The Joining Forces Alliance, reuniting the 6 biggest child rights organizations in Germany, namely ChildFund, Plan International, Save The Children, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes & World Vision applied for an initial €16 million grant from the German Foreign Federal Office (GFFO) to address major child protection in emergency issues in various conflict settings across the world between July 2022 and June 2024 under the project “Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies (JF-CPiE)”, implemented in 6 countries (Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Colombia, South Sudan, Ethiopia). All six consortium members implement in two of the six targeted countries.

The Joining Forces Alliance is preparing a 2nd phase of the “Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies (JF-CPiE)”, which will be implemented for a duration of 26 months with a

foreseen starting date in July 2024. The project will be implemented with the same organizations across the same countries, focusing on the gender-sensitive and inclusive integration of food security, nutrition and child protection.

This position is subject to funding.

The position will be based in one of the four African countries where the project is implemented, or in another country in the region (Africa) where Plan International has an office.

Plan International Germany is the consortium lead and will contract the Global Project Manager and MERL Coordinator as well as the Finance Coordinator.

The Finance Coordinator will be responsible for all Controlling and Compliance related matters of the GFFO (German Federal Foreign Office) funded project “Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies”. The contract holder will ensure a successful grant and financial management in all six countries of implementation (Colombia, Burkina Faso, CAR, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh) as well as for the global coordination activities. Doing so the position holder will interface with the Consortium Members, their Implementing Partners as well as with Plan International Inc Headquarter and Plan International Germany. The coordination with so many stakeholders requires a high-level of understanding of complex project settings and excellent communication skills.

DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE

This role will support the implementation of the GFFO funded project “Joining Forces for Child Protection in Emergencies”. This 13.67 Mio EUR global project is implemented in 6 countries with 6 different INGO’s.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Project performance monitoring

· Ensuring proper monitoring of the project planning and the tracking of financial performance measurement indicators related to the GFFO financed Project;

· Consolidate expenditure and cashflow trackers for all Consortium Members;

· Preparing and maintaining the financial monitoring templates for all Consortium Members;

· Preparing Reporting Schedule and reach out to the Consortium Members for timely delivery;

· Preparing Dashboard Templates for Procurement and HR Updates of the Consortium Members;

· Bring in constructive ideas to improve the financial monitoring and reporting process for the GFFO funded project as well as for any future global/multi-country opportunities

· Participate and lead the financial part of the regular Consortium Steering Committee Meeting and the Project Management Steering Committee

· Dealing with any ad-hoc requests and analyses in line with this project;

2. Financial management and donor compliance

· Consolidation of financial reports received from Consortium Members;

· Preparation of financial reports by liaising with the six Consortium Members and report to the Plan International Germany Controlling & Compliance Specialist;

· Ensure the accuracy of invoice documentation and the project invoice lists by overseeing and guiding the Consortium Members;

· Involvement in any contractual agreements signed by Plan International Germany as the Consortium Lead;

· Act as intermediary between the Consortium Members, their Implementing Partners and (in coordination with the Plan International Germany Controlling & Compliance Specialist) the donor GFFO in terms of any finance related matters;

· Support Expenditure Verification, its process and lead mitigation activities related to its outcome;

· Assess spending progress for all six Consortium Members on ongoing basis and engage with them proactively when spending is or might be delayed;

· Leading and guiding the Consortium Members in the project closure period related to financial matters and ensure that internal organisational regulations are in line with donor regulations;

· Maintain a close coordination with the Plan International Germany Controlling & Compliance Specialist regarding global coordination costs and activites;

3. Capacity Building and Support

· Support and train Consortium Members as well as their Implementing Partners on donor policies, rules and regulations;

· Develop Key Donor Information Handout as per Implementing Partner in their required language;

· Develop material and conduct trainings and workshop for the Consortium Members and their Implementing Partners;

Provide technical assistance in terms of accounting (use of SAP) to the Plan International Germany Controlling and Compliance Specialists (Bangladesh and CAR);

· Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback related to financial and compliance questions;

· Explain donor requirements and organizational financial policy & procedures to staff and ensure compliance;

· Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect. Contribute to ensuring that the Consortium Members as well as their Implementing Countries exchange information;

· Support the orientation, on-going development/training and build capacity of Consortium Members and their Implementing Partners when required in line with Organizational requirements.

4. Resource Mobilization:

· Ensuring timely request of funds from the donor to ensure liquidity in all six countries;

· Ensuring timely spending of funds based on donor regulations in all six countries;

· Preparing Remittance Schedule for the Consortium and its Members to ensure a smooth fund request process.

Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

· GFFO Global Project Manager

· Plan International Germany Program Officer

· Plan International Germany Controlling & Compliance Specialist

· Plan International Regional Teamleader

· GFFO CP AoR/Food Security Cluster Coordinator

· Consortium Members

· Plan International Inc (PII) Headquarter

· Implementing Partners

· GFFO

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

· Degree in finance, business administration or accounting;

· Minimum of 5 years’ experience in donor funds grants administration and project controlling;

· Experienced knowledge of GFFO Rules & Regulations;

· Experience in managing financial aspects of multi-country or global Consortium projects

· Fluency in English and French required and German skills serve as an advantage;

· Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel required;

· Excellent and demonstrable experience in grant and financial management;

· Accurate and detail-oriented work;

· Ability to produce clean and informative reporting;

· Good interpersonal and communication skills including good listening skills, proactive communication on issues and transparency;

· Capacity to build and maintain relationships and to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment respecting diversity;

· Knowledge and understanding of Plan’s policy environment.

BEHAVIOURS

· Creates strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders;

· Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behavior;

· Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism/integrity;

· Provides good and adequate support to enable programmes to meet its agreed financial outcomes;

· Actively seeks for support in addressing difficulties in execution of duties:

· Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and organizational development;

· Sound judgments and decision-making in complex situations;

· Strong emotional intelligence including self-awareness;

· Leads by example to motivate high performance of others;

· Very strong commitment to continuous learning;

· Excellent communication and people management skills;

· Fulfill Plan International’s Child Protection Policy at all times.

Dealing with Problems:

· Manage multiple task and work with distant colleagues to form a virtual efficient team;

· Use Plan International’s procedures to settle conflicts among colleagues;

· Refer, whenever necessary, any case to supervisor(s).

Communications and Working Relationships:

· Prepare, consolidate and submit relevant financial reports internally as well as to the donor;

· Close and very frequent exchange with the GFFO Project Manager;

· Provide timely responses concerning queries from the Consortium Members and their Implementing Partners;

· Work with other members of the Finance and Humanitarian units to ensure effective and efficient financial monitoring.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE

We are open and accountable

We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.

We strive for lasting impact

We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.

We work well together

We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.

We are inclusive and empowering

We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

The holder of the position will be working in a typical office environment and might travel to any of the Implementing Countries. The position will be based either in one of the four African countries of implementation or in any of their neighboring countries.

LEVEL OF CONTACT WITH CHILDREN

Mid contact: Occasional interaction with children