Junior Financial Specialist - Strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers, micro- small and medium enterprises (MSME) and local communities

Job Profile

1. Required qualifications, competences and experience

Qualifications

• qualification in business administration with a focus on accounting or related area

Professional experience

• minimum 3 year of professional experience in this area
• of which at least 1+ year of experience with donor-funded projects (NGOs, INGOs, etc.)
• in-depth understanding of financial planning and accounting; broad experience of project’s financial management and administration

Other knowledge, additional competences

• Good knowledge of accounting software
• good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, phone, fax, email, the internet) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office)
• Arabic native speaker, very good knowledge of English (written and spoken)
• willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management
• Excellent time management skills and ability to organize a daily workload by priorities
• A proactive approach to problem-solving with attention to details and ability to multi- task
• Must be able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced quickly changing environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

2. Responsibilities

The junior Financial specialist professional provides support in

• dealing with all questions arising in this area
• identifying relevant problems and issues and assisting in formulating implementation-oriented solutions
• further developing instruments and assisting in introducing innovation and change
• managing knowledge by disseminating and documenting know-how, experience and information

The junior Financial specialist professional performs the following tasks:

3. Tasks

1. Financial Administration and procurement

• Checking and preparing invoices for payments according to GIZ rules and regulations and Lebanese Tax law
• Reviewing the classification and completeness of all vouchers/ receipts
• Handling payments according to GIZ rules and regulations up to a set value limit using GIZ software
• Handling of bank payments, bankbook and monthly bank reconciliation
• Monitoring cashboxes and safe contents, keeping the respective lists updated
• Following up monthly reports on receivables, unsettled items and advances registered in project’s bookkeeping journals
• Supporting of an overall smooth and correct functioning of the financial accounting system of the project in line with GIZ standard procedures
• Preparing for internal control sessions conducted by GIZ Office Lebanon, GIZ HO Audit Unit and other related external audit
• monitors the availability of supplies/ office assets and performs procurement-related activities up to the specified guideline amount, including reparation of tenders
• supports in the preparation of finance agreements and service contracts
• keeps a database on suppliers’/ service providers and conducts a regular searches for alternatives
• receives/checks delivered materials and advise suppliers of defective goods delivered and arranges necessary follow-up
• encodes required information into the monitoring database
• maintains the office asset register and project inventory list
• assists in the contracting of external services and monitors price and quantity/ quality

2. General services

The junior Financial specialist professional:

• maintains an inventory for the office
• prepares and organizes meetings, workshops, etc.
• assists in making travel arrangements for project staff
• facilitates information exchange between the project members, work partners, and other institutions
• ▪ updates the project organizational chart on a regular basis
• ▪ monitors the availability of supplies (stationery etc.) and arranges for its replenishment
• ▪ monitors and bills private telephone, vehicle use, etc.

3. Other duties/additional tasks

The junior Financial specialist professional:

• performs other duties and tasks at the request of management

Description of the project: “Strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers, micro- small and medium enterprises (MSME) and local communities” The situation in Lebanon is characterised by a structural economic and financial crisis and by the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic and the explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020. The focus of the new Transitional Development Assistance project is to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of vulnerable groups in Bekaa and Mount Lebanon. This is done along three fields of action (1) strengthening agriculture, (2) promoting MSMEs and start-ups, and (3) promoting social cohesion at the local level.