Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Médecins sans frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, is an international humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization (NGO) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases.

Main Purpose

Supporting the Finance Coordinator through delegated tasks and responsibilities, replacing him/her in his/her absence, and participating in the implementation and management of finance strategies, policies, internal control systems, and all financial, administrative, and legal matters in the mission according to MSF protocols, standards, and procedures. The objective is to provide accurate, transparent, timely, and reliable financial information to the organization and third parties regarding the allocation of resources within projects.

Responsibilities or duties

Accountabilities

• Participating actively in defining and monitoring the financial operational and budget needs and the financial strategy of the mission, while supporting the assessment and mitigation of financial risks and implementation of relevant organizational structures to meet all financial obligations while maintaining financial ethics at all times
• Supporting the Finance Coordinator in implementing and ensuring compliance with MSF policies and guidelines, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and the national legal framework, and designing or adapting relevant local policies, procedures, and tools for optimized management of the mission’s financial resources
• Supporting the Finance Manager in treasury management, including overseeing the mission’s accounting processes to ensure smooth operational functioning and maximum control over financial risks
• Participating in the management of funding agreements with donors and providing regular and adequate indicators to monitor the financial health of the mission, including relevant cost analysis, monitoring expenses versus budget, analyzing variances, and suggesting corrective measures where necessary. Assisting in collecting information on resources and translating them into budgets
• Supporting the Finance Coordinator in ensuring the proper implementation of HR policies and associated processes such as recruitment, training, briefing/debriefing, evaluations, talent identification, staff development, and internal communication to ensure sufficient staffing and knowledge levels for finance activities
• Participating in coordinating and supervising monthly and yearly account closings to ensure that financial statements accurately reflect the mission’s financial reality
• Performing tasks delegated by the Finance Coordinator and replacing him/her during absences
• Replacing other members of the capital or project finance teams during their absence when requested

MSF Section / Context Specific Accountabilities

Other tasks include but are not limited to:

Intersectional Support & Continuity

• Ensuring continuity of financial operations across Operational Centers (OCs) during Finance Coordinator rotations or absences
• Supporting onboarding through structured handovers, training, and process alignment
• Preserving institutional knowledge and ensuring consistency in financial practices and reporting

Capacity Building & Remote Support

• Strengthening the capacity of finance and non-finance staff through training, coaching, and mentoring
• Providing remote financial oversight to hard-to-access projects while ensuring compliance and data accuracy
• Supporting teams during peak workloads, emergencies, or staffing gaps

Operational & Strategic Financial Management

• Supporting oversight of key processes including budget monitoring, reconciliations, re-invoicing, and project financial support
• Ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial data and reporting
• Supporting budgeting, variance analysis, forecasting, and strengthening of internal controls
• Enabling the Finance Coordinator to focus on strategic priorities by managing delegated operational tasks

Governance, Compliance & Audit

• Ensuring adherence to MSF policies and internal controls
• Identifying compliance gaps and supporting corrective actions
• Supporting internal and external audits including documentation, coordination, and follow-up on recommendations

Taxation

• Ensuring compliance with tax regulations in both Kenya and Somalia
• Overseeing tax calculation, payment, and documentation including VAT refunds

Systems, Reporting & Role Scope

• Ensuring effective use of WEFIN, N’JUSTY, SAP, and Unifield while maintaining data integrity and reconciliations
• Delivering timely, accurate, and reliable financial reporting
• Acting as Finance Coordinator back-up when required, while the Finance Coordinator retains overall accountability and Cell/Desk communication responsibilities

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Education

• Essential degree in Economics or Finance
• For OCA: Higher vocational training in Business Administration or MBA is desirable

Experience needed

Experience

• Essential minimum of two years’ experience in budget management
• Essential minimum of two years’ experience in team management
• Experience with Médecins Sans Frontières or other NGOs is desirable

Languages

• Mission language is essential
• Local language is desirable

Knowledge

• Essential proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Internet usage

Competencies

• Strategic Vision – Level 2
• Leadership – Level 2
• People Management and Development – Level 3
• Service Orientation – Level 3
• Teamwork and Cooperation – Level 4

• Participating actively in defining and monitoring the financial operational and budget needs and the financial strategy of the mission, while supporting the assessment and mitigation of financial risks and implementation of relevant organizational structures to meet all financial obligations while maintaining financial ethics at all times
• Supporting the Finance Coordinator in implementing and ensuring compliance with MSF policies and guidelines, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and the national legal framework, and designing or adapting relevant local policies, procedures, and tools for optimized management of the mission’s financial resources
• Supporting the Finance Manager in treasury management, including overseeing the mission’s accounting processes to ensure smooth operational functioning and maximum control over financial risks
• Participating in the management of funding agreements with donors and providing regular and adequate indicators to monitor the financial health of the mission, including relevant cost analysis, monitoring expenses versus budget, analyzing variances, and suggesting corrective measures where necessary. Assisting in collecting information on resources and translating them into budgets
• Supporting the Finance Coordinator in ensuring the proper implementation of HR policies and associated processes such as recruitment, training, briefing/debriefing, evaluations, talent identification, staff development, and internal communication to ensure sufficient staffing and knowledge levels for finance activities
• Participating in coordinating and supervising monthly and yearly account closings to ensure that financial statements accurately reflect the mission’s financial reality
• Performing tasks delegated by the Finance Coordinator and replacing him/her during absences
• Replacing other members of the capital or project finance teams during their absence when requested
• Ensuring continuity of financial operations across Operational Centers (OCs) during Finance Coordinator rotations or absences
• Supporting onboarding through structured handovers, training, and process alignment
• Preserving institutional knowledge and ensuring consistency in financial practices and reporting
• Strengthening the capacity of finance and non-finance staff through training, coaching, and mentoring
• Providing remote financial oversight to hard-to-access projects while ensuring compliance and data accuracy
• Supporting teams during peak workloads, emergencies, or staffing gaps
• Supporting oversight of key processes including budget monitoring, reconciliations, re-invoicing, and project financial support
• Ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial data and reporting
• Supporting budgeting, variance analysis, forecasting, and strengthening of internal controls
• Enabling the Finance Coordinator to focus on strategic priorities by managing delegated operational tasks
• Ensuring adherence to MSF policies and internal controls
• Identifying compliance gaps and supporting corrective actions
• Supporting internal and external audits including documentation, coordination, and follow-up on recommendations
• Ensuring compliance with tax regulations in both Kenya and Somalia
• Overseeing tax calculation, payment, and documentation including VAT refunds
• Ensuring effective use of WEFIN, N’JUSTY, SAP, and Unifield while maintaining data integrity and reconciliations
• Delivering timely, accurate, and reliable financial reporting
• Acting as Finance Coordinator back-up when required, while the Finance Coordinator retains overall accountability and Cell/Desk communication responsibilities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Internet usage
• Strategic Vision
• Leadership
• People Management and Development
• Service Orientation
• Teamwork and Cooperation

• Degree in Economics or Finance
• Higher vocational training in Business Administration or MBA is desirable (for OCA)