the US team to create a seamless user experience for displaced choosing to move from Ukraine to the United States.

The Ukraine response is dynamic and is expected to meet displaced people where they are in their journey. The Regional Director is responsible to ensure program implementation is high quality and dynamic to changing needs in Poland, Ukraine and beyond.

Purpose/Objective:

Based in Poland you’ll be guided by the Ukraine Country Director with support from Alight’s Global Platform team.

Requirements

The Role:

The main responsibility of the Finance Controller is to oversee all financial activities, budgets and reports for the Fundacja Poland programs.

Specific Activities:

Financial Management (40%)

• Manage day-to-day accounting functions including regular cash verification, bank and balance sheet account reconciliations, monthly closing, timely submission of financial reports for consolidations, donors etc.

• Complete monthly balance sheet reconciliations.

• Promptly respond to parent company queries including related company charges.

• Maintain all financial documents always audit ready

• Monitor grant spending through production of monthly Budget Versus Actual (BVA) analysis and ensure program teams explain significant variances and propose corrective measures.

Reporting and Budgeting (20%)

• Monthly closing, timely submission of financial reports to parent company, donors, etc.

• Prepare timely budgets, cash requests and accounting reports.

• Monitor grant spending and projections.

• Assist in preparation of budgets for all proposals, including accurate support of budget narratives.

• Support program teams to accurately realign budgets whenever necessary.

• Provide regular and timely budget reports and analysis to the Country Director and field program managers.

• Lead the production of Alight country program annual budgets.

• Support the Country Director to produce and update donor matrixes.

• Liaise with donors on finance and budget issues as required.

Staff Management (15%)

• Supervise finance staff. This includes ensuring they are properly trained and know what performance expectations are.

• Carryout staff appraisals for finance staff.

• Organize and lead orientation and training session related to finance.

• Travel to the field as required ensuring systems are properly followed.

Audit and Internal Control (15%)

• Implement and administer Alight systems for internal control, compliance, and accounting data processing and financial reporting functions in accordance with donor regulations.

• Develop internal audit function and perform internal audit and reviews to ensure compliance with company and donor requirements.

Other (10%)

• Maintain up-to-date, accurate accounting system, including computer data entry and paper file system as required.

• Ensure local taxation law requirements are fully complied with.

Other appropriate duties as assigned by the Country Director or parent CFO.

Qualifications

We’re looking for the following education, technical skills, & knowledge:

• 3-5 years overseas experience in finance/management for an international NGO, preferably in programs in complex emergency or post-conflict settings. Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience.

• Bachelors degree required in Finance, Accounting, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Experience with international donors and grant requirements.

• Experience in multi-cultural and multi-level programs.

• Strong computer skills in Microsoft software products: Excel, Word, outlook etc and accounting software. Serenic or Sun experience strongly preferred.

• Prior training experience desired.

• Excellent written and oral communications skills as well as leadership skills.

• Sense of humor and good interpersonal skills.

• Fluency in English and Polish required.

Key Behaviors & Abilities

• Ability to work with a team in an intense environment.

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• Extremely flexible with the ability to cope with stressful situations.

Who We Are

We are on a journey to build Alight, a new platform of amazing people and organizations providing lifesaving services and creating breakthrough solutions for and with the displaced. WeAreAlight.org

Alight is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sexual expression, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Alight complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

We strive to represent the diverse communities we serve. Applicants who contribute to this diversity and those who bring lived experience with displacement are strongly encouraged to apply.