Director, Finance Center of Excellence

Job Description

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

Job Summary:

The Director Finance Center of Excellence is a hands-on- results driven role that is responsible for driving sustainable continuous improvement within the global finance organization. The person will manage identified projects and deliver business process improvements through the evaluation of standardization, optimization, and automation opportunities to achieve strategic outcomes. He/She needs to foster a culture of continuous improvement by continuously challenging the status quo and maintain a governance framework that will support this culture. He/She will look to improve processes by leveraging Insight (agency’s ERP), data analytics and continuous improvement to support the success strategies of the broader finance community. He/She will work cross-functionally with business partners in Finance and throughout the organization to review and prioritize a pipeline of changes related to financial systems processes, and procedures to support the agency’s strategic objectives.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Identify, evaluate, and govern the deployment of best finance business processes globally, by working with Finance global process owners and other key cross-functional leaders
• Lead the Finance Center of Excellence (CoE) in identifying, designing, and implementing process improvements and use of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to ensure adherence to define standards
• Remain current on innovative process improvement practices by leveraging peer networks and other resources as appropriate
• Collaborate with the Finance Architect & Solutions Unit by continually evaluating Insight (ERP) capabilities to identify solutions that will drive efficiencies and result in a best-in-class finance operation
• Collaborate with cross-functional and functional business process owners (SCM, HCM, GKIM) on the execution of cross-functional projects to support Insight and the corresponding process and organizational design.
• Lead the design, development and implementation of shared services modules within finance and cross functionally.
• Directly supervise COE Team members in providing support for above initiatives

Required Languages - English fluency proficiency required. Working proficiency in French and Spanish desirable.

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% upon opening of travel ability due to COVID.

Supervisory Responsibilities Finance Business Process Owners (AP, AR,PPM)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal Finance Division, SCM BPO, HCM BPO, OverOps Leadership, Regional Finance Officers, Deputy Regional Directors- Management Quality, Insight PMO Team, IDEA

External Peer organizations, Partner organizations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experienced people management skills.
• Ability to analyze complex problems and identify, proactive solutions and implement change in a team-oriented environment.
• Proven ability to foster culture of continuous improvement relating to processes and operational performance across the organization to deliver higher levels of customer satisfaction.
• Good project management and change management skills with proven ability to coordinate and manage several significant projects at once.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in business, Accounting, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum 10 years of accounting experience with an and operational understanding of higher-level financial concepts.
• Extensive experience in financial management, forecasting, critical evaluation and change recommendations to business processes, and accounting procedures
• Experience with Oracle Cloud financial modules and proficiency in Microsoft suite of programs
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal skills, fluency in English required, fluency in French or Spanish highly desirable.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 40% required.

Agency-Wide Competencies:

• Integrity

• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

About the Organization

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Our mission is to assist the poor and disadvantaged, leveraging the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering, promote development of all people, and to foster charity and justice throughout the world. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 98 countries. We aid the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.