JOB ADVERTISEMENT – Head of Finance

SCI employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING:

Level 3:  the role holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.

ROLE PURPOSE: 

As a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Head of Finance provides strategic and operational leadership for all financial management functions of the Türkiye Country Office. The post holder ensures the highest standards of financial accountability, transparency, and compliance in line with Save the Children International (SCI) policies, local legislation, and donor regulations.

The role oversees financial planning, budgeting, reporting, internal controls, donor compliance, treasury management, audit coordination, and capacity development of national finance staff. The Head of Finance partners closely with the Country Director, Operations, Awards, and Support Services to ensure that financial systems and practices support effective program delivery.

The position also provides critical input into strategic decision-making, risk management, and sustainability planning, ensuring SCI maintains strong financial health and readiness for both development and humanitarian operations.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Country Director

Dotted Line: MENAEE Senior Lead Finance

Staff directly reporting to this post: Finance Officer (2)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

As a member of the Senior Management Team, contribute to:

Strategic Leadership and Financial Planning

• Lead financial strategy development in alignment with Country Strategy Plan and global SCI policies.
• Advise the SMT and Country Director on financial sustainability, risk exposure, and cost-efficiency.
• Oversee annual master budget preparation, phasing, and financial scenario planning.
• Provide financial input to new business development, ensuring funding gaps and cost recovery are addressed.
• Support country leadership in alignment of operational structure with funding trends and cost-efficiency targets.

Financial Accounting, Reporting, and Control

• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting to SCI, donors, and statutory authorities.
• Oversee accounting systems (Agresso/Integra) ensuring completeness, accuracy, and reconciliation of all transactions.
• Lead monthly financial closure, variance analysis, and submission of the monthly financial report (MFR).
• Ensure compliance with SCI financial control framework, donor terms, and local legislation.
• Maintain oversight of tax obligations, statutory audits, and ensure compliance with Turkish legal requirements.
• Supervise treasury management, including liquidity forecasts, bank reconciliations, and cash flow control.

Budgeting, Grants, and Donor Compliance

• Lead the budgeting process for proposals, annual plans, and realignments.
• Review donor financial reports ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with narrative reporting.
• Collaborate with Awards and Program teams to monitor budget utilization and ensure donor compliance.
• Support grant opening, review, and closure processes, ensuring cost allocations and eligibility checks.
• Coordinate with the Regional Office and HQ for timely submission of donor reports and audits.

Risk Management and Internal Controls

• Maintain effective internal control systems that safeguard SCI assets and funds.
• Identify and manage financial risks; implement mitigation strategies in coordination with SMT.
• Ensure that all procurement, payroll, and payment processes adhere to SCI and donor standards.
• Lead or support internal/external audit exercises and ensure timely closure of audit findings.
• Promote continuous improvement in financial systems, controls, and compliance culture.

Staff Management, Mentorship, and Capacity Building

• Build, mentor, and lead a competent finance team that delivers high-quality support across the organization.
• Implement succession planning, ensuring strong national leadership and staff development.
• Conduct regular coaching, objective setting, and performance appraisals in line with SCI systems.
• Deliver financial management and donor compliance training to budget holders and partners.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Accountability for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:     

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, external partners and supporters
• Values diversity as a source of strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative ideas, especially solutions to problems/challenges.
• Willing to take disciplined risks for children’s, youth’s and women’s wellbeing
• Not afraid to pilot new ideas, fail, and learn from mistakes.

Integrity:

• Honest and encourages openness and transparency in all professional matters.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (MBA/ACCA/CPA/CA preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of progressive financial management experience, including 2+ years in a senior leadership role within INGO or multinational environments.
• Proven experience in strategic financial management, budgeting, donor compliance, and audit coordination.
• Strong knowledge of Turkish financial regulations, taxation, and statutory reporting.
• Proficiency in Agresso/Integra, Excel, and ERP-based financial systems.
• Excellent analytical, leadership, and communication skills in English and Turkish.
• Demonstrated ability to build capacity of national staff and work effectively in multicultural contexts.
• Prior experience within Save the Children International or another large INGO.
• Fluency in Turkish and English
• Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, effective negotiator, with the ability to positively influence cross departmental and cross sectoral working relationships
• Ability to think creatively to solve problems with effective and efficient ways to accomplish goals
• Ability to make decisions, work under pressure on a number of competing tasks meeting deadlines
• Exposure to humanitarian response finance and multi-donor portfolio management is highly desired.
• Experience working in federated or matrixed organizations is highly desired.
• Fluency in Arabic is highly desired.

Position holder will be based in Türkiye, therefore legal right to work in Türkiye is necessary at the time of application. Due to the urgent need for this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We strongly encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible, before the stated deadline.