PEOPLE SUFFERING IN WAR NEED YOUR SKILLS

WORK FOR THE ICRC

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
IN BRIEF
4251/002  11.2017  5000  Cover photo: N. Kato/ICRC

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International Committee of the Red Cross

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1202 Geneva, Switzerland
T +41 22 734 60 01
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© ICRC, November 2017
 Create your profile, set up job alerts
and apply: 
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To learn more about the job,

go to: 
www.icrc.org/jobs-video

B. Heger/ICRC

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

MANAGER
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a finance & administration manager its administrative backbone, you will play
in the field, you will oversee all financial a vital role in running the office and con-
resources and administrative aspects of tributing to the smooth implementation
the delegation/subdelegation/office. As of the ICRC’s humanitarian operations.

Finance & administration manager (field)

Management counselling & support for humanitarian operations

Financial control Office management Support roles

(depending on context)*

Financial & analytical Office & residential Employer representative

accounting premises (head of personnel)
for national staff
Budget control Security
& financial analysis Logistics support
Accommodation
activities
Treasury management for international staff
Internal controls Travel department
& financial procedures
Risk management

ICRC Code of Conduct

ICRC Fundamental Principles
* In certain countries and/or at sub-office level, where there is no head of HR or Logistics in place
3

M. Kokic/ICRC
WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES
•• You are ideally between 26 and
40 years old.
•• You hold a university degree in
business administration or finance/
accounting.  constraints.
•• You have at least two years’
experience in financial management
and accounting, including some
experience in financial controlling.
•• You have strong analytical and
quantitative skills that you want to
put to use in a humanitarian, non-
profit organization. 
•• You have solid negotiating skills
that will secure the best possible
commercial conditions for various
goods and services (negotiating with
banks, landlords, etc.).
•• You have a very good command of
English and French, both written
and spoken (B2 level mandatory).
Knowledge of another operational
language, such as Arabic or Russian, is
an asset.
4
T. Gassmann/ICRC
•• You have experience of working
abroad or in an international
environment, ideally in challenging
living conditions, including security
 
•• You are confident using IT office
tools including business intelligence
tools such as Tableau and have solid
practice with ERPs.
•• You have a valid driving licence for
manual transmission vehicles, and
driving experience.
IN ADDITION:
•• You are prepared to accept
unaccompanied assignments (i.e.
no spouse, partner, children or
dependents) for at least the first
24 months.
 J. Björgvinsson/ICRC
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
This job offers you a fascinating spec-
trum of new professional experiences in
challenging operational environments,
together with an attractive career plan.
The progress of an individual’s career (i.e.
promotion to coordinator and beyond)
will depend on the ICRC’s operational
needs and mobility policy.

Approx 3 x field assignments* Multiple field assignments*

as finance & admin manager as chief finance & admin manager
Role
(approx. 12 months each) (approx. 18 – 24 months each)
Individual career
development
Sub-office or main office Overall responsibility for (field or
Location/ F&A organization
Growth in size & responsibilities head office)
Reporting
Reporting to chief F&A manager Coverage of one or several countries
line

Adapted professional training courses

(professional skills & management development)
On-boarding
Learning & Institutional
training
development training programmes Mix of institutional
course
e.g. leading a team/coaching/ + individual programmes
negotiation skills/ Focus on management development
specialized training etc.

