Finance Officer

Context

The Middle East is currently experiencing a profound crisis. The conflicts in Syria and Iraq are both a reflection and a transmitter of this crisis, with growing potential to further destabilise neighbouring countries and the wider region. These crises have resulted in a humanitarian disaster affecting more than 13.5 million people who were forced to flee their homes from Syria, and more than 17 million people in need of humanitarian aid (12.2 in Syria and 5.2 in Iraq).

Lebanon is now home to the largest number of Syrian refugees per capita relative to its total population, putting a severe strain on the country’s fragile infrastructures, economy, and security. The population of Lebanon was estimated at about 4.8 million (including almost half a million Palestinian refugees[1]) in 2013. Even though Lebanon has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, up to date it has taken in about a fourth of its own population. According to UNHCR, in September 2016 about 1,017,433 persons from Syria were registered as refugees in Lebanon.[2] In the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan 2017- 2020 (2018 update) (LCRP), the total number of people living in Lebanon is estimated at 5.9 million, with 3.3 million people in need. Among the Syrian refugee population in Lebanon, which today comprises over 1.5 million people.[3]

Background information on Qudra Specific Objective 3

’Qudra – Resilience for Syrian refugees, IDPs and host communities in response to the Syrian and Iraqi crises’ is a regional action financed by the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the  Madad‘ Fund and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), seeking to strengthen the resilience of Syrian refugees, IDPs and host communities in response to the Syrian and Iraqi crises.  The programme launched in June 2016, is being jointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Expertise France (EF) and Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID) in programme partner countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and North Iraq.

In Lebanon, MoSA and Expertise France ensure the consistency and the implementation of the Specific Objective 3 of Qudra. The project seeks to improve social stability between communities in Lebanon through a comprehensive and local approach of protection for children and adults. To do so, activities will revolve around four pillars: (i) support to the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA), (ii) focus on child protection activities, (iii) protection activities and (iv) dissemination of information. Expertise France will work within the framework of the National Plan of MoSA for CP and GBV

The programme will be implemented in SDCs of MoSA. Expertise France and MoSA had selected 4 local NGOS: Abaad, Afel, Akkarouna and Mouvement Social as implementing partners to implement activities related to child protection and protection. These NGOs will hire the necessary staff and implement the activities following a precise programme.

Description of the Tasks under the Technical supervision of the Project Manager and the Administrative guide of the SDCS director

Through SDC and Mobile Units when existing/needed

Responsibilities:

• Ensure that adequate financial management routines and systems are followed on a daily basis and that MS accounting practices and standards are adhered to; as well as that the requirements from donors, auditors and authorities are fulfilled, especially in relation to purchasing, authentication and payment procedures.
• Reconcile partner advances
• Ensure all expenses are within assigned project budget
• Prepare the monthly MFR
• Ensure on a monthly basis a control of expenses v/s budget by center and project
• Monitor bank accounts  reconciliations
• Manage cashbox controls
• Work closely with the PCs to ensure having clear partner advance reconciliations
• Monitor bank accounts and transfer between accounts to ensure sufficient cash in the bank and in the cash box
• Ensure timely payment of consultants, suppliers and other expenditures
• Verify that vouchers and supporting documents meet MS standards before payment
• Ensure that all the supporting documents (purchase requests, quotations, authorization of payment, etc.) are attached to the receipts and invoices.
• Ensure that financial transactions are properly recorded
• Ensure proper and adequate filing system for financial documents.
• Participate in  the financial audit
• Performs other duties as assigned by Finance Manager or, in his absence, by the Project Manager.
• The Finance Officer must cooperate closely with the Logistics & Projects teams to ensure that all financial transactions are accurate & well documented

Requested Profile:

• 4+ years of hands-on bookkeeping experience
• 4 years of experience in Lebanese financial management
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles
• Mature individual with the attention to detail, ability to work independently and under stressful conditions and tight deadlines
• Effective communicator, analytical thinker, active learner and team player
• Strong knowledge of computer applications such as MS word, Excel and Outlook
• High degree of flexibility and adaptability required
• Fluent in English and Arabic