FINANCE DIRECTOR

Médecins Sans Frontières, founded in 1971, is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of medical professionals, logistics, administrative and various other professions, all guided by our medical ethics and our principles of impartiality, independence and neutrality.

MSF WaCA, created in 2019, is the first MSF headquarters in Africa, and responds to the desire to reinvent the MSF movement after 50 years of humanitarian actions in the world, for more access to care, more reactivity and proactivity for greater medical coverage of affected populations in the world.

Why join us?

You are preparing to become a member of the MSF family, with over 50 years of emergency medical action that earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

We are an inclusive organization that considers social and professional well-being a right for all and provides an environment that considers the diversity of each member.

MSF WaCA claims an African anchorage that considers the local expertise with which it contributes to the implementation of its activities and makes each member, a key actor of the new dynamics of the humanitarian action in the world.

Diversity, Inclusion & Safe Recruitment

MSF offers equal recruitment and development opportunities without any form of discrimination based on gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, geographical origin, physical disability or any other discriminatory ground.

Female candidates who meet the requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

MSF is committed to applying Safe Recruitment principles, ensuring transparent, fair, and respectful recruitment processes that protect candidates, the organization, and its beneficiaries.

We Are Looking for: FINANCE DIRECTOR

Department: General Directorate

Direct Manager: General Director

Supervises (Function): OP FINANCIAL MANAGER, HQ FINANCIAL MANAGER, ACCOUNTING MANAGER, ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANT, FINANCIAL ANALYST

Working %: 100%

Position Based in: Abidjan, HQ

Mobility: All WaCA’s Interventions Zones

Type of Contract: Fixed-Term Contract under Ivorian law; Renewable

Position to be filled: As Soon As Possible

Objectives

The main objective of the Finance Director is to ensure the proper management of all MSF WaCA's financial activities, to support the definition and implementation of its strategic plan and objectives, with the aim of contributing to the social mission of the MSF movement.

In particular, the Finance Director:

•        He/She is responsible for the sound strategic and operational management of MSF WaCA's financial resources to ensure transparency and fulfil the social mission, compliance and sustainability of humanitarian activities.

•        He/She is responsible for analysing expenditure and investments to avoid or mitigate exposure to financial risks and thus ensure, as far as possible, the sustainability of MSF WaCA as a humanitarian aid organisation.

•        Implements financial accountability to the MSF movement, authorities and the public, in accordance with statutory requirements and within deadlines.

Main responsibilities

•        Provide financial information and analysis to the management team and directors/heads of all departments for the design and execution of MSF WaCA's annual plan and medium-term strategies.

•        Ensure that data entered into temporary financial systems (OCP system, WaCA temporary accounting system, SAP) is accurate and consistent.

•        Assess, mitigate and manage the organisation's key financial risks.

•        Be responsible for accounting and budget management.

•        Support directors or department heads in developing annual budgets and consolidate all of these into a single main annual budget for MSF WaCA.

•        Support budget managers in developing realistic and accurate budgets. Monitor budget execution through budget control to avoid significant expenditure variances. Ensure quarterly and half-yearly budget monitoring.

•        Manage relations with MSF France's financial directors and the Dirfin platform in the context of resource allocation (cash-flow) and expenditure reporting using common systems.

•        Responsible for managing and monitoring international financial issues (monthly financial updates, RSA-4 IRP issues, combined international financial statements, risk analysis, etc.).

•        Participate in annual and ad hoc FinDir meetings, as required.

•        Comply with applicable legislation and ensure that financial reports are submitted to the relevant authorities. Manage all tax audits relating to income and other matters by the public treasury.

•        Responsible for drafting key transitional financial policies and designing MSF WaCA financial rules in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer and other directors.

•        Oversee all of the organisation's accounting, including monitoring purchase journals (authorising expenses with suppliers, verifying invoices, liaising with the appropriate department for authorisation), monitoring petty cash, recording and reconciling all income, monthly bank reconciliation of all bank accounts, and monitoring cash-flow.

•        Manage cash reserves

•        Oversee relations with all finance-related suppliers, such as banks, etc. Approve the transfer of funds for outgoing payments.

•        Produce annual financial statements and have them validated by auditors if necessary, providing them with all relevant information. Liaise with the tax authorities on all tax matters.

•        Produce quarterly internal financial analysis reports

•        Liaise with the board treasurer and keep them regularly informed of the association's financial situation.

•        Ensure that the roles and responsibilities between the finance team and surrounding support services (HR, Office Management, IT) and with internal clients are clear and understood.

•        Lead and manage the finance team staff, including performance monitoring and evaluation, career development and individual development.

•        Organise regular team meetings to coordinate, monitor and review activities.

•        Supports the implementation of safeguarding policies. He/she ensures the prevention of abuse, the protection of vulnerable people, and the creation of a safe, ethical and respectful working and intervention environment for all.

Education

•        Hold a Master's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or any other field deemed relevant.

Competencies

•        Genuine interest and commitment to MSF's social mission

•        Good interpersonal skills combined with coaching and supervisory skills.

•        Good time management and planning skills, particularly with regard to meeting deadlines.

•        Proven accuracy and calculation skills, as well as integrity and moral standards in financial matters.

Professional experience required

•        10 years or more of experience in corporate accounting and finance, including at least two years at MSF as a finance manager. Including 5 years as Finance Coordinator.

•        More than 3 years of experience in personnel management.

•        Good knowledge and experience of financial and accounting management and OHADA accounting regulations and practices.

•        Proven experience in change/project management and continuous improvement of the accounting and finance function.

•        Experience in data analysis and report creation using spreadsheets (Excel or Access).

Languages Skills

·       Working proficiency in English and French (Required)

Computer Skills

·       MS Office suite (mainly MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint)

·       Mastery of IS Finance Wefin; Unifield...

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N.B.: This job description provides a framework for the main responsibilities and primary activities of the position. It is not exhaustive. Therefore, the responsibilities and activities of the position may differ from those described in this job description due to organizational and operational needs.

Deadline: 15th November 2025 18:00 GMT
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.