Finance Officer

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works in around 100 countries to save, protect, and transform lives, serving people in need regardless of race, religion, or nationality. Through trusted local partnerships, CRS delivers relief and development programs in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, health, agriculture, education, community savings, livelihoods, and peacebuilding.

CRS began working in the Philippines in 1945, making it the longest-running continuous CRS country program in the world. Today, CRS Philippines implements programs in emergency response and recovery, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, livelihoods, and peace and development. With more than 60 staff across Manila, Cotabato City, Tagbilaran City, Iloilo City, Virac, and Malaybalay City, CRS works closely with church and civil society partners, government agencies, and other organizations to serve vulnerable communities across the country.

In the Pacific, CRS operates a program office in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), supporting community-based disaster risk reduction, emergency response, and early recovery initiatives through staff based in Pohnpei, Chuuk, and Yap.

The Philippines and FSM now operate as one Business Management Unit (BMU) under CRS’ Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) regional structure. As the BMU lead country, CRS Philippines provides shared services and management oversight across key functions, including MEAL, Finance, Human Resources, and Supply Chain Management.

Job Summary

You will help coordinate and contribute to the implementation of the Country Program’s (CP’s) accounting systems, policies and procedures in compliance with CRS’ established accounting standards, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), donors’ rules and regulations, and legal requirements to support high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will efficiently perform accounting services through documenting financial transactions by compiling, analyzing, and verifying account information; preparing account entries; and delivering financial reporting services. 

Note: Depending on the CP portfolio (scope and complexity), the Finance Officer can be assigned responsibility for delivery of accounting and financial reporting services for the entire program, for a field office, or for either payable or receivable transactions. 

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Review and validate supporting documentation before processing financial transactions to ensure all required documents are accurate and complete and authorizations are in place.
• Ensure setup and maintenance of all data required for processing financial transactions for assigned accounts in Insight financial accounting package.
• Record financial transactions following appropriate authorizations. Review and analyze various accounts to detect irregularities. Advise on corrective actions and prepare correcting entries and adjustments, as necessary.
• Monitor disbursement/receipt schedules, alert relevant staff of due payments/liquidations, and maintain appropriate communication and follow-up to facilitate timeliness of financial resource management.
• Prepare various, periodic and ad hoc financial reports, as needed, and perform variance analyses to assist with decision-making and proper management of financial resources. 
• Evaluate and monitor subrecipient financial management processes in accordance with policy and strengthen capacity of partner in financial accounting and transactions.
• Provide information to subrecipients and staff on financial accounting policies and procedural compliance issues and contribute to capacity strengthening.

Basic Qualifications

• B.A. degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration with courses in accounting, or a qualification in accounting (CPA/ACCA or equivalent).
• Minimum of two years’ experience in a position with similar responsibilities, preferably with an international or local NGO, or a financial/banking institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to detect and report inconsistencies
• Accuracy and completeness with great attention to detail
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Ability to work collaboratively

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the relevant public donors’ regulations preferred.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications. Knowledge of financial reporting software preferred.

Required Languages 

• Good written and spoken Filipino and English languages.

Travel

• Must be willing and able to travel up to 20%. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Finance Manager, Finance Supervisor, Accounts Payable Manager persona, Project Accountant persona, Co-Accounts Payable Specialist persona, and Program/budget Managers 

External: External Auditors, and Partners’ Finance staff

Duty Station: Manila Office

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity  
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.