Deputy Finance Director

CONTEXT 

The mission of MSF Belgium/OCB Finance Department is to provide, through collaboration and partnership, expertise that promotes and supports the ongoing sustainability of MSF.

We do so by :

• Providing financial information recognised as 'one single source of truth', the information provided is transparent, of high quality and produced in a timely manner

• Producing reliable forecasts and multi-year financial projections

• Managing compliance with regulations and local requirements in the missions by providing guidance and/or by acting in HQ to ease work

• Supporting Operations in their respective environment to reduce risks linked to the use of resources by suggesting appropriate mitigation measures

MSF OCB (Operational Centre Brussels) currently manages projects in 45 countries and spends over 440M€ on an annual basis.

As Deputy Finance Director, your general objectives are the following:

• Ensure that OCB financial reporting is transparent, qualitative and enables decision making.    To achieve this, financial data has to be of high quality, fit for purpose and understandable.  This can only be achieved with efficient tools & processes

• Define the IT strategy for financial tools, in cooperation with other key stakeholders within OCB and in other sections of the MSF movement

• Manage the budgeting & controlling processes of the HQ and represent finance (with decision power) in the HQ management platform

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Represent Finance within OCB and in international platforms

• Take on delegated decision-making authority from the Finance Director for strategic subjects and processes, including:

• Participate in strategic discussions or project steering committees that impact tools and systems used for budgeting, accounting, and reporting across the Head Office and countries of Operations

• Manage the financial planning of the Head Office by

  • Framing department budgets based on the overall framework defined with the Finance Director

  • Leading the arbitration process for the Head Office and hubs

  • Participating in decision-making platforms related to Head Office management (e.g. facilities, staff benefits, Head Office CoDir)

• Engage in interdepartmental discussions on new projects or processes that affect the quality and integrity of financial data and the Finance department’s ability to meet its objectives

• Serve as back-up to the Finance Director during absences, including participation in Codir (Director’s committee), Dirbriefing, and Findir platform

• Join MSF International led steering committees, advisory bodies or working groups upon agreement with the Finance Director

2. Supervision of key projects and follow-up of the OCB Finance strategy implementation

The Deputy Finance Director will supervise the projects that are delegated to him/her in an autonomous way. These strategic projects can be transversal or related to all units within OCB’s finance department. The project team will report directly to the Deputy Finance Director.

Key decisions will be made together with the Finance Director (e.g. initial budget, scope, timing, general approach, budget revisions), who remains ultimately responsible.  Progress made on projects supervised by the Deputy Finance Director will be discussed on a regular basis during one-to-one meetings or in project Steercos.

The Deputy Finance Director will closely follow-up on the implementation of the department’s strategy. 

3. Improve data quality through process changes & reporting standards

• Initiate discussions with internal and external stakeholders to identify necessary changes in processes and tools

• Drive improvements in the quality of financial data through these changes.

4. Follow-up on internal control implementation in MSF-OCB’s Head Office financial processes

As the deputy Finance Director, you will be leading the reinforcement of internal control set ups in MSF-OCB main 

head office as well as its hubs. 

You will be responsible to make sure (among others) that :

• Processes are well documented in all units 

• Internal Audit conclusions are discussed and subject to an active follow-up by the Finance Department

• Control dashboards exist in all units and for the department as a whole …

5. Financial Reporting and Controlling

As the Deputy Finance Director, you will be responsible for OCB Management consolidation and for issuing and/or coordinating the issuance of the OCB management reporting, analysis & presentations to various audiences:

• Internal (OCB and MSFB governance, OCB Management Team, DG12…)

• External (Annual Report, International Office SAP reporting, MSF Belgium projections …)

ensuring that the information is accurate and relevant.

You are also responsible for:

• the development of OCB financial reporting and management consolidation automation. 

• the reporting of Actuals/Budgets/Forecasts/Projections of MSF-B/OCB to the International Office reporting tool

• the calculation and reporting to the IO of MSF-OCB final landing after review with OCB internal Management

As part of your controlling function, you will actively:

• identify costs/activities/projects that should be closely monitored and analyzed,

• help ensure that all new projects’ budget presented to the Codir have been properly challenged by the financial planning unit before this presentation, 

• lead the production of ad-hoc analysis and 

• oversee the design and effective use of a financial dashboard for MSF-OCB,

• perform general review of financial statements (Combined Accounts, Budgets and Forecasts)

6. Management role within the Finance department

You will directly supervise the Financial Application Support and the Financial Planning Units.

The Deputy Finance Director will by delegation run the department in case of absence of the finance director which includes the coordination of the Weekly Management Meeting (MtM).

REQUIREMENTS

Education and experience 

• Master’s degree in finance, Economics or MBA 

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in a Senior Finance management position, preferably in an international company/humanitarian organization in complex contexts

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in People Management

• Experience in an operational Finance management position for MSF or another humanitarian organization is a strong asset

• Experience in project management is a strong asset 

Competencies 

• At ease with organization and team mobilization around multidisciplinary projects 

• Analytical and strategic thinking with demonstrated talent for identifying, and improving complex work processes and set-ups 

• Strong ability to adapt to different context, people and environment  

• Demonstrate problem-solving aptitude, creativity and initiative 

• Strong communication skills (both oral and written) at various levels, for often non-experts (pedagogical skills)  

• Strong ability to lead and organize teamwork, promoting trust and enthusiasm  

• Capacity to negotiate with different internal and external stakeholders 

• Strong resistance to stress and ability to set priorities 

• Demonstrable understanding and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion - Cross-cultural awareness 

• Strong humanitarian commitment and motivation to work with MSF 

Languages

• Proficient level in English and French, both oral and written is mandatory 

• Dutch as well as other commonly used languages in MSF (Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese) are considered an asset 

Other

• Flexibility to travel 1–2 times per year to challenging contexts within countries of operations

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: As soon as possible

• Location: Brussels (Belgium) 

• Contract type: Open-ended contract – full-time 

• Homeworking possible 50% per week as per the MSF policy

• Salary according to MSF-OCB Head Office grid

• Meal Vouchers - Hospital Insurance (DKV) – Pension Plan – 100% reimbursement for public transportation costs

• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment

• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments

Deadline for applications: 29th of September 2025

How to apply?

➢ Submit your application via the 'Apply here' button    

➢ You will be directed to the online application form for this position   

➢ It should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for having your CV and motivation letter in English or French ready to upload (preferably in PDF format)  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

MSF values diversity and is committed to create an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

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