3 weeks 3 years* Open-ended

* Progress of career depends on own track record and the ICRC’s requirements

5
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES IN
YOUR CONTEXT
FINANCIAL CONTROL
•• Maintaining integrity of financial and
analytical accounting and reporting
in the field, including supervision
of the accounting department, and
preparation of the annual budget
and its implementation with regular
forecasting and risk reporting  compliance programmes/requirements.
•• Carrying out continual assessment
of the financial situation (including
treasury) of the delegation/
subdelegation/office – expected to
advise the humanitarian project teams
on all financial/economic affairs with
regard to efficiency of spending,
cost control and analysis of budget
deviations, project control
•• Responding to changes in the operating
context and providing financial
training and coaching to department
coordinators and management team
members, as required
•• Applying institutional guidelines
and policies to the local context and
ensuring adherence to them
•• Ensuring control mechanisms are in
place with the purpose of identifying
and mitigating potential financial
and other risks and upholding ethical
standards at all times
6
•• Co-signatory and financial interface
for authorities and commercial parties
•• Internal focal point for finance-
related compliance matters, steering
the implementation / alignment of
all activities related to the ICRC’s
OFFICE MANAGEMENT
•• Daily office and operational premises
management
•• Ensuring suitable maintenance and
passive security set-up
•• Maintaining standard living conditions
for mobile staff members
•• Supervision of the internal travel desk
and international travel arrangements
(flights, visas, etc.)
SUPPORT ROLES (DEPENDING ON
THE COUNTRY SET-UP)
•• You may serve as the HR person in
charge of employees under local
contract
•• You may have to do the same for
Logistics and Information and
Communication Technologies services
 G. Primagotama/ICRC
ICRC

FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE IN THE HUMANITARIAN

CONTEXT
OUR CHALLENGES
•• Dealing with a variety of external –– International Financial Reporting
stakeholders, each different from Standards (IFRS) with simplified
the other (e.g. donors, governments, application in the field (limited
private sector, parties to conflicts, the balance-sheet transactions)
general public) –– Uniform, server-based accounting
•• Having to meet the highest standards system used for all countries
of governance with regard to financial •• Strong focus on analytical accounting
transparency and accountability, –– Three-dimensional activity-
economic efficiency, risk management based costing system, which
and ethics enables systematic allocation of
•• Complying with uniform governing all field expenses to individual
standards in more than 80 countries humanitarian activities – see
in which the ICRC operates analytical reporting structure table
•• Rigorous internal controls
OUR RESPONSE –– Highly integrated logistics and
•• Simplified financial accounting financial accounting platform,
structure enabling full visibility and strict
–– One single legal entity (ICRC Geneva/ segregation of duties at every step
Switzerland), consolidating financial of the procurement cycle
transactions for all countries in –– Systematic scrutiny of every
which the ICRC operates accounting transaction by a remote,
global compliance and quality
assurance centre
7
A. Daghlas /ICRC

COMPETENCIES
•• Able to develop your role, to set an
example and to represent your role
effectively in the field
•• Able to guide, support, delegate
appropriately and provide
developmental guidance to staff under
your direct supervision
•• Strong interpersonal skills, together
with the ability to create and maintain
networks and partnerships at all levels
of the delegation, i.e. with staff and
with managers
•• Excellent communication and
listening skills and able to work
effectively in a culturally diverse team
•• Cultural awareness and commitment
to inclusiveness and to encouraging
diversity in the workplace
•• Strong analytical, decision-making
and organizational skills
•• Able to cope with various priorities
independently

MORE INFORMATION
www.icrc.org/jobs
www.youtube.com/icrc
(select the “Working for the ICRC” playlist)
@icrc
#ICRCcareers
#LifeAtICRC
#WeAreICRC

8
 PEOPLE SUFFERING IN WAR NEED YOUR SKILLS

WORK FOR THE ICRC

HR MANAGER
IN BRIEF
We help people around the world affected by armed conflict and
other violence, doing everything we can to protect their dignity and
relieve their suffering, often with our Red Cross and Red Crescent
partners. We also seek to prevent hardship by promoting and
strengthening humanitarian law and championing universal
humanitarian principles.

Cover photo: J. Barry/ICRC

“Because we
work directly
with field staff,
we see how our
work really helps
them to help the
victims of armed
conflict.”

