Finance Manager-Budget & Reporting - Damascus

Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to fleefrom war or disaster.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 500+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the guidance of DDF and Senior Manager, Finance Manager-Budget & Reporting will handle the day-to-day budget and grants management function.

The Finance Manager will always make sure that all issues relating to Budgets & Reporting are immediately attended to and that the donor budgets are prepared in accordance with IRC's and the donor's requirements and are submitted on time.

In addition, s/he will ensure that grants are fully implemented according to donor's regulations, IRC's requirements and donor reporting is timely. S/He will develop budget management tool(s) and conduct training(s) to improve efficiency and donor reporting and compliance for the budget holders and any other stakeholder with Finance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Proposal Budget Development, Grant Management

• Supporting SM finance with program staff to prepare grant budgets to support new proposals.
• Supporting SM Finance to conduct detailed preparation of existing grant budget revisions ensuring that all costs are covered and are not under/over budgeted in addition to accurate use of the IRC's and the donor budget formats.
• Provide monthly analysis (BvA) for per grant and provide advice to the budget holders about any variance in spending. Liaise with Partnership and accounting team for partner level expenses and forecasts accurately captured in monthly BvA’s
• Review and consolidate spending plans provided by program team before submitting them to donors.
• Provide support and feedback to Operations and Program Coordinators and Managers for all questions regarding the BVAs.
• In compliance with donor requirements propose and prepare adjustments entries, attaching all supporting documents for finance records and posting into Integra system.
• Review item forecast and ensure compliance with IRC & Donor regulations before signing.
• Support DDF/SM Finance on Budget setup per donor reporting format and system uploads.
• Responsible for Budget uploads and D2 creations within 02 weeks of project activation in OTIS.
• Track the spending on support costs and provide quarterly analysis for the purpose of any budget amendments or new budgets.

Donor Financial Reporting:

• Preparing Donor Financial reports and submitting them to SM Finance for review ensuring the reports comply with donor reporting requirements and timely submit as per contractual requirements.
• Perform project reconciliation alongside financial report ensuring all the transactions are reported and adjustment journal posted if any.
• Review grant trial balance including and ensure the grant balance sheet account are cleaned.
• Review the Grant inventory status and take necessary action during donor reporting.
• Regularly liaise with Partnership unit to make sure all partner expenses are posted till date and recorded in system

Capacity Building and Field Office Support:

• Act as the primary point of contact for field offices on budgeting and donor financial reporting queries.
• Conduct field visits to train finance and program staff on IRC financial systems, donor reporting, and budget management.
• Provide tailored capacity-building programs for budgeting and reporting staff to ensure they are fully equipped to manage their portfolios.
• Identify systemic challenges in field office financial practices and recommend solutions, including policy revisions.

Other Tasks

• Support the finance Manager/Coordinator during Internal and external audit. Ensuring that all documentation and required Schedules are made available for the Auditor in good time.
• Support the procurement department in ensuring that tendering and bidding process is fair, compliant, competitive,and finance focal person in the procurement committee.
• Overseeing the process of monthly staff allocation and highlight risks in time
• Performing any other duties assigned by the supervisor.
• Tracking leaves of finance officer position with required backup in place to support BAU.

Required Experience/qualification/Skills:

• A Masters’s degree in accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or Finance with a recognized professional certificate in accounting.
• Not less than 5 years’ Experience within the Finance Department of an international organization. Experience in the humanitarian sector is required.
• Extensive experience in working with computerized accounting systems, standard spreadsheet and database programs is an asset.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Good written and verbal skills in the English language.
• Working experience on budget preparation, budget management and financial reports is a requirement. This job requires strong analytical skills to be able to make logical and strategic budget decisions.
• Ability to carry out responsibilities independently with minimal technical support from within the program organization.
• Must be a patient and good communicator who can function in an organizational environment involving a diversity of cultures, languages, and personal interests and agendas.