CMU Finance & Compliance Coordinator (National Contract)

Position: Finance & Compliance Coordinator

Duty station: Beirut, Lebanon

Host Organization: WeWorld (Lead Agency)

Unit: Consortium Management Unit (CMU)

Reports to: Consortium Manager (Operational)

Technical Supervision: WW Regional Finance                       

1. Background

Lebanon continues to face a prolonged economic and social crisis, further aggravated by the 2024 hostilities, which severely damaged agricultural land, MSMEs, local infrastructure, and basic services, particularly in South Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. In response, the Economic Recovery Project, funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), aims to support an inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient recovery in conflict-affected areas. Implemented by a consortium led by WeWorld, together with LRI, FJPII, IECD, and The Nawaya Network, the project is structured around three core pillars:

1- Rehabilitating agricultural land, water infrastructure, and ecosystems, and promoting climate-smart, market-oriented agriculture;

2- Improving employability and entrepreneurship opportunities for vulnerable populations—especially women, youth, refugees, and displacement-affected communities—through MSME support, vocational training, and business incubation;

3- Strengthening municipal and national governance capacities for participatory, gender-responsive, and environmentally sensitive recovery planning and basic service delivery

2. Position Summary

The Finance & Compliance Coordinator is a key member of the Consortium Management Unit (CMU), hosted by WeWorld under the AFD-funded Economic Recovery Project. The position ensures sound financial management, compliance, and accountability across all consortium partners, in full alignment with project regulations, the consortium’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and internal control systems.

Acting as the consortium’s financial integrity focal point, the Finance & Compliance Coordinator (FCC) will support and monitor partner organizations in financial planning, reporting, and donor compliance, ensuring transparency, harmonization, and timely fund management. The FCC will be deployed in Lebanon and follow rule, management and regulation of the Lebanon mission.

3. Key Objectives:

• Ensure that all consortium financial operations comply with project regulations, WeWorld procedures, and the consortium MoU.
• Support financial harmonization across partner organizations.
• Lead the consolidation of consortium-level financial reports, forecasts, and budget follow-up.
• Act as secretariat and lead of the Finance & Grants Working Group (FGWG).
• Serve as the primary compliance and audit liaison for the consortium, including internal reviews and external audit coordination.
• Ensure proper filing of all CMU financial documents.

4. Specific Responsibilities:

1. Consortium Financial Management

• Coordinate the preparation and consolidation of partner financial reports for submission to AFD.
• Monitor budget execution and absorption rates across partners; highlight deviations and propose corrective measures.
• Ensure consistency between narrative and financial reporting, in coordination with the CMU MEAL/Reporting Officer.
• Support the Consortium Manager in financial planning, cash flow projections, and reallocation proposals.
• Maintain an updated financial dashboard and expenditure tracking tool shared with partners and Steering Committee.

2. Compliance& Quality Assurance

• Ensure full financial verification (100% audit) of expenditures prior to each instalment’s request to the donor
• Lead the preparation of the financial audit packages (financial statements, vouchers, partners documentation) and ensure all partners’ financial supporting documents meet donors audit standards.
• Coordinate partner-level pre-audit reviews before submission to the external auditor, ensuring completeness and eligibility.
• Liaise with the external auditor to organize the audit verification: partners office visits, sampling reviews, and follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Include a summary of audit findings, recommendations, and follow-up actions in quarterly CMU reports and Steering Committee updates.
• Maintain a consolidated audit compliance tracker to monitor partner audit readiness and implementation of corrective actions.
• Ensure that all expenditure verifications are completed, validated, and certified before requesting the next donor payment instalment.

C- Reporting

• Ensure timely coordination between partners to meet donor reporting and disbursement schedules.
• Flag any systemic compliance or eligibility issues and propose preventive measures across partners.
• Prepare the two interim financial reports per year and submit them to the WW Regional Finance Manager for approval, ensuring that all expenses have been duly checked

5. Required Qualifications& Experience

Essential

• Degree in Finance or related field
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience
• Proven experience in compliance and audit processes, including eligibility reviews and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge with financial reporting
• Proficient in English, both written and spoken

Desirable

• Prior experience with INGOs or development consortia.
• Familiarity with Lebanese fiscal regulations and audit procedures.
• Proven experience in compliance and audit processes, including eligibility reviews and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of donor financial regulations (AFD, EU, Danish Embassy, or similar)
• Proficiency in accounting software and financial reporting tools
• Problem solving skills
• Knowledge of Lebanese fiscal laws

6. Competencies

• Integrity, accountability, and attention to detail.
• Strong coordination and facilitation skills across diverse organizations.
• Problem-solving attitude and ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills.

7.  Supervision& Accountability

• Operational Line Management: Consortium Manager (CMU)
• Technical Supervision: WeWorld Regional Finance Manager
• Functional Coordination: Partner Finance focal points through Finance & Grants Working Group
• The postholder operates with a high degree of autonomy but must ensure regular coordination, transparency, and documentation of all processes.

8. Duration and Conditions

• Duration: 12 months (renewable based on project phase and performance)
• Duty Station: Beirut, with regular visits to partners offices
• Contractual Employer: WW (as lead agency)