Regional Finance Coordinator - ECHO PPP

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The duty station is the Regional Office in Beirut, Lebanon.

Job Purpose

This post is responsible to ensure the effective coordination among the delegations related to the project financial management of the ECHO PPP within the region. This post is also responsible for the implementation of the full cycle related to the WWPP’s capacity review and risk assessment of the National Societies in the region. The aim is to move them from the working advance to the funds transfer system.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Policies and Procedures

• Have a deep understanding of the financial and administrative federation policies and procedures.
• Provide feedback to his/her line manager or the Head, Finance and Administration of improvements in financial policies, or procedures.

Financial reporting

• Prepare ECHO funded PPP programme financial management reports.
• Prepare and validate donor financial reports for ECHO PPP at regional level.
• Prepare a periodic review of the transactions posted to the projects to ensure they are accurately entered into the accounting system.
• Provide information about the status of reports to the
• Prepare income reallocations and coordinate expenditure reallocations to ensure that the reports are ready to submit (when it is necessary)
• Support month end, year end and related audit process, as required.
• Review of transactions
• Ensure all accounting transactions are properly authorized and documented by original and valid supporting documentation.
• Follow up with the project manager or unit staff the timely submission of the forecasts, journal of expenditures, expense claims and other documents, if needed.

Treasury

• The post will be responsible for the validation of the requests for transfers to the National Societies.
• Month end closed routines.
• This post will support, if required, the month-end close routines (e.g., currency revaluation, allocation, booking of provisions, etc.) within the deadlines

Risk management and internal control environment

• Review and comment on contracts, agreements, including funding partnerships in the region with the respective member National Societies and IFRC Country Cluster Delegation under the ECHO PPP.
• Financial management and controllership
• Coordinate the preparation and regional consolidation of the PPP programme budgets in the regional level.
• Provide expertise and proactive advice to the PPP grant Manager, related Project Managers and Finance staff on ECHO PPP programme financial management.

National Society Development

• ECHO PPP - Provide expertise and training on programme financial management matters to various stakeholders, including participating EU National Societies.
• ECHO PPP - Provide technical support to the ECHO PPP Finance focal person (s) including field visits.
• WWPP - Roll out the implementation of Working with Project Partners Capacity assessment for all countries within the region in stages.
• WWPP - Supporting the transition to the new financial working modality with project partners (Working with project partners – WWPP).
• WWPP - Lead the project partners capacity review and risk assessment (e.g., manual or through the on-line platform).
• WWPP - Prepare the project framework agreement through the e-contract platform related to the new funding system.
• WWPP - Fill in the first project funding agreement with the mitigation measures.

Communications

• Represent the regional finance team on an ad hoc basis at various meetings on the ECHO PPP matters.
• Maintain regular and proactive dialogue with different stakeholders with regards to relevant finance related matters.
• Build relationship with various stakeholders, including participating National Societies, including EU NS to improve the management of the ECHO PPP grant.

Others

• Provide support in case of long-term vacancies, absence, or illness to ensure continuity of the finance function.
• Be prepared to deliver training to IFRC staff, or National Society Staff, if required.
• Flexibility to travel within short notice (10 percent).

Education

• Relevant university degree in Finance or Accounting - Required
• Qualification in business administration or auditing - Preferred

Experience

• 5+ years’ professional experience in a finance or accounting department - Required
• 3+ years of experience in a humanitarian organization - Preferred
• 3 years’ experience with European Union or Global Fund Grant financial management - Preferred
• Experience delivering project financial management support - Required

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Advanced skills in computers (e.g., accounting software and Microsoft Office)- Required
• Fluently spoken and written English and Arabic- Required
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French) - Preferred
• Good analytical skills and solution-oriented person- Required
• Team player, self-motivated and proactive on own initiative to set and achieve objectives- Required
• Training and developing staff skills- Required
• Good stress management skills- Required
• Time management skills- Required
• Excellent communications skills- Required

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Integrity
• Innovation
• Communications
• Accountability
• National Society Relations
• Building Relations
• Professionalism