Finance Manager – Amman , Jordan

General Description of the Programme:

GOAL has been working in Syria since 2013, responding to the acute needs of conflict-affected communities. GOAL is working in Idleb Governate, both through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, and provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) through support to Water units, as well as emergency support to recently displaced households.

GOAL has been working in North Aleppo Governate since 2019, through direct implementation and through partners, delivering food, non-food programming to highly vulnerable populations, as well as emergency support for recently displaced household.

Job Purpose/ Position Summary:

Finance Manager is a key member of the finance department, and, as such, supports all aspects of financial management of Syria program, working collaboratively with entire finance, program and operations teams, to ensure compliance with GOAL internal policies and procedures as well as donor regulations. S/he works under the direction of the Finance Coordinator and is responsible for general accounting, compliance and budgeting functions, while working collaboratively with all teams to ensure that financial resources are used efficiently, and a wide range of operational needs of the country program is met.

KEY DUTIES:

General accounting

• Management of all accounting records, ensuring those are complete, accurate and properly safeguarded.
• Review and post transactions in the accounting system (Payment, payroll, reconciliation…) – Follow the accounting software functional role map.
• Provide support in managing the month-end accounting close process, amortization, account reconciliation, ensuring accuracy and completeness of the ledgers, journal bathes and all supporting documentation in all country offices (coding, approval, uploading…).
• Review monthly reconciliations of bank accounts and balance sheet accounts, and monthly cost allocations.
• Ensure proper calculation and on-time payments of payroll, benefits and applicable taxes.
• Responsible for maintaining the general ledger software files, including set up and maintenance of new project accounts, regular back-up of files, etc..
• Oversee Cash Management processes, weekend and month-end cash count, and cash balance monitoring process to ensure the sufficient cash flow is available to support the program operations in country and in the field.
• As required provide support to the Finance teams in the record reconciliation process.
• Review of all monthly outstanding advances and perform aging analysis and ensure that all outstanding advances are settled cleared on time.
• Perform intercompany account reconciliation and ensure they are cleared from the country ledger plus any other transit accounts.
• As required process/pass any required re-class/adjusting entries.
• Lead the audit processes within the assigned location. Proactively Liaising with Program and sub-award units as necessary.

Budgeting

• Support the development of the Master Budget sheet (program activity cost plus personnel and office running costs) and review/analyze the status of secured grants and funding gaps.
• Maintain and update the staff cost analysis database that captures all staff budget LOEs in each grant and provide analysis on staff cost coverage and funding gaps
• Based on the computerized accounting info detailed Budget Versus Actual, award portfolio status or similar reports, perform further analysis on elapsed periods vs burn rate (fund utilization rate) and play an advisory role to the budget holders on indicative basis so that the program implementation follows the Program Management Minimum Standard guides that we are on scope and on budget
• Work closely with all program and system teams on any new proposal development or budget realignment and ensure that everything is submitted timely and primarily budgets are presented with the internal and external formats.
• Work closely with the budget holders on phased budget system (breaking down budgets by quarters or years or as required by month) so the planned activities for the quarter or a month is aligned with the phased budgets. Support budget holders in all of forecasting or reforecasting business
• Work closely with the relevant finance managers and budget holders on the monthly cash flow projection based on the due dates established by HQ – therefore, the country level monthly cash flow request is adequate to run the operations without interruption.
• Verify that program-related purchase requests and personnel recruitment forms that are subject to financial review are adequately funded and are allowable costs. Provide budget codes to staff relative to staff costs, general travel and training, as well as support on other programmatic coding requirements.
• Follow-through all outstanding financial actions, including monthly reclassifications, from relevant parties to ensure that deadlines are met and issues are addressed with high level of analysis, efficiency and quality
• Participate in any budget related meetings or consultations as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of the role and continuously provide active support to all functional units.
• Monthly review of transactions for compliance and eligibility under grants and following up with different stakeholders (including finance) on needed adjustments.
• Setting up new awards in the system in line with donor approved budget/modification.
• Capacity building to Finance as well as Non-Finance staff.
• All other tasks assigned by supervisor

Team Management

• Develop the capacity of the team, deepen understanding of their roles and assist with career development.
• Assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback informally and formally via regular one on ones and performance reviews.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Prepare donor financial reports and submit it to Finance Coordinator/HQ Operational Accountant for the review and sign off.
• Review and update monthly cost allocation tools to ensure it is in line with donors as well as internal policies and procedures.
• Lead the grant close out process, including the coordination with different stakeholders (Finance, Ops, Programs, Grants, etc) on various deliverables in line with donor rules and regulations.
• Hire, orient and lead team members as necessary.
• Support the development of templates and SOPs related to budget management.
• Propose improved policies and systems regarding spending guidelines, cost saving, cost allocation and annual planning.
• Assist Finance coordinator on special projects requiring financial analysis.
• Provide training to staff on budget management processes, systems and best practices.

Other Duties

• Assist the Finance Coordinator in recording, valuation, and inputting of Donations in Kind for Monthly and Annual account.
• Coordinate with Finance Officer Operations and Finance Officer Donors on crossover issues and provide cover/support as required.
• Assist in preparation of documentation to facilitate in donor audits, and internal audits.
• Maintain & update payroll forecast tool.
• Ensure adherence to internationally recognized protection principles, standards, and relevant international and local regulations.
• Ensure adherence with GOAL’s code of conducts and other internal policies i.e., on confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion including the GOAL’s commitments to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
• Participate in one-to-one performance development reviews/appraisals and contribute to the identification of own development needs.
• Ensure full compliance with the GOAL’s health and safety policy and all locally agreed safe methods of work.
• As this job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are assigned by the Finance Coordinator that are broadly in line with the above key duties.

Requirements:

• A BA/S or equivalent in accounting or finance required; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 5 years of progressive financial management experience, and minimum 2 years of experience in similar level position required, preferably in a large scale, complex programs.
• Prior work experience with NGOs, at least 1 year.
• Experience in grants management and understanding of BHA, EC, ECHO, FCDO and other major donor regulations.
• Strong accounting skills and experience, including management of the general ledger, journal entries, payroll, payables and balance sheet is required.
• Experience with online based accounting/financial management systems.
• Experience of working with Informal Money Transfer Agencies and excellent negotiating and communications skills.
• Strong analytical skills, demonstrated experience with analysis and presentation of complex financial data, proven ability to translate technical financial data into informative reports.
• Highly developed time management and prioritization skills and ability to meet multiple deadlines in high paced, fluid environment
• High attention to detail and ability to maintain quality work under any circumstance
• Excellent oral and written English skills, effective verbal and written communication, multi-tasking, organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.