Finance Associate G6, Beirut

Assisting more than 90 million people in 83 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.
As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.

In Lebanon, WFP works to support approximately 700,000 people with regular assistance using e-cards. WFP also supports Lebanese schools with school meals, and has engaged in more than 100 development activities to support rural infrastructure, education and training opportunities to vulnerable individuals and families. WFP also supports Lebanon’s National Poverty Targeting Programme.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT: The post is based in Beirut CO and the incumbent is to report to the Finance Officer.

JOB PURPOSE: To support the stewardship of WFP’s resources, monitoring budgets, forecasting, reporting on key data and providing basic administrative and human resource functions that enable effective management of funds, and ensure assistance to beneficiaries is undertaken in the most efficient and effective way possible.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive):
Under the direct supervision of the Finance Officer, the Finance Associate will perform the following responsibilities:

1. Provide the procedural and technical support to staff within the areas of finance and budget, to ensure compliance with WFP financial policies, rules and regulations.
2. Support the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures, and assist in setup and implementation of proper accounting procedures, systems and internal controls.
3. Perform daily financial transactions, overall cash management, Cash Based Transfer (CBT) reconciliations, and monthly financial closures on a regular basis in accordance with corporate requirements. 
4. Report on key data for financial status and outcomes of projects in accordance with corporate governance requirements, ensuring accuracy, deadlines, and accounting processes are complied with. 
5. Monitor account balances and process financial transactions in an accurate and timely manner, to maintain appropriate cash balance to avoid the occurrence of an overdraft.
6. Monitor the centralized registry system in order to process all payments to internal staff and invoices to external suppliers in a timely manner and in accordance with WFP standards.
7. Contribute to the preparation, implementation and monitoring of budgets, monitor expenditure and budget forecasts, to ensure that relevant future funding requirements are met.
8. Co-ordinate with other teams in order to ensure that all financial and administrative services are being performed efficiently and in line with the needs of the wider team.
9. Track and collate data to support others to improve policies, systems and procedures in order to minimize financial risks, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and ensure services are aligned with business objectives. 
10. Compile data from the WFP database and systems in order to assist in generating and analyzing financial reports on a monthly basis.
11. Contribute to the delivery of financial controls and insight into WFP performance, supporting periodic risk and internal control assessments to identify areas which may present potential audit, compliance or financial risks. 
12. Remain on stand-by and follow standard emergency preparedness practices in order to meet immediate emergency requirements for further service on the job and in the field.
13. Perform other duties as required. 

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 
Education: Completion of secondary school education. A University degree or post-secondary certificate in the related functional area is considered an asset. 

Experience: Five years of professional experience in Finance, Accounting, Audit or relevant fields with independence, analyzing financial figures, coordination with other functional units and managing complex funding situation.

Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in Arabic and English. Knowledge of French language is added advantage.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE: 
•    Has performed detailed financial analyses at a national and/or operational level.
•    Has experience working with auditors and other third-party vendors