Accounting & Support Manager

Job purpose and context 

Since its establishment in 2018, MSF Lebanon has transitioned from a regional hub to a recognized institutional entity, focusing on Lebanon's medical, communications, human resources, operational support, and advocacy potential. The team has made substantial progress in rooting MSF in Lebanon and the MENA region, building its identity and Arabic voice, and contributing to the development of its international mobile workforce. MSF Lebanon has defined the following three overarching strategic pillars: 

1. Institutional Rooting, ensuring that key target audiences recognize and accept MSF as a well-known, credible, trustworthy, and independent medical humanitarian organization in Lebanon and the wider MENA/WANA region.  

2. Operational Support, providing relevant technical and strategic support to operations, benefiting from the expertise and resources available in the region.  

3. Movement Contribution, launching and supporting initiatives to optimize resources and improve intersectional collaboration in and from the MENA/WANA region to enhance MSF operations.   

Today MSF Lebanon consists of a Human Resources team with a core mandate to secure and develop a mobile workforce from the region deployable to  MSF operations worldwide, a Communications team that provides communication advisory and capacity to meet MSF’s institutional and support operational communication needs, a Finance, Compliance and Support team who is responsible for the financial reporting and operational legality of the BO together with intersectional facility management ; a Medical Support Unit with specialty in Epidemiology and Public Health Policy Advocacy, in addition to a growing operational support team including a decentralized medical unit (MEMU) that is focused on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in MSF’s global portfolio in addition to a regional technical support team (METSU).  

MSF Lebanon comprises of around 50 staff (including decentralized positions) from which most of them are located in Beirut with a smaller team in Cairo. 

The Accounting and Support Manager at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Lebanon oversees the accounting activities, ensuring compliance with MSF standards and legal obligations.  

This role involves managing the accounting component, donor contracts, and local audits, while also supervising the recruitment and development of accounting staff. The manager ensures accurate and timely accounting, including monthly and yearly closings, and acts as a technical reference for accounting issues.  

Accountabilities 

Compliance 

• Ensure all accounting operations comply with local and MSF regulations. 
• Perform compliance trainings as needed. 
• Prepare regulatory paperwork and raise compliance issues. 
• Suggest process improvements. 
• Work closely with the Compliance Officer on drafting the policies and SoPs for the accounting department. 

Accounting 

Monthly Financial Reports and Closing 

• Organize the accounting department and ensure appropriate tools are in place. 
• Submit all financial operations to the FCS Director for monthly review and signature. 
• Provide monthly reconciliations and financial reports. 
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts. 
• Ensure online and physical inventory of accounting and payment operations is accurate and up to date. 

Yearly Closing 

• Submit income statements and follow up on transactions. 
• Prepare year-end documents and reconcile NSSF reports. 

Rebilling 

• Lead and follow up on rebilling operations. 

Relation with Auditors and Banks 

• Manage relationships with auditors and banks. 
• Stay informed on accounting and taxation changes. 
• Ensure timely delivery of services from providers. 

Management of Contracts with Suppliers & Service Providers 

• Ensure timely payments and provide statements of accounts. 
• Inform the HoD of contract discrepancies and assist in drafting contracts. 
• Ensure MSF Lebanon has a solid contract tracking operation and more generally ensure that MSF Lebanon has a clear tracking systems for its commitments in general. 

Day-to-Day Operations 

• Ensure all deadlines are met and maintain high-quality accounting operations. 
• Keep the HoD informed on daily activities and fund availability. 
• Follow up on invoices and transactions. 
• Maintain accurate inventory of operations. 

Payroll 

• Ensure accurate payroll figures and execute payments. 
• Translate payroll into the accounting application and reconcile entries. 
• Inform the HoD of payroll discrepancies. 

Tax Payment 

• Fill in/check all tax declarations and ensure timely payments. 
• Register and redeem taxes on time. 

Line Management and Reporting Line 

• Line manage the Accounting Executive and IT & Support Officer. 
• Report to the Head of the FCS department. 
• Able to act as a Deputy Head of Department in absence of the Director on accounting and reporting matters. 

Key Interactions 

Internal stakeholders :

Accounting and rebilling functions across MSF Entities & MSF Lebanon departments. MSF Lebanon departments, MSF One entities. 

External stakeholders :

Taxes entities, Social Security, Auditors and Suppliers. 

Job requirements

Education: Preferably, a bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field. 

Experience:  

• At least 10 years’ experience in accounting – Preferably in Lebanon and with international NGO’s. 
• A solid background in accounting, familiarity with local accounting standards and MSF's financial systems are essential.

Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking, level 3 
• People Management, level 3 
• Service Orientation, level 2 
• Strategic Vision, level 2 
• Results & Quality Orientation, level 3 
• Teamwork and Cooperation, level 3 

Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles. 
• Strong knowledge of MS Office applications.  
• Strong knowledge of ODOO accounting application. 

Functional / Technical Skills :

• Detail-oriented. 
• Resilient. 
• Communication. 
• Problem-solving. 
• Adaptable. 
• Strong will to work with others. 
• Discreet. 
• Willingness to continually grow in knowledge and technical skills. 

Other Requirements:

• Personal Integrity & Relationship Building: Demonstrate high personal integrity, honesty, and a strong ability to build relationships.  
• Commitment to MSF Values: Strong dedication to MSF principles and humanitarian values, ensuring that actions and decisions align with the organization's mission. 
• People Management Experience: Extensive experience in managing people. 
• Facilitation & Leadership: Demonstrated experience in leading meetings and facilitating workshops, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. 
• IT Proficiency: Highly skilled in using common IT tools, including the MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), to support accounting functions