Partnership Finance Specialist job at Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Description

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is currently looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual to join our dynamic team as Partnership Finance Specialist to remotely oversee and stabilize all finance-related partnership functions across DRC Sudan. The role ensures strong financial compliance, timely partner reporting, correction of existing systematic issues, and capacity strengthening of partners and internal teams.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Partnership Financial Management & Compliance

• Remotely lead financial oversight of all local partners, ensuring full compliance with donors and DRC requirements.
• Review and validate partner financial reports, documentation, and reconciliations.
• Identify compliance risks and implement corrective action plans.
• Provide ongoing guidance to partners and DRC teams on donor rules (ECHO, BHA, GIZ, SIDA, EU, etc.).

Strengthening Internal & Partner Financial Processes

• Diagnose gaps in partner-linked financial systems and workflows and implement improved processes.
• Lead partner financial management in DRC Dynamics (DYN).
• Enhance archiving, cashbook quality, and partner reporting templates.
• Streamline and standardize partner finance procedures for long-term sustainability.

Field & Partner Support (Remote + Travel When Needed)

• Conduct virtual support sessions, training, and follow-up meetings with partner finance teams.
• Travel to partner locations only when critical for audits, investigations, compliance reviews, or resolving issues that cannot be addressed remotely.
• Provide hands-on or remote coaching to strengthen partners’ financial capacity and systems.

Financial Reporting & Audit Readiness

• Ensure partner-related data is accurate, reconciled, and properly uploaded into DRC Dynamics (DYN).
• Support audits by preparing documentation, responding to queries, and guiding partners through requirements.
• Strengthen audit trails and ensure partners consistently meet verification standards.

Coordination & Strategic Support

• Provide weekly updates, risk flags, and recommendations to Finance Manager/Program Development & Quality Manager (PDQM) and Head of Support Services (HoSS).
• Collaborate with Grants, Area Offices, Partnership teams, and Program staff to ensure aligned processes.
• Represent finance in partner review meetings, consortium coordination forums, or donor engagements as needed.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

To be successful in this role, you must have a minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in NGO financial management, including partnership oversight. Moreover, we also expect the following.

Required

• A Bachelor’s degree in Finance.
• Proven experience working remotely with field teams and partners in complex/emergency settings.
• Strong command of donor compliance requirements (ECHO, BHA, EU, SIDA, GIZ, UN agencies).
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, preferably DRC Dynamics (DYN).
• Demonstrated ability to fix systemic financial issues and stabilize operations.
• Excellent communication skills for remote coaching and high-pressure environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead remotely while maintaining strong accountability standards.
• High ethical standards and ability to navigate sensitive financial matters.
• Cultural sensitivity and professionalism when engaging with local partners.
• Knowledge of both written & spoken English

Desirable

Knowledge of Arabic language

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

• Remotely lead financial oversight of all local partners, ensuring full compliance with donors and DRC requirements.
• Review and validate partner financial reports, documentation, and reconciliations.
• Identify compliance risks and implement corrective action plans.
• Provide ongoing guidance to partners and DRC teams on donor rules (ECHO, BHA, GIZ, SIDA, EU, etc.).
• Diagnose gaps in partner-linked financial systems and workflows and implement improved processes.
• Lead partner financial management in DRC Dynamics (DYN).
• Enhance archiving, cashbook quality, and partner reporting templates.
• Streamline and standardize partner finance procedures for long-term sustainability.
• Conduct virtual support sessions, training, and follow-up meetings with partner finance teams.
• Travel to partner locations only when critical for audits, investigations, compliance reviews, or resolving issues that cannot be addressed remotely.
• Provide hands-on or remote coaching to strengthen partners’ financial capacity and systems.
• Ensure partner-related data is accurate, reconciled, and properly uploaded into DRC Dynamics (DYN).
• Support audits by preparing documentation, responding to queries, and guiding partners through requirements.
• Strengthen audit trails and ensure partners consistently meet verification standards.
• Provide weekly updates, risk flags, and recommendations to Finance Manager/Program Development & Quality Manager (PDQM) and Head of Support Services (HoSS).
• Collaborate with Grants, Area Offices, Partnership teams, and Program staff to ensure aligned processes.
• Represent finance in partner review meetings, consortium coordination forums, or donor engagements as needed.

• Excellent communication skills for remote coaching and high-pressure environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead remotely while maintaining strong accountability standards.
• High ethical standards and ability to navigate sensitive financial matters.
• Cultural sensitivity and professionalism when engaging with local partners.
• Knowledge of both written & spoken English
• Knowledge of Arabic language (Desirable)

• A Bachelor’s degree in Finance.
• Proven experience working remotely with field teams and partners in complex/emergency settings.
• Strong command of donor compliance requirements (ECHO, BHA, EU, SIDA, GIZ, UN agencies).
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, preferably DRC Dynamics (DYN).
• Demonstrated ability to fix systemic financial issues and stabilize operations.