PMU Finance Manager – Najahna Programme Management Unit

The OrgAnization

Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan have been contracted by the Novo Nordisk Foundation to implement a 5 Year program (2022-2026) called “Najahna” focused on youth economic empowerment in Jordan. The action will aim to complement JRP’s top priority, which is to strengthen systems to protect the dignity and welfare of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians impacted by the Syrian crisis. By doing this, the project will support Jordan’s enduring commitment to continue to build an integrated multi-year framework to respond to the Syrian crisis in a transparent, collaborative, and sustainable manner in line with the Global Compact on Refugees framework.

Plan International is an independent child rights and humanitarian organisation committed to children living a life free of poverty, violence and injustice. Plan actively unite children, communities and other people who share our mission to make positive lasting changes in children’s and young people’s lives. Plan support children to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to claim their rights to a fulfilling life, today and in the future. Plan place a specific focus on girls and women, who are most often left behind. Plan have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years and are now active in more than 70 countries. Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan are both part of Plan International. Plan Denmark works with Plan Country Offices in more than 77 countries to ensure that children, adolescents and young people are safe and influence decision making in resilient communities that respect their rights and offer equal opportunities for all regardless of gender. Plan International Jordan was established in 2016 and works to improve the resilience of vulnerable Syrian refugees and Jordanians in both Azraq refugee camp as well as in host communities.

role PURPOSE

Plan International Jordan is seeking an experienced PMU Finance Manager for the Najahna Programme Management Unit to provide leadership and overall management of the finances of the Najahna program in close coordination with Plan International Jordan, Plan Denmark, and program partners. Plan International Jordan is seeking a highly professional individual with demonstrated knowledge and proven experience in the management of large scale and complex budgets and with experience working with different partners and consortiums.

The PROGRAM

Going on its eleventh year, and with 6.6 million refugees worldwide, the Syrian displacement crisis is the largest the world has seen in decades. Of those, 5.6 million are hosted in Syria’s neighbouring countries. The Kingdom of Jordan, being one of the most affected countries by the Syrian crisis hosts over 1.36 million refugees. Syrian refugees and conflict affected youth in Jordan confront many challenges, including poverty, limited access to quality formal and non-formal education, high unemployment rates and barriers to economic opportunities. In addition, the youth often experience an exacerbation of harmful social norms, attitudes and behaviours in their communities that prevent adolescent girls and young women from achieving their full potential. The Najahna program aims to empower 48,000 young Syrian refugees and other conflict-affected youth in Jordan, especially adolescent girls, and young women, to become economic, social viable actors in an inclusive, healthy protective and gender responsive environment. The three interlinked program objectives are focused on working with Education, Economic Empowerment, and an Enabling Environment respectively, and provide a gender-transformative frame for a holistic approach to a complex problem. Against this background, the program targets different barriers that young people face from the systems level, with a weak educational system and a restrictive legal and policy environment for refugees, to the societal level characterized by harmful social norms, practices and traditions that stand in the way of young women’s economic empowerment, and finally, to the skills and capacities that young people need at an individual level.

The Najahna program is led by Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan in collaboration with four consortium partners; The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), The Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS), Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and The Confederation of Danish Industries (DI). The consortium partners bring an exceptional combination of experience, capacity and presence built on many years working with refugees and conflict-affected youth in ensuring access to Education, Youth Economic Empowerment, Health/Protection mainstreaming, gender and gender transformative approaches in various countries around the world as well as in Jordan. ODI and local partner “Information & Research Center King Hussein Foundation (IRCKHF)” will ensure that learning and research are integrated and inform program design and adaptation throughout the program duration. The Programme Management Unit is responsible for overall management of the programme in close collaboration with all programme partners and is based in Amman, Jordan.

Dimensions of the Role

The PMU Finance Manager holds overall responsibility for the management of the Najahna Program budget in close coordination with Plan Denmark, Plan International Jordan and finance managers of the other program partners. The PMU Finance Manager reports directly to the Head of Programme Management Unit but will liaise closely with the finance managers of all program partners. He/she is responsible for the recruitment of the PMU finance team, approves payments, compile consolidated financial reports and advises team members on financial and risk management related issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Oversight and development of an excellent and high performing finance team within the Programme Management Unit :

· Recruiting, developing and retaining competent finance staff;

· Developing and implementing learning & development plans for the finance team in line with Plan’s talent management systems and processes;

· Leading regular meetings of the Najahna Program finance management team. further, holding periodic meetings with the wider finance team members including those at the Program Units;

· Ensuring performance management of program finance staff occurs in line with Plan standards.

2. Grants management and Financial Reporting:

• Responsible for ensuring that none of the partners will have non-eligible costs
• Leads the grant budgeting process for Najahna Program and ensures that all budgets are in line with formats, deadlines and other guidelines for the program .

