European Controller

Job Description

Position: European Controller

Location: London, UK

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

About RI: Relief International specializes in relief and development programs that benefit people in acute distress. A registered non-profit in the US, UK, France and Belgium, our work targets those fragile countries or communities that suffer from recurrent man-made or natural crises that impede human development. The people that we serve live in seventeen countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia where the debilitating effects of political instability, forced displacement, and natural disasters are pervasive. Often, RI is the only organization providing healthcare, education, logistics, energy, capacity building, economic development, sanitation, and many other forms of assistance to these highly vulnerable communities.

Position Summary:

The European Controller will report to the CFO and work closely with the Global Controller (based in US), the Senior Manager of Grant Financial Analysis, the Regional Finance Managers, and the Finance/Administrative lead for RI France to a) provide RI country offices with support in achieving effective financial management and use of the core accounting and financial systems including the NetSuite ERP, b) oversee the accounting and French Tax compliance for RI France working through the Finance and Admin lead for RI-France, and c) may occasionally visit country offices as necessary to assess local staff, assist with accounting and finance tasks, and provide in country support for critical initiatives.

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

• Act as a key accounting representative in statutory audits for the UK.
• Ensure that accounting processes and entries are correct and follow UK GAAP and Charity Commission guidelines.
• Review and provide monthly UK financials including global cash flows to the Global Controller and CFO.
• Review monthly the Due to/Due From amounts for RI-US.
• Act as banking administrator.
• Work with the Regional Finance Managers to design and deliver training to country programmes on financial management issues such as effective budgeting, preparing expenditure forecasts, cost allocations and reading and analyzing monthly reports of grant expenses.
• Support RI change management plans to implement the roll out of new organizational processes, procedures and systems by advising the Global Controller and CFO and the Regional Finance Managers on better integration between RI US/RI UK and RI Global.
• Provide expert advice on the financial policies and procedures.
• Work with the Regional Finance Managers to perform monthly financial reviews including balance sheets and other reports, provide feedback to country teams and to Washington DC support teams.
• Support the development and training of RI program implementation partners in Financial Management as required
• Work with the Global Controller and Regional Finance Managers on internal control assessments of systems and reporting.
• Promote a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and exceptional client support that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Help ensure that country offices are audit ready in terms of having the appropriate supporting documentation for transactions, have complied with RI and donor requirements, and have reconciled accounts in accordance with RI accounting requirements.
• Supervise the work of the RI-France Finance and Administration lead to ensure that day to day finance and administrative tasks are accomplished and to ensure that the corporate level books and accounts for RI –France comply with RI Combined financial reporting needs as well as comply with French accounting and tax regulations.
• All other duties as assigned by Global Controller/CFO

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bi-Lingual – English and French (Fluent)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance and/or a related discipline
• Substantial experience of financial career experience to include financial business leadership roles in the UK with oversight of financial operations within a global organization
• Strong IT experience with cloud based accounting platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and especially Excel
• Strong and proven organizational skills in managing finance systems globally
• Possess extensive and current knowledge of cutting-edge principles and practices associated with accounting, cost management, percentage of completion accounting, foreign exchange, finance, systems and related systems.
• Excellent coaching skills and the ability to build the capacity of field-based finance staff
• Highly developed communication skills and the ability to work effectively across culture
• Skilled in remote management and working across time zones.

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities.

We value:

• Inclusiveness
• Transparency and Accountability
• Agility and Innovation
• Collaboration
• Sustainability

Due to the critical nature of this position, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants will be interviewed prior to the closing date.

Due to limited resources only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Please note that to be considered for this role you must be able to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Relief International is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Relief International is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children as a priority. This is reflected in our pre-employment checks and requirement to verify and check the identity and references of all applicants.

About the Organization

About RI: Relief International specializes in relief and development programs that benefit people in acute distress. A registered non-profit in the US, UK, France and Belgium, our work targets those fragile countries or communities that suffer from recurrent man-made or natural crises that impede human development. The people that we serve live in seventeen countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia where the debilitating effects of political instability, forced displacement, and natural disasters are pervasive. Often, RI is the only organization providing healthcare, education, logistics, energy, capacity building, economic development, sanitation, and many other forms of assistance to these highly vulnerable communities.