P. Yazdi/ICRC
HR MANAGER
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Are you an HR professional who has We are looking for committed and pas-
thought of working in the humanitarian sionate HR professionals who display the
field? Do you have strong interpersonal right humanitarian spirit.
skills and enjoy working with culturally
diverse teams, supporting staff and man-
“You are bringing your HR
agers in challenging conditions? If so, you
may want to consider working as an HR
abilities to something that will
field manager for the ICRC. benefit large numbers of people.
You’ve done something today,
The ICRC has delegations in more than
more than just a job.”
80 countries around the world. HR field
managers are part of the management
teams in many of those delegations; they
Create your profile, set up job alerts and
are responsible for delivering professional
apply: www.icrc.org/jobs
HR services to all ICRC staff, both national
and international, to help them deal with
To learn more about the job, go to:
the various challenges in the field.
www.icrc.org/jobs-video

3

WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES
•• You are at least 30 years old.
•• You have a very good command of
English and French – knowledge
of another ICRC working language
used in the field (Spanish, Arabic or
Russian) is a strong asset.  people management and development.
•• You have a strong academic
background, preferably in HR.
•• You have at least five years’ experience
as an HR generalist or manager.
•• You have strong interpersonal skills
and enjoy working with culturally
diverse teams.
“Our staff are very diverse, and
our job is to make sure everyone
is treated fairly.”
4
B. Heger/ICRC
D. Revol/ICRC
•• You have international experience,
preferably in the humanitarian/
development sector.
•• You are able to advise and influence
key stakeholders on all aspects of
•• You are IT literate.
•• You have a valid driving licence for
manual transmission vehicles.
IN ADDITION:
•• You are prepared to accept
unaccompanied assignments (i.e.
no spouse, partner, children or
dependents) for at least 24 months.
J. Ahmad/ICRC

M. Kokic/ICRC
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? ICRC PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

•• Being part of the management team of

a delegation
•• The opportunity to motivate and
inspire staff and managers through
Well Right
your HR expertise
supported people
•• The chance to have your HR skills
serve the humanitarian cause of the
ICRC Well
Right place
motivated
•• A fascinating spectrum of new
professional experiences in
challenging conditions (over 80 Well Right
countries worldwide) managed time
•• An attractive career plan thanks to the
ICRC’s internal mobility incentives

“No two days are the same. We

cover so many issues in HR that
you really feel you’re developing
your full potential.”

5
O. Matthys/ICRC

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES IN YOUR CONTEXT

OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC
HR MANAGEMENT
“We have the freedom to come
•• Implementing the delegation’s HR
strategy consistently and in line with up with new ideas and make
HR guidelines and procedures them reality.”
•• Identifying context-related HR trends
and contributing to decision-making
on HR-related issues in the delegation
•• Supporting and coaching line
managers in carrying out core people
management tasks, such as assessing
staff members’ performance, skills
and development
•• Advising staff members in their
relations with their management,
promoting a constructive and
transparent dialogue and embodying
the ICRC’s responsibilities to its staff

6
“HR managers
are involved in
decision-making at
management level.
We provide advice on
what stance we should
take in a particular
country.”

HR SERVICE DELIVERY
•• Providing professional HR services
for both national and international
staff in a delegation (recruitment and
selection, performance management,
compensation and benefits, employee
relations, etc.)
•• Supervising the implementation and
proper use of the HR information
system at all levels within a delegation
•• Overseeing daily HR activities
within the delegation and providing
necessary coaching and advice to the
HR team
B. Heger/ICRC
CHANGE AGENT
•• Contributing to the evolution of the
role of HR at the ICRC and anticipating
HR challenges at the delegation level
•• Implementing and promoting HR
projects and initiatives derived from
the global HR strategy
•• Enabling staff and managers to
understand, accept and support
change initiatives

7

BENEFITS
•• Opportunity to make a genuine
difference on the ground by applying
your skills to humanitarian work
•• Opportunities to develop your
career and grow your skills,
both institutional (management,
negotiation, etc.) and personal
(depending on your talent pool and
your needs)
•• Competitive employment package
(pension plan, salary paid 13 times
per year, possible annual performance
bonus)
•• Holiday leave: at least five weeks’ paid
leave per year pro rata
•• Additional leave (R&R) and/or
financial support for hardship
assignments
T. Ambroise/ICRC
•• Financial contribution to help cover
cost of health insurance (compulsory)
•• Evacuation insurance in the event of
accident or emergency
•• Tailor-made staff integration
programme
•• Accommodation and communication
technology provided during
assignment
•• Baggage: additional unaccompanied
air freight entitlement (according to
the length of assignment)
•• Additional professional services on
assignment (administrative support,
on-site transport, staff health
support, etc.)