Humanitarian Finance Officer – Ukraine Appeal

Duty station: Bangkok, Thailand or Geneva, Switzerland

Duration: 18-20 months (target start date 1 Sept 2022)

Worktime: 100% FTE

Travel: Occasional to field locations

Language required: English

About ACT Alliance ACT Alliance is the largest coalition of Protestant and Orthodox churches and church-related organisations engaged in humanitarian, development and advocacy work in the world, consisting of more than 135 members working together in over 120 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalised people regardless of their religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality in keeping with the highest international codes and standards. For more details about the general work of ACT, please refer to http://www.actalliance.org/

Major functions We are looking for a Humanitarian Finance Officer who will report to the ACT Alliance Ukraine Appeal Coordinator and will be matrix managed by the ACT Alliance Finance Coordinator. The post’s major functions include management of the appeal funds (pledges, transfers) whilst working closely with the finance teams of requesting and funding members. The postholder will also review, finalise and file funding contracts for the appeal and oversee tracking of all appeal income and disbursements. On time financial reporting and timely review of requesting member budgets and finance/audit reports is required. Regular finance monitoring visits to field locations are an important part of this job. S/he will also support the work of other appeals if capacity allows.

Duties and Responsibilities

Appeals & Rapid Response

• Coordinate pledges and financial contributions with funding and requesting members ensuring transfer to requesting members in a timely fashion.
• Review appeal contracts and track and lead on the requirements related to finance and reporting.
• Communicate with donors and requesting members as needed on finance issues/confirmation of funds received, etc.
• Compliance assurance of ACT’s requesting members, including ensuring that the requesting members and the local implementing partners, have a robust finance system.
• Programme finance monitoring visits.
• Ensure on-time financial reporting and review reports submitted by members, including audit reports.
• Timely booking of appeal and rapid response pledges and transactions in the finance system.
• Track income flows to Ukraine appeal and produce regular income reports.
• Ensure creation and accurate filing of finance related documentation for appeal and rapid response.
• Generate and disseminate regular appeal fund status overviews to the Appeal team and relevant member organisations.
• Coordinate regular update meetings with the Appeal Team to ensure information exchange regarding appeal and rapid response developments.
• Participate in monitoring visits when requested by the Appeal Lead, Humanitarian Operations Manager, or the Director of Operations.

Bank (to be confirmed)

• Manage directly bank transfers/payments for appeal payments or through the ACT Finance team.
• Manage communication with the bank and member organisations regarding appeal donations, in particular with regards to due diligence for sanctioned regions and countries if relevant.

Competences and behaviours

• Committed to the values of the ACT Alliance and takes pride in delivering on agreed priorities according to the highest standards individually and as part of a global team.
• Proactively finds innovative and creative solutions, is efficient and reliable, adapts to change and uncertainty, is decisive and acts with integrity.
• Builds effective internal and external relationships, involves others when solving problems and treats others with consideration and respect in an alliance where faith is a key ingredient of people’s lives.
• Passion for building and developing core skills for the role and contributes knowledge outside of immediate own role.

Working relationships

• Internally: collaborate closely with the Finance Coordinator (general) and the wider finance team, Appeal Coordinator, Global Humanitarian Operations Manager, Head of Humanitarian Affairs and, as well as other secretariat staff and consultants, as relevant.
• Externally: communicate with relevant ACT member organisations, partners and external donors.

Skills and experience

• Relevant degree in accounting, financial management, business administration or other relevant educational background combined with professional experience.
• Minimum 5 years of work experience relating to accounting and financial management in humanitarian responses.
• Strong skills in analysing financial reports, audits and producing financial overviews.
• Experience from, or Interest in, working with humanitarian issues.
• Experience in a non-profit / donor funded finance role.
• Ability to work with tight deadlines and to deliver results with limited supervision.
• Ability to function under pressure and to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent organizational and computer skills (including excellent command of spread sheets and financial management softwares – ideally Navision or 365 Business Central Dynamics).
• Self-motivated and with a positive attitude.
• Precise, curious, analytical and organized mindset.
• Pays attention to detail and takes pride in delivering accurate, high-quality work.
• Flexible, innovative and effective in working collaboratively as part of a multicultural team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.