Turkey: Director of Finance and Administration (Istanbul, Turkey)

Background

Founded in 2004, Building Markets is an award-winning nonprofit that creates jobs and encourages economic growth in developing countries by finding, building and connecting competitive local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to supply chains and investment. Through this approach, the organization has built a network of more than 23,000 verified SMEs, assisted them in winning over $1.3 billion in contracts, and helped create over 70,000 jobs in some of the world’s poorest economies. Building Markets is headquartered in New York City and currently operates programs in Jordan, Myanmar and Turkey. For more information, please visit www.buildingmarkets.org.

Position Overview

Under guidance from the Chief Finance and Administration Officer (CFAO) at Building Markets Headquarters, and in close collaboration with the Chief of Party (CoP), the Director of Finance and Administration will oversee the critical operating functions of the work of Building Markets and its local partners in Turkey, including administration, finance, human resources management, procurement, and logistics. This incumbent is primarily responsible for ensuring 360-degree compliance for the work of Building Markets and its partners within Turkey, and ensuring on time reporting, record keeping, and management of all in-country finance related issues. To do this the incumbent will ensure that all necessary systems, policies and procedures are updated and aligned with organizational and donor policy, rolled out, understood, and implemented in all locations and among all Building Markets partners and sub-grantees.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a finance professional with experience ideally gained through both nonprofit and corporate settings. Successful candidates will have a proven track record, accounting certification or the equivalent, and experience working in the Turkish market.

Responsibilities and Duties

Finance

• Prepare monthly financial reports, ensuring all supporting documentation is in place;
• Produce content for new budgets covering operational requirements and oversee in-country procurement budgeting;
• Oversee in-country grant operational budget lines and provide analysis as requested;
• Optimize funds and resources allocated to the implementation of the programs.

Policies, Procedures, and Coordination

• With CFAO and HQ staff, prepare proposal budgets as required.
• Liaise with Donors as needed, and under the direction of the CoP/CFAO, on financial reporting and budgeting.
• Ensure functional operational support is in place in all sites to achieve results across project outcomes for Building Markets and its partners or sub-grantees;
• Implement Building Markets operational policies at a national level in Turkey;
• Review operational policy manuals of Building Markets Turkey and provide feedback for harmonization with host-country regulations where relevant;
• Ensure consistent enforcement of Building Markets policies among partner organizations in Turkey;
• After start-up, conduct internal audit spot-checks to ensure all systems, policies, and controls supporting program implementation are being adhered to;
• Facilitate project operational planning, including recruitment and procurement, and be familiar with sub-grantee work plans, and with monitoring, evaluation, accountability and the learning (MEAL) framework;
• Ensure coordination across partner finance departments;
• Anticipate, analyze and alert the CoP and headquarters regarding all risks related to operational activities including programmatic, security, and financial through regular meetings and monthly internal reporting.
• With CFO (HQ), ensure financial guides, employee handbooks and relevant policies related to the program remain current.

Leadership

• Serve as member of the management team and participate in organizational-wide problem-solving and decision-making.
• Train and induct staff on organizational policies to ensure standardization in implementation. This includes onboarding new staff and regular (re)training sessions for managers on updated policies, other changes, or general reviews.
• Manage HR/finance team members and supervise Country Office financial teams.
• Maintain strong working relationship with the organization’s banks and auditors.

Administration and Human Resources

• Ensure all paperwork required for financial and HR transactions are documented and archived.
• Ensure that the recruitment process is efficient, transparent and well managed in accordance with Building Markets’ policies and procedures;
• Ensure that operational staff have annual performance plans and evaluations;
• Review national staff salaries and benefits and recommend adjustments when needed;
• Serve as focal point for investigation into policy violations, follow accusations of misconduct, and advise CoP on potential disciplinary actions;
• Identify areas of staff expertise that require strengthening, and work with supervisors and staff to provide appropriate training, with a goal of contributing to staff retention;
• Ensure all necessary support for the functioning of the office, including external relations with the government, is in place;
• Verify that country logistics policies are appropriate, documented, disseminated and required monitoring processes are effective.
• Support audits related to the program (donor and organizational).

Security

• Serve as security focal point for the country program by coordinating with local partners and attending meetings and gathering relevant information;
• Ensure that the Security Plan is regularly updated;
• Support the CoP in troubleshooting specific security incidents;
• Ensure staff and focal points from partner organizations are trained in basic security procedures considering also humanitarian principles;
• Ensure all office spaces (Building Markets and local partners) are safe and secure.

Representation

• Serve as officer-in-charge for CoP, providing representation duties when required;
• Provide staff management and oversight duties in absence of CoP.

Reporting Lines

Reports to the Chief of Party (CoP)

Qualifications and Education

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, law, or related field;
• Extensive senior management experience providing oversight for multi-million dollar portfolios;
• Strong experience in nonprofit accounting and managing complex financial systems and reporting requirements;
• Experience working with large donors required (e.g. Government and Foundation), including reporting and monitoring;
• Fluency in English and Turkish required (both written and spoken);
• Experience managing training, communications, and/or knowledge management projects;
• Understanding and/or experience with US Government funded projects, regulations, and compliance requirements;
• Demonstrable successful experience managing teams effectively, with effective interpersonal skills – including ability to constructively receive and provide critical feedback;
• Demonstrated experience directing and implementing new systems, processes and technology to enhance internal operations and program effectiveness;
• Highly organized, strong work ethic, and impact driven.

Travel

Possible travel in-country and to HQ

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience

Duration

Full-time position, 12-month contract

Applications

Interested candidates are invited to send a CV/Resume, cover letter, and three professional references by email to vacancies@buildingmarkets.org not later than August 31, 2018. The subject line must read “Director of Finance and Administration - Turkey”.