The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is currently seeking a highly skilled and experienced Commercial Contract – Finance Advisor to join its dynamic team in Nairobi, Kenya. This strategic role is open to both Kenyan nationals and expatriate professionals. It offers an opportunity to contribute to DRC’s expanding commercial and fund management portfolio and help strengthen financial systems that support delivery of critical humanitarian and development programming.
As DRC transitions into new business modalities including commercial contracts and fund management, the organization has recognized the need for specialized expertise in financial oversight to ensure accurate forecasting, revenue tracking, and risk mitigation. The Commercial Contract – Finance Advisor will play a central role in supporting the financial dimension of these evolving business models.
This is a fixed-term position of two years, expected to begin in September 2025, with a duty station in Nairobi, and offers the chance to contribute meaningfully to humanitarian outcomes across the continent.
About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council is a leading humanitarian organization founded in 1956 that supports refugees and displaced persons across the globe. DRC provides emergency aid, fights for their rights, and strengthens their future opportunities. With operations in more than 30 countries, DRC is widely recognized for its commitment to excellence, ethical conduct, and deep-rooted humanitarian values.
In recent years, DRC has extended its operations into commercial contracts and fund management—an evolution that brings fresh challenges and opportunities. As such, the Finance Advisor role is instrumental in enabling sound and compliant financial management of these initiatives.
Position Overview: Commercial Contract – Finance Advisor
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contract Type: National or Expatriate
Contract Duration: Fixed term – 2 years
Availability: September 2025
Deadline to Apply: 15th July 2025
Job ID: 174024
Reporting to: Head of Section – Commercial Contracts & Fund Management
The Commercial Contract – Finance Advisor will contribute to DRC’s strategic goal of optimizing financial management within its commercial contracts and fund management activities. The role will cover four key areas: Financial Management, Business Development, Policy Guidance, and Fund Management.
Detailed Job Description
1. Financial Management
The Finance Advisor will ensure sound financial operations across all commercial projects and contribute to broader oversight and reporting efforts. Specific responsibilities include:
- Ensuring the proper setup of new commercial contracts in DRC’s ERP system (Dynamics), either through direct implementation or quality assurance oversight.
- Supporting the execution of compliance checks for financial systems and procedures, especially for downstream partners including subcontractors and local implementing organizations.
- Reviewing project invoices submitted by Project Managers to ensure accuracy and compliance before submission to clients.
- Analyzing internal budgets against financial data in Dynamics, with particular focus on financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These analyses will help inform decisions by the Commercial Contract Resource Committee.
- Collaborating with internal teams to develop business intelligence (BI) reports for tracking the performance of the commercial contract portfolio and monitoring the Commercial Risk Contingency Fund.
- Providing support during audits related to commercial contracts and financial operations.
- Advising the Head of Section on proposals regarding profit-sharing for local entities (LEs) to ensure that final approvals are backed by robust financial insight.
2. Business Development
In its strategic expansion into commercial contracting, DRC places emphasis on financial viability and compliance. In this context, the Finance Advisor will:
- Offer expert support to Local Entities (LEs) during the development and review of financial proposals to ensure they are both compliant with donor regulations and commercially viable.
- Bring a critical financial lens to the bidding process, helping to assess risk and profitability.
3. Policy Guidance
The Finance Advisor will play a key role in evolving DRC’s internal procedures to reflect the needs and realities of commercial contracting and fund management. Duties in this area include:
- Supporting the refinement and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that govern commercial contract execution and financial management.
- Contributing to the development and continuous review of user manuals for DRC Dynamics—ensuring they are aligned with the operational needs of commercial contract lifecycle phases: setup, implementation, and closeout.
- Assisting in the development and refinement of internal policies on profit management and distribution.
4. Fund Management
As DRC takes on increasing responsibility for fund management, the Finance Advisor will help ensure efficient and compliant financial flows. This includes:
- Supporting the monitoring of fund cash flows to ensure that donor funds are received on time and that grantee payments are made without unnecessary delays.
- Identifying and analyzing gaps or inefficiencies in Dynamics that may affect fund management performance, and collaborating with other departments to develop appropriate solutions.
- Working with Business Process Owners to recommend ERP system improvements and advocating for their adoption by DRC’s governance board.
Experience and Technical Competencies
To succeed in this role, candidates should demonstrate:
- In-depth knowledge of financial processes and procedures, ideally gained from an oversight or management role.
- At least five years of experience in the development or humanitarian sector, preferably with a focus on service contracts or commercial engagements.
- Familiarity with different contract modalities and international donors, especially those commonly engaged by DRC.
- Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to support and train colleagues across different capacities and cultural backgrounds.
- Professional proficiency in both English and French.
- Prior experience in managing commercial contracts either in the humanitarian or private sector.
- Demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement, especially around policy development and financial compliance.
- Hands-on experience with ERP systems—knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics is a significant advantage.
Education
- A Master’s degree in Economics, Financial Management, Business Management, or a closely related discipline.
Language Requirements
- English – Fluent (spoken and written)
- French – Fluent (spoken and written)
DRC Core Competencies
All candidates are expected to align with and uphold DRC’s core competencies:
- Striving for Excellence: Committed to achieving high-quality results through efficient processes.
- Collaborating: Demonstrates teamwork and actively incorporates feedback.
- Taking the Lead: Takes initiative and ownership, fostering innovation.
- Communicating: Practices active listening and communicates effectively and honestly.
- Demonstrating Integrity: Consistently acts in accordance with DRC’s values and ethical standards.
Contractual and Operational Details
- Duration: Two years, subject to funding from current commercial contracts.
- Conditions: Salary and employment terms will follow DRC’s policies for either national or expatriate staff, depending on the candidate’s nationality.
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya.
- Key Internal Stakeholders: Business and Finance Controllers, Country and Regional Heads of Support Services, Finance Managers, and the Commercial Contract Resource Committee.
Organizational Values and Safeguarding
DRC is firmly committed to ethical conduct and safeguarding, as enshrined in its Humanitarian Accountability Framework (HAF). Staff are required to support DRC’s safeguarding mechanisms and maintain the highest standards of conduct both professionally and personally.
DRC is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and strives to provide an inclusive work environment for all employees. The organization does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or exploitation.
Application Instructions
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications by 15th July 2025. Applications must include:
- A one-page cover letter outlining motivation and relevant qualifications
- An up-to-date CV
- Contact information for three professional referees, one of whom must be the applicant’s most recent manager
Please note that only applications submitted through the online portal will be considered. Visit DRC’s career portal at www.drc.ngo under the “Vacancies” section to apply.
If you experience any difficulties during the online application process, visit the support page at www.drc.ngo/jobsupport for assistance.
DRC does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process and does not use recruitment agents.
