Finance Manager

Role and Responsibilities

Manage the financial activities of the programme in Lebanon and oversee and contribute to the setup of financial activities of the programme in Syria by remote management. Provide capacity building (finance staff and finance-aspects for project staff) and be the champion for finance best practice. Provide technical and practical support to the Finance team in the Lebanon programme and support practically the programme in Syria in other support areas. Carry out the various accounting functions required in order to provide accurate and timely information to donors, HQ, field management and the field teams on the financial status of the programme. This involves organising and further developing the financial processes required for the projects to function effectively as well as managing the Beirut Finance team.

Project Overview

In the Middle East region, Medair has programmes in Lebanon and Jordan (since 2012) and Kurdish Region of Iraq (since 2014). In Lebanon, Medair supports projects in the sectors of Shelter / NFI, WASH, Health delivering emergency assistance to Syrian refugees and host communities. In January 2015, Medair completed registration and approval to start projects in Syria based out of Damascus. Finance management for Damascus will be predominantly by remote management, with opportunities for visits and capacity building / training delivered in Lebanon.

Medair

Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure.

Workplace         

Beirut, Lebanon, with periodic travel to Damascus, Syria. Take a look at Medair’s work in the Syria crisis.

Starting Date

May 2015

Initial Contract Details

Full time, minimum contract 12 months

Key Activity Areas

Financial Management

• Manage the day-to-day accounting functions of the Lebanon programme and Damascus programme (remotely) including, but not limited to:

• Reconciling / verifying bank and cash amounts on a regular basis, monitoring project spending.

• Detailing expenditure through monthly expense sheets for all cash accounts.

• Preparing the monthly cash needs forecast for the programme, ensuring that money is transferred between locations in a timely manner and that daily cash needs are met.

• Preparing the monthly financial accounts.

• Ensure that Medair Finance Procedures are followed in the Country Programme’s offices as part of internal control monitoring.

• Work with Budget holders and HQ staff in the preparation and development of budgets for projects and shared costs.

• Contribute to the financial management of signed donor grants.

• Prepare and deliver financial activity reports within the required timeframe.

• Prepare for, manage and support internal and external field financial audits, providing all information required by local legislation, donors, HQ or other bodies.

   

Administration

• Meet the finance related administrative requirements of Medair, donors, local legislation, suppliers, contractors and any other stakeholders, so that the financial aspects of the programme function efficiently, effectively and with integrity.

• Work with HR to ensure the preparation of monthly payroll list, payment and record-keeping of staff salaries and / or allowances is done in a timely manner and in accordance with local employment regulations, ensuring that all required statutory deductions are made and subsequently paid to the appropriate authorities.

• Support the HQ Programme Finance Officer (PFO) in reporting to donors, providing relevant documents and narrative explanation of any anomalies or discrepancies.

Staff Management

• Manage and oversee the programme finance staff including recruitment, day-to-day management, development and training, appraisal, etc. Provide functional supervision to field Finance Officers.

Communication

• Develop and maintain a communication structure with colleagues to ensure they are kept informed of applicable financial activities and requirements, including the distribution of key financial information.

Security

• Control and manage the security of in-country cash when held on site and when being transferred to other account holders.

Other

• Act as the focal point in Beirut for support to Damascus-based team delivered by the Lebanon team.

Qualifications

• University degree in relevant subject and / or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Part 2 (or equivalent) completed

Languages

• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)

   

  Experience / Competencies

• Relevant professional experience in a financial position for at least two years

• Overseas experience, preferably working in the NGO finance sector

• Strong leadership skills and a supportive management style and experience with remote management

• Experience in a financial supervisory position working with different accounting packages desirable

• Experience working with institutional donors and representing at national and local levels desirable

• High numeracy skills, problem solving ability, excellent attention to detail

• Strong organisational skills and the capacity to analyse and prioritise needs

• Good document writing skills; team-player with good inter-personal skills

   

   

  Medair Standard Working Requirements for the Field

• Experienced professionals in a relevant field; Overseas intercultural experience

• Committed Christians; commitment to the Medair values

• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written

• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes

• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.

• Successful completion of Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC)

• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, external contacts

• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions

• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

   

  Benefits

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and the experience of the position-holder

• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing

• Security training for those going to particularly insecure environments

• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country

• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)

• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food allowance)

• Annual leave; Death and disability allowance

• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings (for experienced relief workers)

• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts

• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post- assignment coverage, including debriefing

   

  Application Process

  Follow this link: www.medair.org/work-with-us, check if you are an Experienced or New Relief Worker and that you fit our standard working criteria, then:

1. apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or

2. apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.