· Accurate maintenance of grants and individual giving expenditure records including supporting documentation which is approved by the appropriate authority;

· Compile and ensure that accurate financial reports are submitted on time to Plan Denmark and Plan International Jordan

· Maintaining close monitoring and reviewing of advances to partners, expenditure reporting by partners and complete supporting documentation;

· Overall accountability for ensuring that monthly cost are accurate and timely according to the expenditures approved in the budget.

· To provide support and guidance to all partners on key aspects of donor compliance and accountability standards.

· Supports and organizes grant audits, internal and external, to ensure that all required grant audits are completed on time.

· Responsible for ensuring that grants are in compliance with FAD, PIJO and Plan Denmarks guidelines.

3. Najahna Program partners are supported with effective financial services, financial information and advice:

· Prepare and lead development activities(i.e. workshop etc.) to ensure that the implementation of of the NajahnaProgram is in line with all required guidelines.

· Participate in program meetings ensuring timely implementation of agreed program decisions;

· Provides timely, reliable and systems based financial information and analysis that leads to effective decision making by the Programme Management Unit.

· Provides support in preparation of payment’s requests and payment plans for all consortium partners.

· In coordination with Plan Jordan finance Manager manage payroll incl. social security, regulatory returns, VAT and tax compliance as required;

· Provide efficient payment services to the program

· Ensure that efficient services are provided in the Programme Unit .

· Financial due diligence of partners is completed as part of partner assessment proceses .

4. Budgeting and planning is based on excellent and timely financial data:

· Organize, own and control the annual budget and quarterly financial reporting and follow-up

· Ensure efficient processes including communicating instructions, meeting deadlines;

· Consolidate and review program budgets;

· In liaison with the HPMU, be the focal point for regular communications on finances with Plan Denmark, Plan International Jordan and partners, as required;

· Ensure the accuracy of producing the program cost ratio, in line with Plan policies and corporate ERP system/reporting from partners.

5. Oversee financial reporting and cash management to be accurate and compliant with established policies and procedures:

· Manage and review the general ledger and cash management processes including cash forecasting;

· Prepare and ensure implementation of flow charts for key financial processes;

· Provide matrix management support to the Programme Management Unit to ensure that all the consortium partners meet regular financial reporting deadlines on time and to the required standard;

· Ensure adherence to the local Operations Manual and other global finance policies and procedures in accordance with Plan standards;

· Ensure finance related audit actions are implemented and alternative actions taken as required to address weaknesses in financial controls and procedures identified in finance and other forms of audit reports;

6. Child protection, gender equality and inclusion:

· Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan

Key relationships

· This position will report directly to the Head of Programme Management Unit and will liaise closely with the Grants Controller at Plan Denmark , Country Finance Manager at Plan International Jordan and finance managers of other program partners.

· The PMU Finance Manager will work closely with the consortium partners and will follow up with the finance focal points for each partner.

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

· A degree in Accounting plus a professional accounting qualification such as CIS, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent;

· A post graduate qualification is desirable;

· A minimum of 7 years’ experience managing large scale and complex multi-year, multi partner humanitarian programs;

· Knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards, Control standards and Risk management techniques and the reporting requirements of major international grant donors

· Knowledge of the INGO sector and the financial management issues specific to the sector in Jordan.

· Knowledge of local finance laws and regulations ;

· Fluency in Arabic and English spoken and written;

· Understanding of the Jordan, the geopolitical factors in the country as well as the political, social and economic opportunities for development are an advantage.

· Candidates with experience of MS dynamics system are preferred.

Skills

·

· Comfortable with taking timely decisions in situations where information may be incomplete, based on consultation and the ability to convey sound judgement and assurance to team members and other key internal stakeholders.

· Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues through remote means and in a multi-cultural environment.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking, both is English and Arabic.

· Strong negotiation, influencing and problem solving skills.

· Numeracy and the ability to interpret financial data, in order to provide management support to budgetary processes including planning, monitoring and reporting.

· A strong understanding of key institutional donor compliance rules and principles.

· Ability to provide leadership, communicate effectively and build high performing teams that work together to achieve goals.

· Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically.

·

Additional Requirements

· Ability and experience in working in cross-cultural contexts

· Experience in team capacity building as well as strong coaching skills

· Ability to work manage situations under pressure. Multitasking, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail and strategic vision are essential.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

· Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.

· Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.

· Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.

· Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.

· Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

· Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.

· Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.

· Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.

· Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

· Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.

· Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.

· Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.

· Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

· We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential

· We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace

· We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. **

Physical Environment

It is an Office-based environment, the office is located at Plan Jordan (Amman). The team consists of a separate unit within Plan Jordan Office

Level of contact with children

Low contact: No contact or very low frequency of interaction

ROLE PROFILE

Type of Role: Fixed-term Job **

Contract Duration: 1 year

Reports to: Head of Najahna Program Management Unit . **

Location: Amman, Jordan

Grade: D2

Closing Date: 27 Feb 2022